Alcohol FAQ: Can you drink responsibly?

Karen Contardo, Student Wellness Resource Center Director

We may hear a lot about drinking problems either when students are on campus or when they are at home with their friends.  When students talk about drinking they will sometimes say that they can drink and still get good grades, they get their work done or that it doesn’t really affect them.  Sometimes students say they “drink responsibly”.   If I ask ten students to tell me what that means, every answer is different and only a very few answers will reflect on any impact beyond a day or two.  If a person says, “I don’t drink and drive,” that is a responsible and safer choice.  Choosing to have 1 or 2 drinks instead of 5 or 6 is another safer choice.  There is no clear definition for responsible drinking so it becomes meaningless until we dig deeper; however we can make safer less risky choices about drinking.

We want students to understand that the best way to avoid negative consequences and risk is to choose not to drink and if they are under 21 there are many legal and university consequences that can affect them in multiple ways.  You may want to ask what your student thinks in general about college students either choosing not to drink or choosing safer drinking.   Drinking with reckless abandon would not be a choice.  This is not an easy choice because many students drink to just go along or fit in.  They may feel pressured by others to drink or tempted for their own reasons so they often are not conscious that they really are making a choice.  Whichever idea your student thinks is the better idea for college students, you can offer some simple tips.  Either choice requires a plan.  Congratulate your student if choosing not to drink seems like the best option.  Then offer some simple steps.  1) Know your reasons.  You can help them make a list like wanting to stay in shape, not getting sick, having work to do, etc.  2) Tell friends about your decision and why.  This will gain support and respect. 3) Think ahead to avoid getting into sticky situations, bring your own water or soda and bring plenty to share.  Your student will learn how to make a personal decision, stick to it and become more confident over time.   The other choice to drink safer really means that your student is thinking and learning more about good, better and best choices.  Since your student will someday be 21 this is a good conversation.  Some tips may be 1)  Make a plan  which means choosing to drink one or fewer drinks during an hour, or choosing not to drive any vehicle, bike, long board, etc. after even one drink.  Again you can help make a list. 2) Learn more about alcohol like serving size, body size, etc. 3) Decide how much.  It is not all or nothing.  You can drink alcohol and then switch to water, juice or soda or decide to only have 1 or 2 drinks and no more. 3) Tell friends about your choice and why so you can support each other and stick to your plan.   Students make many choices and drinking is one of them.  As they learn to make choices you can help them.  Most students are already making healthy choices and choosing not to drink or to drink at lower levels.