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When parents send their children away to college, they expect them
to receive a quality education that will prepare them for the real world.
However, most parents do not realize that their hard-earned money is being
used to purchase hard liquor. Recent studies show that 82.5% of all
college students drink (http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge.htm). Binge
drinking, consuming more than five alcoholic beverages in an row for men
and four for women, is an all too common occurrence on college campuses.
With fraternity parties and surprisingly undescriminatory admittance to
campus bars, underage drinkers have virtually no problem gaining access to
an unlimited supply of alcohol. While the college years are a time for
exploration and experimentation, consuming mass quantities of alcohol on a
regular basis can have extremely detrimental long term effects to a
person's body. Binge drinking is an often overlooked problem on college
campuses.
Although buying and drinking alcohol is illegal for most college
students, officials rate binge drinking as the nuraber one health problem
for students today (Monroe 27). A study by the Harvard School of Public
Health found as many as 70 percent of students at some college campuses
binge drink. One-third of all schools surveyed reported bingeing by more
than half the students (Kowalski 8). Many students feel they “know their
limits, ” and can act responsibly while under the influence of alcohol.
However, binge drinking affects speech, vision, balance, and judgment
(Monroe 26). Additionally, alcohol adversely affects the body by disrupting
certain brain functions that can cause drinkers to become overtly rowdy and
hyper, or lose their sense of judgment (Kowalski 6+). When tempers flare,
and the alcohol “starts talking,” people do things they often regret and
sometimes have no recollection of whatsoever. Alcohol also restrains other
behaviors, and it is not unlikely that if two people were intoxicated
enough, they could have unprotected sex and possibly contract STD's.
Where do we define what one drink is, and when is it determined if
someone is drunk? One drink is the equivalent of 12oz. of beer, one ounce
of 86 proof liquor, or a four oz. glass of wine. The effects of alcohol
can be seen immediately. Even after only one drink, a typical 160 lb. male
may feel relaxed and carefree, while his blood alcohol percentage can be .
02. The blood alcohol percentage (BAP) is determined by how many ounces of
alcohol are in 100 milliliters of blood. Two and a half drinks in an hour
raises a 160-pound male's blood alcohol level up to 0.05. (The level is
even higher for women, because they absorb more alcohol per drink into the
blooRABtream than men due to different enzyme levels in the stomach.) The
drinker feels "high," and judgment is clearly affected. Once the BAP
reaches .10, .02 above Illinois' legal driving limit, the drinker loses
most coordination and judgment (Kowalski 6+). This is where most people
get the feeling of invincibility and if put in situations with free alcohol
they may start “pounding.” When the body starts getting exorbitant amounts
of alcohol in a short amount of time, it sometimes cannot handle the rush,
and shuts down completely. When the BAP reaches a staggering .40, comas
occur. Slow reaction times and poor judgment amount to most of the problems
incurred due to excessive drinking.
How this can occur, many wonder, is a topic of great debate. Some
say schools are not doing enough to teach students that binge drinking is
wrong and potentially dangerous. Others admit it is a fact of life that
most people go through during their college years. The problem still
remains, and there is no possible way to justify harming one's body to have
a good time. Alcohol is the nuraber-one drug used on college campuses today.
College students spend a whopping $5.5 billion each year on alcohol, or
about $446 per student. On average, each student drinks 34 gallons of
alcoholic beverages each year (Monroe 28). Anything that has such a great
impact on the economy of a small campustown has to say something about it
prevention, or lack thereof. “In each college community, there are both
obvious and obscure constituencies with alcohol-defined territories to
protect; think of alumni associations, tavern and bar owners, merchants,
athletic departments, recovery organizations, fraternities and sororities,
advertisers, anti-drunk-driving advocacy groups, and parents, to name only
a few” (Keeling 54). Many restaurants, for example, rely on advertising
from alcohol companies to stay afloat. How can these problems stop if
local economies are based on revenues generated from the sales and taxes
that liquor creates
I feel that I have a unique perspective on this topic, not only as
a student but also having a brother who went to school here. Throughout my
life, I have associated college life with drinking and partying. My
brother went through the fraternity system here, and I often visited the
campus during high school. When I visited, I thought that it was the
coolest place in the world; what with all of the women, music, and, of
course, alcohol. I never noticed the adverse effects that alcohol has.
