Heavy student drinking in university settings has become a social concern. Most research on this topic has occurred in the United States, while few studies have focused on student populations in the United Kingdom. The goal of the current study was to utilize both quantitative and qualitative methods to understand the social and motivational factors that play a role in heavy student drinking. Participants were 50 “heavy drinkers” and 49 “light drinkers” who were enrolled as undergraduate students at a large university in the English West Midlands. Questionnaire measures assessed drinking expectations, perceived benefits and drawbacks of drinking, and important people and activities. Quantitative results indicated that heavy drinkers scored significantly higher on three of the drinking expectancy measures: tension reduction, sexual enhancement, and dependency. Qualitative results revealed that heavy drinkers were involved in a social network of heavy drinkers and received more encouragement for drinking than did light drinkers. The findings suggest that social factors are important in the maintenance of a heavy drinking lifestyle, particularly subtle forms of peer pressure. The findings have implications for policies aimed at reducing university student drinking. Figure, tables, notes, references