Transcript Alcohol and Sexual Assault

Alcohol’s Role in
Sexual Assault

86.4% of UofW students report drinking alcohol.
22.1% of UofW students are classified as heavy
drinkers, Ontario student average is 18.8%.

25.3% of UofW students have done something they
regret after drinking.

15% of UofW students report having unplanned
intimate sexual relations because of alcohol.

Myths
Facts
Because a woman is drinking alcohol she
must be “easy”
This is a double standard. Men are not
perceived by society as promiscuous for
drinking alcohol as women are
The perpetrator is usually a stranger
Usually someone the victim knows
If the victim was drinking when assaulted
they are partially to blame
Sexual assault survivors are never
responsible for the attack, no matter
what.
Assaults happen only at night and in dark
alleys
50% of attacks are in the day and 50%
occur close to or in the victim’s home
Sexual assault includes any forced or coerced sexual
acts. Such as: touching or kissing, verbally coerced
intercourse, and physically forced vaginal, oral and
anal penetration.
Rape constitutes sexual behaviours that involve some
type of penetration due to force or threat of force; a
lack of consent; or inability to give consent due to
age, intoxication or mental status.
A person is legally unable to give consent if they are
under age, intoxicated by drugs and/or alcohol,
developmentally disabled, or mentally/physically
unable to do so.

50% of sexual assaults that occur involving college
students are also associated with alcohol use by the
victim and or the perpetrator

Alcohol seriously hinders the ability of the user to
think clearly and contemplate consequences of their
actions.

When a person is drunk their ability to express
themselves and to interpret cues and behaviours
exhibited by others is impaired.

This can lead to misreading “friendly” cues as sexual
interest and misunderstanding “no” as “try harder”

82% of victims are female and 98% of perpetrators
are male.

85-90% of the victims knew the perpetrator prior to
the attack. In most cases it is an acquaintance or a
friend of a friend.

Only 5% of rape victims reported the attack to
police. Shame, fear, and self blame were the main
reasons given for underreporting.

If you see a situation where someone is too drunk to
give consent step in, don’t turn a blind eye.

Recognize the signs that an assault could be
imminent.

 Recognize comments and behaviours from others that would
indicate they were intent on having sex even if the partner was
unwilling.
 Watch out for potential victims who are unconscious or
incapacitated
 Notice if someone is getting ready to have sexual intercourse
with a partner who is incapacitated.

Don’t pressure or encourage friends to drink alcohol
Don’t promote having sex often or with as many
people as possible.

Don’t joke about sexual assault; comments and jokes
that are meant to “ease the tension” or are “just
kidding around” can trivialize the severity of the
behaviour.

Do make a plan to stay with the friends you went out
with and if you choose to drink, do it in moderation.

Student Health Services (519) 973- 7002 or go online at
http://www.uwindsor.ca/health/

Student Counselling Center offers information on sexual
assault at http://www.uwindsor.ca/scc/sexual-harassmentand-assault

Campus Community Police can be reached at (519) 2533000 ext. 1234 or online at http://web4.uwindsor.ca/police

Sexual Assault Care Center at Windsor Regional Hospital
(519)255-2234 or online at
http://www.sacc.to/fr/gylb/satc/CentreID=32.htm

Abbey, A. (2002). Alcohol-related sexual assault: A common problem among
college students. Journal of Studies on Alcohol Supplement, 63(2), 118-128.
Adlaf, E.M., Demers, A., & Gliksman, L. (Eds.) Canadian Campus Survey
2004. Toronto, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. 2005
Benson, B., Gohm, C.L., Gross, A. M. (2007). College women and sexual
assault: The role of sex-related alcohol expectancies. Journal of Family
Violence, 22(6), 341-351. doi 10.1007/s10896-007-9085-z
Stanford University. (n.d). Facts and myths concerning sexual assault.
Retrieved on March 16, 2012 from:
http://www.stanford.edu/group/svab/myths.shtml
The University of Arizona .(n.d). Sexual Assault. Retrieved on March 16, 2012
from: http://www.stepupprogram.org/topics/sexual_assault