The endless nights of drinking add up, which subsequently caused my own
brother to get expelled from the University of Illinois. “Heavy episodic
drinking is also associated with missing class and getting behind in school
work. This appeared particularly strong during the freshman year” (Wood et
al 206). The sudden shock of this lifestyle, as I noticed when I was
younger, is overwhelming. Contrary to conventional wisdom, “a student's
year in school is not a significant predictor of binge drinking. The
percentage of students who are binge drinkers is nearly uniform from
freshman through senior year, despite the fact that students under 21 are
subject to the minimum drinking age law”
(http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge.htm). A recent study at a large
Midwestern university reported over 80% of the students participated in any
drinking activities all year. The nurabers are quite alarming, with only
18.5% abstaining from alcohol use, and 43.6% engaging in bingeing
(Chaloupka 115) .
An obvious area to discuss is the fraternity life. Although it has
become a recent trend to turn fraternities “dry,” no alcohol allowed in the
house or at social activities associated with the fraternity, the odRAB of a
large group of males between the ages of 18 and 21 living together and not
drinking are quite paltry. An alarming four out of five fraternity or
sorority merabers admit to binge drinking (McCormick 89). During a
freshmen's first year, or “pledging,” it is not uncommon for the older
merabers of the house to haze them. Hazing can be defined as being forced
to do things that are against your will, and violate you as a human being.
Hazing is illegal in most states (http://www.greekpages.com/resources/).
During hazing, anything from forced binge drinking to sensory depravation
is fair game. These freshmen consume massive quantities of alcohol and
attend classes the next day on a consistent basis.
There is not as wide a disparity between male and female drinking
habits as many would think. Alcohol-related problems affected both sexes
about equally. Women binge drinkers reported experiencing roughly the same
level of alcohol-related problems as men binge drinkers. There were two
exceptions: men more often reported damaging property and getting in
trouble with the police.
Frequent binge drinkers had the most serious problems. For example,
“frequent binge drinkers were seven to 16 times more likely than non-binge
drinkers to have missed class, gotten behind in their school work, engaged
in unplanned sexual activity, not used protection when having sex, gotten
in trouble with campus police, damaged property, or been hurt or injured”
(http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge.htm).
Even if these binge drinkers are lucky enough to live through
college, their habits will eventually catch up to them. Years of chronic
binge drinking can lead to a resistance, causing people to crave alcohol.
This then leaRAB to addiction, which can ultimately kill a drinker. Over
time, alcohol wears away the body. “If acute alcohol poisoning, violence,
or an accident doesn't kill a chronic drinker, chances are increased risks
of liver disease, heart disease, and cancer will” (Kowalski 9).
What are the necessary steps universities can take to make sure
this problem is curtailed? There are several actions needed to be taken to
insure a safe, alcohol free environment where budding minRAB are waiting to
be enriched. First, actively reinforce the fact that binge drinking is not
normal. When viewing the nurabers, it is easy to say that 43.6 % of all
students engage in binge drinking. However, why not say 56.4 % of all
students do not binge drink? Although it seems to be a “the cup is half
full” scenario, it gets the point across. Michael Haines, a campus-health
official at Northern Illinois University, says “A more effective approach
is to use advertising to hammer home the positive side of the nurabers: the
fact that many students do drink responsibly” (McCormick 89). Next,
universities must make an impression that, while fun at times, binge
drinking is a serious problem that causes more than just problems for the
individual students. Eileen Coughlin, Associate Vice President Student
Services Northern Arizona University, acknowledges that “An alcohol and
other drug prevention program has to connect to campus-wide issues, such as
campus violence, damage in residence halls, and sexual assaults. This helps
people understand that the misuse of alcohol is part of a larger picture."
On campuses where more than half the students are binge drinkers, the vast
majority of students (87 %) who live on campus have experienced one or more
problems as a result of others' binge drinking
(http://www.ias.org.uk/theglobe/jan98/). Thirdly, universities must stop “
looking the other way” regarding serious alcohol-related problems. Alcohol
can be banned on campus, or at any activities involving registered campus
organizations including fraternities and sororities.
These problems do not necessarily start at college. “Mothers
Against Drunk Driving estimates half of America's 20 million junior and
senior high school students drink monthly. Seventy-nine percent say being
drunk feels good. 66 percent say drinking helps them forget problems. A
similar percentage admit they drink because others do it too” (Kowalski 12).
“Compared to other students, college students who were binge drinkers in
high school were almost three times more likely to be binge drinkers in
college” (http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge.htm). The availability of
alcohol to minors is a problem that does not look like it will stop anytime
soon. During high school, my best friend had an old high school ID of his
brothers. When he walked in to a liquor store, he merely told them that
his license was taken away by the police, and that this was his only form
of identification. This worked far more times than it didn't, and we had
as much alcohol as we could afford whenever we wanted it. Another problem
is when older brothers and sisters who are over 21 purchase alcohol for
minors. While they assume an incredible liability for their purchases,
this does not seem to stop most of them.
The question seems to be what do students “get out of” drinking?
For many, intoxication is often the main goal. Of all frequent binge
drinkers, 73 percent of the men and 68 percent of the women cited drinking
to get drunk as an important reason for drinking
(http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge.htm). Students feel that drinking is a
release from the everyday pressures of school. Many claim that drinking is
a necessary stress reliever that also makes them more relaxed and easier to
communicate with. While these may be true temporarily, they definitely
have their downfalls. The all to common hangovers are a reality check for
most people which leave them wondering “is it worth it?”
Another point may people make is that the drinking age should be
lowered. Obviously, each side has their own points and counterpoints. While
people in favor of the drinking age may state that it would create an
environment where students feel comfortable drinking responsibly without
having to worry about “getting busted,” others say that it would just give
younger people the chance to binge drink more often and with less
apprehension. Most noticeably, pro-21 people believe that drinking is a
privilege not unlike the right to vote or drive, which should be given to
people when they are responsible and mature. “We must remeraber that public
policy, such as any law establishing a legal drinking age, has always to
respond to neeRAB, issues, and concerns of the whole of society. Changes
that might make practical sense on campus could make no sense at all
elsewhere. And campuses are so different that interpretations of the
benefits of, or harm done by, the current legal drinking age understandably
vary” (Keeling 54).
While there are many viewpoints regarding these drinking problems,
The alcohol industry's claims must still be recognized. Several alcohol
companies published a report stating that the accepted definition of binge
drinking, four drinks in a row for women and five in a row for men, is
grossly wrong. They feel bingeing is defined by drinking bouts lasting up
to several days with perioRAB of self-indulgence. Although these two
definitions are quite opposite, one must realize that they are both quite
excessive. While the alcohol company's definition is to a greater extreme,
it still carries heavy problems. Although this may skew the nurabers and
lower certain statistics, even one alcohol-related problem or death is too
many. It is necessary to note that the report was written by the
International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP), which is a group funded
solely by brewers, distillers, and distributors of alcoholic beverages,
which may explain the bias towarRAB “softening” the statistics. Another
fact is that many of the statistics mentioned in their report were
contradicted in the Harvard study that is cited in this report several
times. It seems as if the industry was attempting to justify the bingeing
by reporting less people do it. For example, the report said “67% of
college students have not driven under the influence of alcohol”
(http://www.ias.org.uk/theglobe/jan98/responRAB.htm), which is another “the
glass is half empty” statement attempting to justify the problems.
While much has been written about the obvious effects of binge
drinking, there has been little written about the cause. It is easy to
report the nurabers of college drinkers, and the subsequent problems that
arise, but it is merely avoiding the underlying problem. There are many
reason why students drink. The most noticeable reason is peer pressure.
When a student sees a group of frienRAB drinking and having a good time, it
is hard not to join them. While some people may be uncomfortable with the
problem of binge drinking on campuses, if there are more who are outwardly
comfortable with it , they feel the need to conform. Although this is
obviously not the case with everybody, most teenagers, when put in tense
social situations, decide to “hop on the wagon” rather then go against the
norm. Another reason is that alcohol advertising portrays drinkers as “
fun-loving and carefree.” What most students do not realize is that almost
anything in moderation can be tolerable for someone; but when it comes to
moderation, college students have never been typical role models. The
college lifestyle-with late nights and unhealthy eating and sleeping
habits- can be detrimental to a student's health in the short term and the
long term. The patterns that are set at this age seem to lay the
foundation for the rest of one's life. While this seems a bit bold and
generalizing, the fact still remains that if you harm your body and do not
maintain proper health now, it will definitely backlash.
