Alcohol 101

MYTHS and FACTS About Alcohol

MYTH: “I can drive well enough after a few drinks . . .”
FACT: 50% of all crashes among 18-24 year olds involve alcohol.

MYTH: I can sober up quickly if I have to . . .
FACT: It can take up to 2 hours to process one drink.

MYTH: Beer doesn’t have as much alcohol as hard liquor.
FACT: 12 oz. of beer = 1 shot of 80-proof liquor = 4.5 oz. glass of wine

MYTH: The more you drink, the better you feel!
FACT: Alcohol is biphasic: at low levels it produces feelings of euphoria; at high levels it produces unpleasant inebriating effects, such as vomiting, mood changes and passing out.

 What is Binge Drinking Anyways?

 NMSU-Students-reported-memory-loss-07-07-15.pngBinge Drinking Is…

Drinking a lot of alcohol in a short amount of time causing a very high blood alcohol level.
When a man consumes 5 or more drinks in a row within a 2 hour period.
When a woman consumes 4 or more drinks in a row within a 2 hour period.

 

 

 

Remember, one (1) drink is considered:

12oz beer
10oz wine cooler
4oz wine
1oz 80-proof liquor

Signs of a Problem Drinker

  • Drinking alone
  • Makes/finds excuses to drink
  • Hides their drinking
  • Inability to reduce or stop drinking
  • Neglects responsibilities
  • Change in appearance
  • Becomes involved in violent episodes when drinking
  • Has poor eating habits
  • Becomes angry when confronted about drinking
  • Has a decreased academic performance (drugfree.org)

Alcohol Poisoning

If you know someone who has had too much to drink:

  • DO NOT LEAVE THE PERSON ALONE. Blood alcohol levels can continue to rise even after a person has passed out, so check on him/her often.
  • Try to wake the person up.
  • Place the person in fetal position with pillow at the back to prevent rolling to avoid the person choking on his/her own vomit.
  • Check for regular or shallow breathing.
  • Check for blue lips or pale skin.
  • Do not put a person in a cold shower – it can cause the person to go into physical shock.
  • Coffee will not sober a person up – the only thing that can sober someone up is TIME.
  • Do not hesitate to call 911.

 

Call 911 ASAP if a Person is:

  • Unconscious, cannot be woken up or can only be awakened for a short time
  • Unaware of surroundings
  • Exhibits respiratory difficulties, including slow, labored breathing (10 breaths per minute or less is a MEDICAL EMERGENCY).
  • Blue under the fingernails or at gums
  • Cold, clammy, and/or bluish skin
  • Vomiting while semiconscious or unconscious

Tips for Reduced-Risk Partying

Helpful-tips-for-going-out-07-07-15.png

  • Plan ahead! Set a limit and stick to it.
  • Alternate between alcoholic drinks and water in order to stay hydrated and space out your alcohol intake.
  • Always have a designated driver. Plan on registering an account with Uber or Lyft or keep Crimson Cab’s number (524-TAXI; free rides for NMSU students with ID) in your phone.
  • Eat before and while you drink to help slow the absorption of alcohol.
  • Either avoid playing drinking games or cheat during. Drinking games can lead to drinking a larger amount of alcohol in a shorter amount of time, which could lead to you not realizing how intoxicated you’re becoming.
  • Know how much you are drinking: 1 drink = 1 4oz. glass of wine, 1 12oz. beer, 1 shot of 80-proof liquor. Mixed drinks may be more than one serving!
  • Use the buddy system. Stick with a group or a buddy, and make sure you look out for each other.
  • Keep an eye on your drink to protect yourself from date rape drugs – both men and women are at risk of being drugged.
  • Don’t drink from punch bowls or pitchers – they are easy to drug, potentially unhygienic, and it is difficult to keep track of how much you are drinking.
  • Remember that it’s okay to not drink; you can have a blast sober!