FAQ About Drinking

1 . Can I drink and still be in control?^

Reaction time is diminished with the very first drink. Alcohol affects the central nervous system, and the brain's cognitive functions are a major part of that system. There is an increased likelihood that your judgment is impaired and you will regret some things you may say or do.

2 . Is drinking all that dangerous?^

Alcohol related injuries, accidents, assaults, and death do occur at various blood alcohol levels (BAL), and some college students have had those BAL levels.

3 . What's in that keg cup of beer?^

Most keg cups used around here hold 16-18 oz. The normal serving of beer is 12 oz. So, when drinking from a keg cup at a party, 4 keg cups actually equals about 5 normal servings of beer. This difference might lead to problems.

4 . Can I sober up quickly if I need to?^

Alcohol is processed out of the human body at a very static rate of .016 per hour. This means that if a person had a BAL of .08, then it would take 5 hours for the alcohol to be metabolized out of the body. Nothing can speed up this process, so myths about drinking coffee, cold showers, eating, or sweating it out, don't work. Sometimes people can act sober, but are still intoxicated.

5 . Can I drink and keep up with my friends?^

Women and men's bodies process alcohol differently. If men and women who have the same body weight drink the same amount, women will become more intoxicated, and more impaired. Body weight, the amount of alcohol and the period of time affect intoxication levels, but differing amounts of enzymes, hormones, and other unique factors affect how our bodies process alcohol, so keeping up with your friend's drinking is not a good idea.

6 . Am I better off than other people if I can hold my liquor?^

Tolerance is not so good. When a person develops a tolerance for alcohol, they can feel like they have a .06 BAL and actually have a .10 BAL or higher . Thus, a person will drink more and create greater risk.

7 . Beer doesn't have as much alcohol as hard liquor, does it?^

The definition of a standard drink is ½ ounce of ethyl alcohol. A standard drink is equal to a 12 ounce can of beer, 4 ounces of wine, and 1 ¼ ounce of (80 proof) hard liquor. They all have equal amounts of alcohol.

8 . How can I recognize an alcohol emergency, and what do I do?^

An alcohol emergency may come in many shapes and forms. You may not recognize the signs because you have become accustomed to some behaviors looking normal when you are drinking. However, it is important to be aware and understand that a person who is unable to perform normal functions has consumed too much alcohol. The right thing to do is to call 911 or Security if a person is not speaking, walking or understanding things. If a person cannot walk from one chair to another on his or her own, or seems to be passed out, this is a situation that requires medical attention. Many things could happen to this person, choking on vomit, falling, or becoming unconscious.