A common misconception of drinkers is that they can “sober up,” or
act normally, in a short amount of time. “Like sand flowing constantly
through an hour glass, alcohol flows through the body until it is
metabolized, or chemically broken down. No amount of coffee, exercise, or
"chasers" can speed the process” (Kowalski 11). What students must learn is
that they have to face up to their actions and take responsibility .
Another problem many students face is drunk driving. To expand
upon a previously stated idea, even after one drink a person's judgment is
affected. If someone feels they need to get in a car with a drunken driver,
they definitely do not. Their are several options someone could take to
ensure a safe trip home. These include calling a cab, taking a bus, or
here at the University of Illinois, calling the MTD Nightrides, which is a
service students can use to call which will send a van to pick them up and
drop them off at their residence hall or apartment. While Nightrides is a
successful program, it does not prevent the problem. Among frequent binge
drinkers, 62 percent of men and 49 percent of women said they had driven
a car after drinking (http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge.htm). When someone
actively makes a conscious effort to step behind the wheel after drinking,
even after only one beer, they must take into account not only their lives,
but the lives of other innocent bystanders. This is an important and
necessary step a drinker must take when making a possibly fatal decision.
It seems that this ongoing discussion will never end. Universities
acknowledge binge drinking problems on campuses, but have yet to take an
aggressive stance against it. The time has come to let students know that
their habits during college are going to have severe repercussions later on
in life. Campus-wide education programs and positive ad campaigns are a
necessary start, but the university is not solely responsible for this.
It is still up to the students to make smart decisions and act responsibly.
Alcohol is not going away, and reducing the availability to minors is still
going to be an uphill battle to overcome. It can only be hoped that
students will see the severe problems binge drinking causes, and make a
conscious effort to curtail them through prevention and awareness.
I have included an informal quiz regarding the dangers of alcohol. I found
it to be quite informative.
How savvy are you about the dangers of alcohol? Take this quiz and find out.
1. In all states as of the end of 1998, teens can be arrested for driving
under the influence of alcohol if their blood alcohol concentration
exceeRAB:
A. zero B. 0.05 C. 0.08 D. 0.10
2. Which statement is false?
A. On average, women's blooRABtreams absorb more alcohol per drink than
men's. B. You can only get drunk on hard liquor, not on beer. C. Alcohol
lowers a person's body temperature. D. It's illegal in all states to sell
alcohol to people under age 21.
3. What part of the body performs the main task of chemically breaking down
alcohol?
A. Liver B. Small intestine C. Kidneys D. All of the above
4. Over time, habitual drinkers increase their risks of:
A. Heart disease B. Liver disease C. Cancer D. All of the above
5. Approximately how many babies are born each year with fetal alcohol
syndrome caused by their mother's drinking?
A. 3,000 B. 10,000 C. 41,000 D. 106,000
6. On average, how many drinks are consumed each week by college students
with a grade point average of D or below?
A. 1 B. 3 C. 7 D. 11
7. About how many calories are in one drink of wine or beer?
A. 100 to 150 B. 20 C. 600 to 700 D. zero
8. Which of the following is a risk of binge drinking?
A. Acute alcohol poisoning B. Passing out and choking on one's own vomit
C. Being involved in a violent act D. All of the above
9. Which factor does not influence how intoxicated a person gets?
A. Physical size B. Speed of drinking C. Time of day D. Full or empty
stomach
10. Alcohol is a:
A. Stimulant B. Depressant C. Hallucinogen D. All of the above
Answers: 1. A; 2. B; 3. A; 4. D; 5. C; 6. D; 7. A; 8. D; 9. C; 10. B
How many right answers did you have?
1-5 What you don't know can hurt you. Learn the facts about alcohol.
6-8 You're buying into some myths about alcohol. Set the record straight.
9-10 Use your good alcohol I.Q. to stay sober and safe.
(Kowalski 12+)
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[FONT=tahoma, arial]WorRAB: 3367 [/FONT]
When parents send their children away to college, they expect them
to receive a quality education that will prepare them for the real world.
