New study on sex, alcohol and boundaries in nightlife settings

The project is based on interviews with young adults aged 18 to 25 about their own experiences of parties, relationships and intoxication. It explores both what participants find pleasurable and what may become uncomfortable or risky.

"Although many people spoke up during #MeToo about sexual assault in environments such as nightclubs, after-parties and after-work events, those sorts of social settings have often gone underexamined in both research and public debate," says Alexandra Bogren, Associate Professor of Sociology at the School of Social Sciences.

Alcohol as both opportunity and excuse

A recurring theme in the interviews concerns what researchers call “liquid courage”. Alcohol is often used to lower inhibitions and make it easier to take social initiative – such as talking to strangers, flirting or making contact.

At the same time, intoxication can function as an explanation or excuse after the fact.

"Alcohol is not only a substance that affects the brain. It is also part of a social and cultural framework that shapes how people interpret, explain, justify and sometimes excuse their actions. We want to analyse how and why such explanations and excuses are used, and what social consequences they have."

Boundaries negotiated in the moment

The study suggests that many sexual situations in nightlife can be difficult to understand and articulate afterwards. These may involve encounters that fall into a grey area between consensual sex, unwanted or uncomfortable experiences, and assault.

When alcohol is involved, it often becomes harder to determine what happened and who bears responsibility.

One way of navigating this is what the researchers call “intoxication parity” – the idea that sex is perceived as less problematic if both parties are similarly intoxicated. If one person is significantly more affected, the situation is more likely to be interpreted as involving a power imbalance.

The material also shows how what young adults describe as liquid courage takes different forms depending on gender norms. For some men, it involves daring to take initiative and stand out socially, while for many women it can also mean challenging expectations and claiming more social and sexual space – but within conditions where the terms of interaction differ, and where the same actions may carry different meanings and consequences depending on gender.

Social risks shape behaviour

The study highlights the importance of social risks. The fear of ruining the mood, standing out, or losing one’s place in a group of friends often plays a crucial role in how young people act in vulnerable situations, for example whether and how they speak up.

The same actions – such as rejecting someone or setting boundaries – may also have different social consequences depending on gender.

This can involve not wanting to appear “oversensitive” or risking being the target of gossip after turning someone down.

These situations often involve balancing social risks with other risks, such as being exposed to uncomfortable or boundary-crossing behaviour.

At the same time, many young people develop strategies to protect themselves and others, for example by monitoring friends’ alcohol consumption or intervening in situations that seem unsafe.

Towards better understanding and responses

The researchers argue that the findings can contribute to a deeper understanding of young people’s experiences and the complex situations they navigate.

The interviews show that accounts of sexual grey areas and assault are often ambiguous and may change over time. In conversations with others, many young adults together try to make sense of what actually happened and how experiences should be interpreted. Being able to put experiences into words and the feeling of being heard can therefore be important parts of understanding one’s own experiences.

"We hope that the results will contribute to a deeper understanding of, and a less judgmental view of, young adults who have experienced sexual violence in nightlife settings," says Alexandra Bogren.