Student Wellness Tip of the Week: THINK Before You DRINK

09/20/11

Drinking alcohol can result in positive or negative experiences, depending on many factors.

If you choose to drink, remember these tips for making sure your drinking experience is one that you feel good about the next day:

• Eat substantially before and during drinking- The feeling of relaxation and euphoria ("the buzz") occurs when alcohol is absorbed slowly into the bloodstream. Key to this slow absorption is to have food in your stomach. Eat a full meal within 3 hours of beginning drinking. Snacking during drinking helps also. Remember, eating bread will NOT aid someone who is heavily intoxicated, and may cause choking.
  
• Be aware of the medications you are on and the potential interactive effects with alcohol. Consult your health care provider if you plan on drinking and are taking any medications (even cold/cough medicine), or if you have a medical condition. The combined effects can make you feel very sick, and can be dangerous in some cases.
• Sip your drink- Gulping, chugging, and engaging in drinking games can result in a higher level of intoxication than you want. Remember, a slowly rising BAC will provide the best buzz effect. Try alternating with sips of water.
• Avoid taking drinks from someone you don't know very well, and keep an eye on your drink at all times to reduce your chances of being drugged without your knowledge.
• Plan for a sober designated driver, use the T-CAT late night bus service, or take a cab. Is a DWI worth a night on the town?
• Combine a mixer with hard liquor. Drinking shots can quickly result in over-intoxication and vomiting. You are more likely to have a blackout (memory loss) when drinking shots also, because of the rapid rise in BAC. Negative drinking experiences often go hand in hand with shots.
• Keep an eye on your friends, and stay together throughout the entire evening. Have a "buddy system" that everyone can agree on.
  
• Females, Listen up! Women have less body water than males, so you will reach a higher BAC than your male friends after drinking the same amount. You also have less of a stomach enzyme involved in alcohol metabolism, which causes you to get drunk faster and stay drunk longer than males. Finally, fluctuations in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle make women more prone to intoxication. If you're on hormonal birth control, you're more likely to experience a higher BAC, also.

*For more helpful tips on drinking and drug use, click here!

The Center for Health Promotion hosts a Substance-Free Support Group on Fridays at 4:00pm in the Resource Room. All are welcome! If you choose to drink, pick up a BAC card and/or have a private consultation in our BASICS program.

Submitted by: Maria Behrens '12

0 Comments

https://www.ithaca.edu/intercom/article.php/20110916170024368