However, most parents do not realize that their hard-earned money is being
used to purchase hard liquor. Recent studies show that 82.5% of all
college students drink (http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge.htm). Binge
drinking, consuming more than five alcoholic beverages in an row for men
and four for women, is an all too common occurrence on college campuses.
With fraternity parties and surprisingly undescriminatory admittance to
campus bars, underage drinkers have virtually no problem gaining access to
an unlimited supply of alcohol. While the college years are a time for
exploration and experimentation, consuming mass quantities of alcohol on a
regular basis can have extremely detrimental long term effects to a
person's body. Binge drinking is an often overlooked problem on college
campuses.
Although buying and drinking alcohol is illegal for most college
students, officials rate binge drinking as the nuraber one health problem
for students today (Monroe 27). A study by the Harvard School of Public
Health found as many as 70 percent of students at some college campuses
binge drink. One-third of all schools surveyed reported bingeing by more
than half the students (Kowalski 8). Many students feel they “know their
limits, ” and can act responsibly while under the influence of alcohol.
However, binge drinking affects speech, vision, balance, and judgment
(Monroe 26). Additionally, alcohol adversely affects the body by disrupting
certain brain functions that can cause drinkers to become overtly rowdy and
hyper, or lose their sense of judgment (Kowalski 6+). When tempers flare,
and the alcohol “starts talking,” people do things they often regret and
sometimes have no recollection of whatsoever. Alcohol also restrains other
behaviors, and it is not unlikely that if two people were intoxicated
enough, they could have unprotected sex and possibly contract STD's.
Where do we define what one drink is, and when is it determined if
someone is drunk? One drink is the equivalent of 12oz. of beer, one ounce
of 86 proof liquor, or a four oz. glass of wine. The effects of alcohol
can be seen immediately. Even after only one drink, a typical 160 lb. male
may feel relaxed and carefree, while his blood alcohol percentage can be .
02. The blood alcohol percentage (BAP) is determined by how many ounces of
alcohol are in 100 milliliters of blood. Two and a half drinks in an hour
raises a 160-pound male's blood alcohol level up to 0.05. (The level is
even higher for women, because they absorb more alcohol per drink into the
blooRABtream than men due to different enzyme levels in the stomach.) The
drinker feels "high," and judgment is clearly affected. Once the BAP
reaches .10, .02 above Illinois' legal driving limit, the drinker loses
most coordination and judgment (Kowalski 6+). This is where most people
get the feeling of invincibility and if put in situations with free alcohol
they may start “pounding.” When the body starts getting exorbitant amounts
of alcohol in a short amount of time, it sometimes cannot handle the rush,
and shuts down completely. When the BAP reaches a staggering .40, comas
occur. Slow reaction times and poor judgment amount to most of the problems
incurred due to excessive drinking.
How this can occur, many wonder, is a topic of great debate. Some
say schools are not doing enough to teach students that binge drinking is
wrong and potentially dangerous. Others admit it is a fact of life that
most people go through during their college years. The problem still
remains, and there is no possible way to justify harming one's body to have
a good time. Alcohol is the nuraber-one drug used on college campuses today.
College students spend a whopping $5.5 billion each year on alcohol, or
about $446 per student. On average, each student drinks 34 gallons of
alcoholic beverages each year (Monroe 28). Anything that has such a great
impact on the economy of a small campustown has to say something about it
prevention, or lack thereof. “In each college community, there are both
obvious and obscure constituencies with alcohol-defined territories to
protect; think of alumni associations, tavern and bar owners, merchants,
athletic departments, recovery organizations, fraternities and sororities,
advertisers, anti-drunk-driving advocacy groups, and parents, to name only
a few” (Keeling 54). Many restaurants, for example, rely on advertising
from alcohol companies to stay afloat. How can these problems stop if
local economies are based on revenues generated from the sales and taxes
that liquor creates
I feel that I have a unique perspective on this topic, not only as
a student but also having a brother who went to school here. Throughout my
life, I have associated college life with drinking and partying. My
brother went through the fraternity system here, and I often visited the
campus during high school. When I visited, I thought that it was the
coolest place in the world; what with all of the women, music, and, of
course, alcohol. I never noticed the adverse effects that alcohol has.
