To provide a framework in which to design alcohol interventions for university students that would take account of their subjective experiences and perspective, student drinkers were surveyed about selected alcohol-related behaviours and attitudes and asked to nominate what they considered to be the primary negative and positive aspects of alcohol use. The results revealed a concentration on short-term negative outcomes and an emphasis on sociability as the major benefit of consumption. Drinking specifically for intoxication was also a positive outcome for males in particular. The implications of these results for the preparation of meaningful interventions are discussed.