Stories of parties, risk and youth in Iceland

In our research we wanted to understand what ideas young people in Iceland, aged 18-20 draw on when they think about alcohol, gender roles, and taking responsibility when drinking. Instead of asking directly about their own experiences, we gave 72  students (58 female, 13 male) a creative online writing task: complete a fictional story about young people at a party where alcohol was present.

The results revealed complex attitudes about drinking that varied based on gender, with alcohol seen as both a social lubricant and a source of significant risk.

Alcohol as social courage

In many stories, alcohol appeared as a form of  “liquid courage” that helped shy characters overcome social barriers. Young men used drinking to build confidence for sexual encounters, while young women found it easier to flirt and express themselves when intoxicated. The stories portrayed alcohol as useful for navigating romantic situations and creating memorable experiences with friends.

One story, for instance, described how a normally shy character “went home with a girl whom he had never met before” after drinking, with his friends celebrating this achievement. For young women, some stories focused on how alcohol made kissing and socializing more fun and spontaneous.

Social media was portrayed as playing a role in preserving these drunken memories. Characters would wake up to photos and videos of their intoxicated antics, which became entertainment rather than sources of shame – at least when surrounded by supportive friends.

The gender double standard

The stories revealed differences in how drinking was perceived for young men versus women. When male characters drank heavily and passed out covered in vomit, it was described humorously – these characters planned to “repeat it every weekend.” But when female characters had similar experiences, they felt “very ashamed and upset about what happened.”

Young women in the stories also faced higher social and physical risks when they drank in excess than young men. They were more likely to be portrayed as potential victims of sexual violence, usually from older male strangers. The stories contained various scenes where intoxicated young women were vulnerable to assault, with friends worrying about their safety.

Interestingly, we saw limited examples of “slut-shaming” in stories featuring sexual violence – the blame typically fell on male perpetrators rather than female victims. This may reflect recent feminist movements in Iceland that have worked to shift shame away from victims of sexual violence to the perpetrators.

Taking responsibility and managing risk

In the stories the characters were revealed as having sophisticated strategies for harm reduction, particularly around protecting young women. Common tactics included:

• Having a designated sober friend who could drive and watch out for others
• Traveling in groups and ensuring everyone got home safely together
• Learning to recognize dangerous situations before they escalated

Characters who chose not to drink were portrayed as mature and responsible, though sometimes burdened by always having to care for intoxicated friends. One non-drinking character complained: “I don’t drink and therefore I am too lame and no fun… I still made sure you all had money for taxi because that is what sober friends obviously do.”

The stories suggested that learning to drink “responsibly” was a skill that required practice. Inexperienced drinkers, often described as younger students, were more likely to drink dangerously because they hadn’t yet learned their limits.

Adults missing in action

Perhaps most striking was the near-complete absence of adults in these stories. Parents rarely appeared, and when they did, it was only when characters worried about getting caught. The main adult figures were predatory older men who posed threats to young women.

This absence is particularly significant given that Icelandic alcohol prevention efforts heavily emphasize parental involvement (see for example https://island.is/en/afengis-vimuvarnir). The stories suggest young people see drinking culture as separate from adult supervision or guidance.

What this means

These fictional stories offer valuable insights into how young people actually think about alcohol risks versus how adults typically frame them. While prevention campaigns focus mainly on health consequences, young people were more concerned with social risks like sexual violence, shame, and maintaining friendships.

The research suggests that schools could play a larger role in alcohol education by engaging with young people’s actual experiences and concerns rather than taking a purely top-down approach. The stories themselves could serve as discussion starters, helping young people critically examine their own assumptions about drinking, gender, and risk.

The study also highlights how gender shapes drinking culture in concerning ways. While young men’s heavy drinking is often celebrated or treated as harmless fun, young women face a difficult balancing act – expected to be socially available and fun while simultaneously protecting themselves from very real dangers.

Understanding these dynamics could help develop more effective approaches to reducing alcohol-related harm among young people, focusing not just on individual choices but on the broader social contexts that shape how and why young people drink.

The article is written by

Annadís Greta Rúdólfsdóttir, Professor at the School of Education, University of Iceland &

Ragný Þóra Guðjohnsen, Associate Professor at the School of Education, University of Iceland,

on the request of PopNAD