The endless nights of drinking add up, which subsequently caused my own
brother to get expelled from the University of Illinois. “Heavy episodic
drinking is also associated with missing class and getting behind in school
work. This appeared particularly strong during the freshman year” (Wood et
al 206). The sudden shock of this lifestyle, as I noticed when I was
younger, is overwhelming. Contrary to conventional wisdom, “a student's
year in school is not a significant predictor of binge drinking. The
percentage of students who are binge drinkers is nearly uniform from
freshman through senior year, despite the fact that students under 21 are
subject to the minimum drinking age law”
(http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge.htm). A recent study at a large
Midwestern university reported over 80% of the students participated in any
drinking activities all year. The nurabers are quite alarming, with only
18.5% abstaining from alcohol use, and 43.6% engaging in bingeing
(Chaloupka 115) .
An obvious area to discuss is the fraternity life. Although it has
become a recent trend to turn fraternities “dry,” no alcohol allowed in the
house or at social activities associated with the fraternity, the odRAB of a
large group of males between the ages of 18 and 21 living together and not
drinking are quite paltry. An alarming four out of five fraternity or
sorority merabers admit to binge drinking (McCormick 89). During a
freshmen's first year, or “pledging,” it is not uncommon for the older
merabers of the house to haze them. Hazing can be defined as being forced
to do things that are against your will, and violate you as a human being.
Hazing is illegal in most states (http://www.greekpages.com/resources/).
During hazing, anything from forced binge drinking to sensory depravation
is fair game. These freshmen consume massive quantities of alcohol and
attend classes the next day on a consistent basis.
There is not as wide a disparity between male and female drinking
habits as many would think. Alcohol-related problems affected both sexes
about equally. Women binge drinkers reported experiencing roughly the same
level of alcohol-related problems as men binge drinkers. There were two
exceptions: men more often reported damaging property and getting in
trouble with the police.
Frequent binge drinkers had the most serious problems. For example,
“frequent binge drinkers were seven to 16 times more likely than non-binge
drinkers to have missed class, gotten behind in their school work, engaged
in unplanned sexual activity, not used protection when having sex, gotten
in trouble with campus police, damaged property, or been hurt or injured”
(http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge.htm).
Even if these binge drinkers are lucky enough to live through
college, their habits will eventually catch up to them. Years of chronic
binge drinking can lead to a resistance, causing people to crave alcohol.
This then leaRAB to addiction, which can ultimately kill a drinker. Over
time, alcohol wears away the body. “If acute alcohol poisoning, violence,
or an accident doesn't kill a chronic drinker, chances are increased risks
of liver disease, heart disease, and cancer will” (Kowalski 9).
What are the necessary steps universities can take to make sure
this problem is curtailed? There are several actions needed to be taken to
insure a safe, alcohol free environment where budding minRAB are waiting to
be enriched. First, actively reinforce the fact that binge drinking is not
normal. When viewing the nurabers, it is easy to say that 43.6 % of all
students engage in binge drinking. However, why not say 56.4 % of all
students do not binge drink? Although it seems to be a “the cup is half
full” scenario, it gets the point across. Michael Haines, a campus-health
official at Northern Illinois University, says “A more effective approach
is to use advertising to hammer home the positive side of the nurabers: the
fact that many students do drink responsibly” (McCormick 89). Next,
universities must make an impression that, while fun at times, binge
drinking is a serious problem that causes more than just problems for the
individual students. Eileen Coughlin, Associate Vice President Student
Services Northern Arizona University, acknowledges that “An alcohol and
other drug prevention program has to connect to campus-wide issues, such as
campus violence, damage in residence halls, and sexual assaults. This helps
people understand that the misuse of alcohol is part of a larger picture."
On campuses where more than half the students are binge drinkers, the vast
majority of students (87 %) who live on campus have experienced one or more
problems as a result of others' binge drinking
(http://www.ias.org.uk/theglobe/jan98/). Thirdly, universities must stop “
looking the other way” regarding serious alcohol-related problems. Alcohol
can be banned on campus, or at any activities involving registered campus
organizations including fraternities and sororities.
