Studies of two similar cohorts of students in Ireland in 1984 and 1992 showed a dramatic increase in the consumption of alcohol, especially in the frequency with which students reported being drunk. A comparison of measures obtained at both times showed that there were major changes with regard to beliefs about consequences of alcohol consumption in a direction favourable to consumption as well as increases in the perceived social support for drinking. However, there were no strong indications that changes in problem behaviour were associated with the observed increases in drinking patterns. These results are supportive of some explanatory models of initiation to substance use and have associated implications for programmes designed to reduce consumption