A new large-scale survey of students in Flanders and Brussels shows that fewer students are drinking alcohol and using cannabis. However, risky habits and issues related to them are on the increase.
The Flemish Alcohol and Drugs Expertise Centre (VAD) questioned more than 20,000 students between February and April 2025. While overall alcohol use has declined, students that do drink are more likely to do so in a harmful way. Around 30% of students that drink binge drink at least once a month. Meanwhile, many students say that they “pre-drink” before going out. Almost half said that they feel drunk at least once a month.
Experts say risky drinking dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic but is now on the rise again. Male students en and students of both sexes that are living away from home in digs are most likely to drink heavily. On average, male students drink about 16 units a week during term time. The compares with 6 units per week for female students.
Some students told the survey that they try to limit their alcohol intake. About 39% said that they practise so-called “zebra drinking”, alternating alcohol with soft drinks.
Cannabis
Cannabis use has fallen back to 2017 levels, but more users report having problems. These include struggling to stop, using more than intended, or neglecting studies and social life. For the first time since 2005, a quarter of cannabis users report multiple issues linked to their cannabis use.
The survey also found that nicotine use remains high. 44% of the students surveyed said that they had used nicotine at least once during the previous year, often through vaping. Meanwhile, the use of stimulant medication such as Ritalin continues to rise, with 6% of students taking it to boost academic performance.
The use of other illegal drugs remains stable at around 11%, although so-called “designer drugs” are becoming more common.