Statistics reported in the Sunday Times state 25% of Year 10’s and 50% of Year 12’s have had sexual intercourse.[1]  Not all this sexual activity occurs within straight or LGBTIQ relationships, much occurs within the context of hooking up and random sexual encounters that are often about experimentation and bragging rights rather than concern for the other who is the sexual partner.

Generally, in the context of a relationship, there is some level of trust and communication that occurs before sexual activity.  This level of trust and communication is missing in the majority of hook-ups and random sexual encounters.  Consequently, consent is much more ambiguous.  An ambiguity which is complicated further by alcohol.

For many young men, alcohol is necessary to enable them to hook up.  Why?  Because alcohol reduces the anxiety and inhibition enough for young men to perform in hook ups.  Hook-ups by their nature are anxiety provoking.  A young man, uncertain about his sexual ability and often basing his understanding of sexual performance on the pornography he has watched is suddenly confronted by the reality of a sexual encounter.  Alcohol is the go-to, to manage his nerves and anxiety.

The challenge is to find a sexual partner who is equally inebriated so that if it all fails, at least both can blame the alcohol.  In finding a partner who is equally inebriated, the young man needs to find someone who is drunk enough not to mind his possible failure but not drunk enough so they can’t give consent.  Challenging?

Challenging for adults who have some sexual experience never mind adolescents who are just beginning the journey of sexual exploration, particularly when alcohol is known to reduce a man’s ability to read subtle social and interpersonal cues that he would have a greater chance of picking up if he were sober.