Be Aware the Effects of Alcohol
The use of drugs, such as alcohol, can have negative consequences on your college experience. It is important to understand these consequences and your perspective on drug use before you are in a situation where you are pressured to make a decision that could negatively affect you.
Only an illusion of warmth
Vasodilation while drinking gives you the illusion of feeling warmer while drinking but increases your risk of hypothermia.
Point of diminishing returns
The point of diminishing returns occurs at a BAC of .06. Surpassing this BAC by drinking more alcohol leads to fewer of the pleasurable effects associated with drinking and more of the unpleasant effects.
Know the standard drink size for multiple types of alcohol
Beer: 12oz
Wine: 5oz
Hard Alcohol: 1.5oz
Medical amnesty
An Oregon law protects those who seek medical assistance for themselves or someone else because of alcohol poisoning from receiving a minor in possession (MIP) for alcohol.
What sobers me up?
Nothing! Only time will sober you up.
Avoiding a hangover
Hydrate
Don’t drink on an empty stomach
Measure drinks using the standard drink size
Avoid drinking games
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is blood alcohol concentration (BAC)?
BAC refers to the percent of a person’s blood that contains alcohol. A BAC of .01 means that an individual’s blood supply contains 1 part alcohol for every 99 parts blood, which is also equivalent to 1%.
Why is the legal drinking age 21?
Drinking at the age of 21 and older reduces your risk of becoming dependent on alcohol and results in fewer motor vehicle crashes.
What’s an OK amount to drink?
The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism states that men should not exceed 4 drinks per day or a total of 14 per week and women should not exceed 3 drinks a day or a total of 7 per week.
What is considered "a drink"?
One standard drink in the US contains roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in: “12 ounces of regular beer, which is usually about 5% alcohol. 5 ounces of wine, which is typically about 12% alcohol. 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, which is about 40% alcohol” (NIH).
How do I know what my BAC is?
When drinking alcohol, your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) increases. You can calculate your BAC using your sex assigned at birth, your weight and the number of standard drinks you’ve consumed. Although sex and weight are the main factors that affect BAC, it can also be influenced by hormones, food consumed before drinking and the amount of time between drinks.
What is the point of diminishing returns?
It is important when you are drinking that you keep your BAC between 0.0-0.06. The .06 BAC is known as the point of diminishing returns because at that BAC, the positive effects of alcohol will be most noticeable. Going beyond this point is likely to increase the negative effects of alcohol consumption which can include tiredness and nausea.
What is the standard drink size?
- Regular beer: 12 fluid ounces
- Malt liquor: 8-9 fluid ounces
- Wine: 5 fluid ounces
- Shot of 80 proof spirits (tequila, vodka, rum, etc.): 1.5 fluid ounces
What should I do if my friend drinks too much?
- Don’t leave them alone. Turn them onto their side to prevent choking if they vomit.
- Don’t let them sleep it off. Blood alcohol concentration can continue rising even when someone is asleep. “Sleeping it off” has led to alcohol-related deaths of college students across the US.
- Don’t give the person food or beverages; they could choke.
- If the person is unconscious and cannot be woken, call 9-1-1 immediately. The Oregon Medical Amnesty law prevents underage drinkers from receiving a minor in possession (MIP) when aiding someone with alcohol poisoning or seeking aid for themselves.
How do I stay safe while drinking?
- Eat before you start drinking.
- Alternate your drinks. Drinking water between alcoholic drinks will keep you hydrated and reduce the effects of your hangover.
- Avoid drinks with unknown contents and never leave your drink unattended.
- Don’t mix alcohol and other drugs, this includes caffeine.
- Pace yourself: Consume no more than one drink per hour. One standard drink is 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor. Important Tip: The lines on solo cups show roughly how much one drink is. The line closest to the bottom of the cup is for liquor, the middle line for wine, and the top line for beer.