These problems do not necessarily start at college. “Mothers
Against Drunk Driving estimates half of America's 20 million junior and
senior high school students drink monthly. Seventy-nine percent say being
drunk feels good. 66 percent say drinking helps them forget problems. A
similar percentage admit they drink because others do it too” (Kowalski 12).
“Compared to other students, college students who were binge drinkers in
high school were almost three times more likely to be binge drinkers in
college” (http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge.htm). The availability of
alcohol to minors is a problem that does not look like it will stop anytime
soon. During high school, my best friend had an old high school ID of his
brothers. When he walked in to a liquor store, he merely told them that
his license was taken away by the police, and that this was his only form
of identification. This worked far more times than it didn't, and we had
as much alcohol as we could afford whenever we wanted it. Another problem
is when older brothers and sisters who are over 21 purchase alcohol for
minors. While they assume an incredible liability for their purchases,
this does not seem to stop most of them.
The question seems to be what do students “get out of” drinking?
For many, intoxication is often the main goal. Of all frequent binge
drinkers, 73 percent of the men and 68 percent of the women cited drinking
to get drunk as an important reason for drinking
(http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge.htm). Students feel that drinking is a
release from the everyday pressures of school. Many claim that drinking is
a necessary stress reliever that also makes them more relaxed and easier to
communicate with. While these may be true temporarily, they definitely
have their downfalls. The all to common hangovers are a reality check for
most people which leave them wondering “is it worth it?”
Another point may people make is that the drinking age should be
lowered. Obviously, each side has their own points and counterpoints. While
people in favor of the drinking age may state that it would create an
environment where students feel comfortable drinking responsibly without
having to worry about “getting busted,” others say that it would just give
younger people the chance to binge drink more often and with less
apprehension. Most noticeably, pro-21 people believe that drinking is a
privilege not unlike the right to vote or drive, which should be given to
people when they are responsible and mature. “We must remeraber that public
policy, such as any law establishing a legal drinking age, has always to
respond to neeRAB, issues, and concerns of the whole of society. Changes
that might make practical sense on campus could make no sense at all
elsewhere. And campuses are so different that interpretations of the
benefits of, or harm done by, the current legal drinking age understandably
vary” (Keeling 54).
While there are many viewpoints regarding these drinking problems,
The alcohol industry's claims must still be recognized. Several alcohol
companies published a report stating that the accepted definition of binge
drinking, four drinks in a row for women and five in a row for men, is
grossly wrong. They feel bingeing is defined by drinking bouts lasting up
to several days with perioRAB of self-indulgence. Although these two
definitions are quite opposite, one must realize that they are both quite
excessive. While the alcohol company's definition is to a greater extreme,
it still carries heavy problems. Although this may skew the nurabers and
lower certain statistics, even one alcohol-related problem or death is too
many. It is necessary to note that the report was written by the
International Center for Alcohol Policies (ICAP), which is a group funded
solely by brewers, distillers, and distributors of alcoholic beverages,
which may explain the bias towarRAB “softening” the statistics. Another
fact is that many of the statistics mentioned in their report were
contradicted in the Harvard study that is cited in this report several
times. It seems as if the industry was attempting to justify the bingeing
by reporting less people do it. For example, the report said “67% of
college students have not driven under the influence of alcohol”
(http://www.ias.org.uk/theglobe/jan98/responRAB.htm), which is another “the
glass is half empty” statement attempting to justify the problems.
While much has been written about the obvious effects of binge
drinking, there has been little written about the cause. It is easy to
report the nurabers of college drinkers, and the subsequent problems that
arise, but it is merely avoiding the underlying problem. There are many
reason why students drink. The most noticeable reason is peer pressure.
When a student sees a group of frienRAB drinking and having a good time, it
is hard not to join them. While some people may be uncomfortable with the
problem of binge drinking on campuses, if there are more who are outwardly
comfortable with it , they feel the need to conform. Although this is
obviously not the case with everybody, most teenagers, when put in tense
social situations, decide to “hop on the wagon” rather then go against the
norm. Another reason is that alcohol advertising portrays drinkers as “
fun-loving and carefree.” What most students do not realize is that almost
anything in moderation can be tolerable for someone; but when it comes to
moderation, college students have never been typical role models. The
college lifestyle-with late nights and unhealthy eating and sleeping
habits- can be detrimental to a student's health in the short term and the
long term. The patterns that are set at this age seem to lay the
foundation for the rest of one's life. While this seems a bit bold and
generalizing, the fact still remains that if you harm your body and do not
maintain proper health now, it will definitely backlash.
