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Most college students drink. Students drink at parties, bars, restaurants, gatherings, at dinner or even alone. But are the students at the University of West Georgia truly informed about the effects of alcohol, and do students understand the responsibility that comes with drinking?
“I feel that drinking in general is not a bad thing, but obsessive drinking can be a problem,” said student Keysheera Mitchell. “A drinker should know their limits.”
Some students drink alcohol to relieve stress from school.
“I drink to relieve my stress, especially around my test time,” a UWG senior said. “I drink Cirot and lemonade or a long island ice tea to really calm my nerves before a big exam. It puts me in a state of relaxation.”
“Drinking is okay as long as it is done in moderation,” Bernard Rosemon, student, added. “You [have to] get away from the books and all the schoolwork every now and then.”
But statistics show that students who drink less alcohol on average make higher grades. An “A” student consumes approximately 3.1 alcoholic beverages a week, “B” students 4.4, a “D” student 5.6, and a failing student approximately 9.5.
Most people are not aware of what they’re actually consuming. A 12 ounce can of beer contains five percent alcohol, a five ounce glass of wine contains about 12 percent alcohol, and a half-ounce shot is 80-proof.
There are many myths on sobering up, from drinking coffee to slapping someone in the face. However, it takes the liver an hour to process one drink, so time is the only true key to sobriety.
Women also seem to become intoxicated more rapidly than men, and here’s why. Women are usually smaller than men, which decreases the time it takes for alcohol to move through the body. When the liver is smaller, it takes longer for the alcohol to be broken down.
Women also tend to have more body fat than men, and fat doesn’t absorb alcohol. Men have more of an enzyme called dehydrogenase, which helps to metabolize alcohol. Other factors the help alcohol to have an effect more quickly include whether a woman is on birth control or ovulating.
Eighty percent of rape cases deal with alcohol. Although someone may joke, “I hope she gets wasted so I can score,” that is actually considered planned sexual assault.
UWG is hosting a Health and Safety Week on March 15-19. Speaker Ronnie Rice will address alcohol awareness on March 17 in the TLC Room 1305 at 7 p.m. in a presentation called “Booze, Boys, Babes and the Mourning After.” There will also be an obstacle course using alcohol-vision goggles.
Jimmy Lamont, peer educator, said that students should look out for one another.
“I think that personally and professionally…people should know that there is nothing wrong with drinking, but they should be aware [of their] limit,” said Lamont. “Friends should try to be more responsible with taking care of our friends in a bad situation.”
According to health educator Ron King, behavioral cues may be indicators as to intoxication including stumbling, slurred speech, being overly friendly, excessive talking, displaying mood swings, a relaxed state and loss of coordination.
Signs of alcohol poisoning are vomiting, irregular breathing, slow pulse rate, and pale or cold skin. If these signs become present in someone, students are encouraged to call 911, as alcohol poisoning can be fatal. For more information, visit http://www.westga.edu/~health/selfcare06/alcohol.htm.
“It’s about being responsible and having fun at the same time,” said Lamont.
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