Excessive drinking extremely hazardous to health
I would like to say happy birthday to the student whose 21st birthday recently was chronicled in The Daily Gamecock. The 21st birthday is one of many significant milestones, and it’s worthy of a safe, memorable celebration.
It concerns me, though, that she chose to mark her birthday with such dangerous behaviors. She describes drinking a minimum of 15 drinks (a standard liquor drink is 1.5 oz.) in just three hours. That type of binge drinking, which included chugging and having shots poured down her throat, often results in considerable harm.
After two drinks in an hour, she may feel more relaxed, but her driving ability is impaired. After four drinks, her inhibitions and attention span have diminished, and her body is likely dehydrated. After six drinks, her reaction time is much slower, her judgments are severely impaired, and her liver cannot process alcohol, resulting in high blood alcohol content (BAC). A high BAC can lead to unconsciousness, respiratory arrest and even death.
If students choose to celebrate their 21st birthday with alcohol, they should follow these tips for celebrating safely:
—Set limits ahead of time.
—Avoid drinking alcohol while taking any medications.
—Designate a sober driver.
—Avoid going out with those who engage in high-risk drinking behaviors.
—Eat before and during drinking.
—Alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Avoid chugging and drinking games.
—Get help if someone has had too much to drink. Call 911 immediately!
The decision to consume alcohol is a personal choice. For students under 21, the only legal choice is to abstain from purchasing alcohol.
For students 21 and older who choose to consume alcohol, drinking in a low-risk, legal manner not only serves to reduce negative consequences, but it increases the likelihood of being safe, having fun and making memories that will last a lifetime.