A common misconception of drinkers is that they can “sober up,” or
act normally, in a short amount of time. “Like sand flowing constantly
through an hour glass, alcohol flows through the body until it is
metabolized, or chemically broken down. No amount of coffee, exercise, or
"chasers" can speed the process” (Kowalski 11). What students must learn is
that they have to face up to their actions and take responsibility .
Another problem many students face is drunk driving. To expand
upon a previously stated idea, even after one drink a person's judgment is
affected. If someone feels they need to get in a car with a drunken driver,
they definitely do not. Their are several options someone could take to
ensure a safe trip home. These include calling a cab, taking a bus, or
here at the University of Illinois, calling the MTD Nightrides, which is a
service students can use to call which will send a van to pick them up and
drop them off at their residence hall or apartment. While Nightrides is a
successful program, it does not prevent the problem. Among frequent binge
drinkers, 62 percent of men and 49 percent of women said they had driven
a car after drinking (http://www.edc.org/hec/pubs/binge.htm). When someone
actively makes a conscious effort to step behind the wheel after drinking,
even after only one beer, they must take into account not only their lives,
but the lives of other innocent bystanders. This is an important and
necessary step a drinker must take when making a possibly fatal decision.
It seems that this ongoing discussion will never end. Universities
acknowledge binge drinking problems on campuses, but have yet to take an
aggressive stance against it. The time has come to let students know that
their habits during college are going to have severe repercussions later on
in life. Campus-wide education programs and positive ad campaigns are a
necessary start, but the university is not solely responsible for this.
It is still up to the students to make smart decisions and act responsibly.
Alcohol is not going away, and reducing the availability to minors is still
going to be an uphill battle to overcome. It can only be hoped that
students will see the severe problems binge drinking causes, and make a
conscious effort to curtail them through prevention and awareness.
I have included an informal quiz regarding the dangers of alcohol. I found
it to be quite informative.
How savvy are you about the dangers of alcohol? Take this quiz and find out.
1. In all states as of the end of 1998, teens can be arrested for driving
under the influence of alcohol if their blood alcohol concentration
exceeRAB:
A. zero B. 0.05 C. 0.08 D. 0.10
2. Which statement is false?
A. On average, women's blooRABtreams absorb more alcohol per drink than
men's. B. You can only get drunk on hard liquor, not on beer. C. Alcohol
lowers a person's body temperature. D. It's illegal in all states to sell
alcohol to people under age 21.
3. What part of the body performs the main task of chemically breaking down
alcohol?
A. Liver B. Small intestine C. Kidneys D. All of the above
4. Over time, habitual drinkers increase their risks of:
A. Heart disease B. Liver disease C. Cancer D. All of the above
5. Approximately how many babies are born each year with fetal alcohol
syndrome caused by their mother's drinking?
A. 3,000 B. 10,000 C. 41,000 D. 106,000
6. On average, how many drinks are consumed each week by college students
with a grade point average of D or below?
A. 1 B. 3 C. 7 D. 11
7. About how many calories are in one drink of wine or beer?
A. 100 to 150 B. 20 C. 600 to 700 D. zero
8. Which of the following is a risk of binge drinking?
A. Acute alcohol poisoning B. Passing out and choking on one's own vomit
C. Being involved in a violent act D. All of the above
9. Which factor does not influence how intoxicated a person gets?
A. Physical size B. Speed of drinking C. Time of day D. Full or empty
stomach
10. Alcohol is a:
A. Stimulant B. Depressant C. Hallucinogen D. All of the above
Answers: 1. A; 2. B; 3. A; 4. D; 5. C; 6. D; 7. A; 8. D; 9. C; 10. B
How many right answers did you have?
1-5 What you don't know can hurt you. Learn the facts about alcohol.
6-8 You're buying into some myths about alcohol. Set the record straight.
9-10 Use your good alcohol I.Q. to stay sober and safe.
(Kowalski 12+)
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[FONT=tahoma, arial]WorRAB: 3367 [/FONT]