How long until we get a Ministry of Fun, it's purpose to make sure that nobody in Britain is having too much fun? Of course, if they are, then it can introduce suitable taxation!

Stuart, Leicester,

I have just spent 9 years managing a Students' Union where we were at the forefront of driving a corporate responsible attitude towards alcohol. We shunned two for one deals and other marketing gimmicks used by our high street competitors (although we did have one night a week where lager was a pound a pint). However, we prided ourselves on offering free live music and other entertainment as the draw rather all you can drink for a tenner type nights often seen in clubs and bars in the town.
I believe this is another cheap shot by the Government at an easy target and pays no attention to initiatives taken within the Student Movement such as early adoption of "Best Bar None" pub schemes to offer safe and sensible drinking within student venues. Rather than label everyone in the University market with an irresponsible tag perhaps the Government could identify the areas of good practice and ensure that such initiatives are more widely adopted.

Keith Brackstone, Bristol,

Tommy Gunn's Freshers week did indeed last about 4 years (as did mine). During that time he was excellent at ensuring most first year students kept up their quota of the weights and measures they were supposed to drink.

It is also important that those entering Higher Education realise the importance of left-handed drinking.

Demitris, Cheltenham, UK

Julie doesn't sound like much fun - I think I'd rather play with the sheep!

J, London,

I'm currently a first year and think it's wrong how universities nowadays market themselves on the social lives and amount of alcohol they can sell on the cheap. My freshers week wasn't drunken party after party, but this is how it was sold to me. I now see one of my friends failing 2 of her modules as she thinks its 'what you go to uni for', to get so drunk the night before, and therefore you can't wake up for the next days lectures.

Yes social life is part of it, but what happened to the main point of going to university, getting a degree??

Charlotte, Bristol,

Why do the government think that imposing anything like a ban on university campuses will do anything to stop young people (and it is principally the young freshers) from drinking? If you are 18 and away from home for the first time with some money in your pocket, is it any surprise that you now want to experiment with this mystical drug called alcohol which has been kept from you for 18 years of your life. We are already seeing that an 18 age limit is not working on our young people- it just drives it underground and they drink on the streets. If you let families and pubs serve dilute alcohol from younger then you will take the mystery away and introduce this dangerous drug in a controlled environment. Nothing to rebel against. What will happen if you ban alcohol orientate freshers weeks? More trouble in other areas and in uncontrolled environments. MPs should come and have a look at how university students' union are selling alcohol responsibly.

Joff, Plymouth,

Students have only a little money, and a very full academic and social life.
Consequently very few have alcohol problems. Most will get drunk in Freshers' week to mark their first day of freedom, but that doesn't lead to a life of alcoholism.

The problems start when the grant is replaced by a salary, and there's nothing constructive to do in the evenings after work.

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

Freedom of choice, is no longer a choice.

Arthur, Newcastle,

I'm just finishing as a postgrad and I agree with the head of the NUS, it really isn't like this. It's about time politicians and the media got into step with the reality of today's university campuses and stopped thinking back to the worst excesses of their own time. You do still have a number of people, mostly in sports clubs, going out and doing this, but their proportion of the campus population has not kept pace with the growth of that population.

Philip Stobbart, London, England

If the government try to stop students drinking they will fail! When I started university, I went out and drank every night for 2 weeks, and had a great time. Throughout most of my first year I went out 3-4 times a week. At the end of my first year I still had a 2:1 average, which I had worked hard for even though I only needed to get 40% to pass that year. If you really want to be at university it's possible to have have a lot of fun and still get all your work done. The people who fail their first year, either don't take it seriously, or don't really want to be there. What does the government expect if it wants to put 50% of senir school students through university? I don't regret my drinking at uni, it was the best three years of my life, and now that I'm in my 20's with a job I am not an alcoholic and I dont have liver damage. I still go out and drink alot but usually only once a week now. The government is over-reacting as well as certain of its members being very hypocritical!

K Brecknell, Worcester, U.K.

The wish the government would just let students be, let them have fun. No one is forced to drink and drinking is a good way to bond and make friends in this pretty scary time for young people. JD and coke all round!

michael, Munich, Germany

My Freshers Week lasted 4 years! I have a Degree and a 6 figure salary to go with it.

Enjoy it while you can! 3 Fingers, Finish Off!

C&GCHE- Uni of Glos

Now Australia

Tommy Gunn, Mentone, Victoria, Australia

I was a fresher last year and didnt drink any alcohol in freshers week. They maybe should focus on teaching students to say no to peer pressure and make up there own minds about how much to drink. I thought university was for intelligent people not for sheep

Julie, england,

The Government have already made one sure way of preventing students abusing drink once the fresher's week freebies have worn off - they've imposed such high fees that no normal student could afford to get regularly wasted.

There, I have finally managed to find a justification for crippling tuition fees!

Meg, Pembs,

I went to university at 17. I went with good intentions, but the freshers' week binge didn't stop after 7 days and before I knew it I'd failed the year! I bounced back, and have no regrets. Still, I think a lot of the hard drinkers would realise they don't realy enjoy being off their face. It's no fun being sick on the dance floor, and it's no way to pull...

Robin, Bristol,