Alcohol in Context: Alcohol Experiences Among First-Year Residence-Dwelling Students at Two Canadian Universities

While extensive research has examined alcohol-related harms in university residences, few studies have explored how specific drinking contexts—such as physical location, policies, and broader socio-cultural factors—shape student alcohol use. This qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews with 25 first-year residential students and 16 staff across two Canadian universities (University of Calgary, Alberta, and Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia) to investigate how intersecting social, physical, economic, and policy environments contribute to university residences as risk and/or enabling environments. Drawing on Rhodes's risk environment framework, the analysis identified three themes: (1) Navigating tensions between policies and the physical and economic environments; (2) Shaping alcohol experiences through social influences; and (3) Co-creating cultures of care. This research highlights how student residences can reduce alcohol-related harms while fostering cultures of care, health, and well-being. These findings provide deeper insights into peer influence, the promotion of enabling environments, and integrating restorative justice as part of harm reduction strategies.