By Haruka Kuroda
Most clubs and dormitories at universities in Japan hold parties called "compa" throughout the year for the purpose of enhancing friendship among members, welcoming freshmen and sending off seniors and etc. In the parties, students are often served alcoholic beverages such as beer and wine cocktails. During the parties students talk with other people they rarely see or chat with and this is the meaning of "compa." While many students enjoy "compa" parties, a recent problem has surfaced in many universities around Japan, turning delightful parties into sad occasions.
In April this year, a freshman at Hitotsubashi University died at a welcome party put on by his dormitory. This happened because he "chugged" an alcoholic drink at one time. Since people can die from drinking a glass of alcohol in one gulp, either by their own will or when forced by others, such action is dangerous. As a result of this incident, most universities throughout Japan have advised students not to abuse alcohol and have even coined a new expression called "Alhara," which means alcohol harassment in Japanese. Unfortunately the number of these people is still increasing.
According to an investigation by the Alcohol Harassment Control Association, fifty-one percent of members of society suffer alcohol harassment. Thirty-eight percent are students, with 57 percent being men and 38 percent being women. Regarding the victims ages, 36 percent are in their 20s while teens and those in their 30s make up 12 percent respectively. As for those responsible for forcing others to drink, senior students make up 43 percent and superiors in the workplace make up 26 percent. At universities and in many companies, because of a seniority system, some senior members force juniors to drink too much. Groups of students in the same year (or work colleagues) also force each other to drink excessively. In fact, 70 percent of reported "bullying" by drinking is caused by groups of people, which is an extremely high percentage.
Why does Alhara happen? As previously mentioned there is a long cherished tradition of students compelling their freshmen to chug alcohol at one go. Another is they want to have a sense of solidarity among their companions by getting drunk.
These barbarous and wrong actions continue to happen throughout Japan. But how many people know that alcohol harassment is actually a crime? Forcing someone to chug alcohol at one go is a "serious" crime, and those responsible can be charged with criminal responsibility or civil responsibility. In the case of compulsion drinking for victims under threat, responsible parties can be sentenced to a maximum of three years' imprisonment or face a fine of up to 300,000 yen. In the case of planning, prior to a party, to get someone drunk, responsible parties can be sentenced to a maximum of ten years' imprisonment or face a fine of up to 300,000 yen can be are charged with inflicting bodily injury. If a victim dies, they can be charged with negligent homicide and sentenced to over two years' imprisonment.
It is a custom for Japanese people to pour alcohol into others' glasses and "Compa" is a "virtue" indigenous to Japan, but if we abuse this custom or take it to extremes, we are creating a potentially deadly situation.
Everyone can enjoy a party with alcoholic beverages. However, alcohol can be a terrible drink, if you abuse it. University students who drink excessively or force others to drink excessively cause trouble and in some cases are breaking the law. Most freshmen are still minors and they do not have much knowledge about alcohol and its effects. Consequently, they may become seniors without having a proper knowledge of alcohol which is then passed on to their juniors. This pattern could be repeated every year. In order to end this dangerous habit, all the university clubs ought to hold meetings about how to drink responsibly. Each university should hold workshops not only for students but also for parents and university employees since alcohol harassment is an issue for everyone.