Tips for Attendees
Drinking alcohol responsibly is especially important for students' safety. If attending a party, make sure to follow these do's and do not's:
Drinking Do’s and Do Not’s
- DO set a limit for yourself before going out and having drinks. Communicate that to a friend and watch-out for each other. You should know, according to your body type and tolerance, how much alcohol you can safely have.
- DO take a break from drinking. Show yourself and your friends that you don’t need alcohol to go out and have a good time. If you can’t do that, then that is an indication that you may have a problem with alcohol.
- DO eat before and during drinking alcohol- it will slow down the absorption rate of the alcohol into your bloodstream. However, eating after you drink will not change anything - once alcohol is in your bloodstream, nothing can slow the rate of absorption.
- DO talk to your friends before going out to discuss what to do if: (1) someone is drinking too much, (2) someone gets drunk and starts hooking up with someone they probably wouldn’t want to, (3) someone wants to leave but the others want to stay out. Prepare yourself and your friends to take care of each other and to support each other in making responsible choices.
- DO get involved when you see someone else putting him/herself in danger. Alcohol poisoning, accidents, sexual assaults, drug overdoses, and drunk driving deaths are all real! It is better to have someone ask you why you tried to keep them from having a good time than to have his/her parents ask you why you let them leave the party drunk.
- DO care enough to get involved and do the right thing. Wouldn’t you want someone to do that for you?
- DO NOT go out with people who make you feel uncomfortable about not drinking. The people worth hanging out with are the ones who will respect you and your choices.
- DO NOT guzzle, play drinking games, or use devices to consume more quickly (funnels, shot slides, tubes, double shot glasses, etc.). Your body can only safely process .5 oz of alcohol (about half the amount in an average drink) an hour. So, have no more than one drink per hour and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.
- DO NOT charge any kind of fees to party guests.
- DO NOT go to places where you will be bored if you’re not drinking or where you will be uneasy without a drink in your hand.
- DO NOT leave your drinks unattended, let someone else get your drink for you, or drink from a punch bowl- predatory drugs are out there!! They are colorless, odorless, and will leave you completely vulnerable to be taken advantage of. Unfortunately, you are not always in a “safe place” with “safe people”—make your own drink, watch it being made, and keep it with you where you can see it at all times.
Important Things to Remember About Alcohol
- Alcohol and drug use can interfere with academic success.
- Mixing alcohol and other drugs can have unexpected and dangerous outcomes.
- Alcohol and other drug consumption increases your risk of being a perpetrator or a victim of assault.
- Ensure there are no underage drinkers at your parties and that nobody leaves and drives drunk. Lives could be at risk and the legal consequences are severe.
- Students can increase the safety of their peers by calling 911 if someone is seriously impaired or in danger of alcohol poisoning.
- When students/groups believe that assistance for an intoxicated/impaired individual (including themselves) is needed to ensure the student’s wellbeing, it is critical that they take responsible action and seek that assistance. Under the Office of Student Conduct's Amnesty Through Responsible Action, the University will not hold students who take such action, or for whom such action is taken, accountable for violations of the University’s alcohol or other drug policies (with the exception of DUI). To be eligible for Amnesty Through Responsible Action, you must:
- CALL
- STAY
- COOPERATE
- When students/groups believe that assistance for an intoxicated/impaired individual (including themselves) is needed to ensure the student’s wellbeing, it is critical that they take responsible action and seek that assistance. Under the Office of Student Conduct's Amnesty Through Responsible Action, the University will not hold students who take such action, or for whom such action is taken, accountable for violations of the University’s alcohol or other drug policies (with the exception of DUI). To be eligible for Amnesty Through Responsible Action, you must: