Get Educated: Under the Influence

The safest, and only legal option for those under the age of 21, is to not drink alcohol. However, 80% of college students have already or will drink at some point. There are many strategies you can use to protect yourself when drinking.

Here is an opportunity for you to choose the best strategies for you. Using the following list of suggestions, print out the information YOU find most helpful.

Suggested Strategies

1. Choose not to drink
   This is a no-brainer. Not drinking is always an option for you, at any time.
2. Eat before and during drinking
   Having food in the stomach slows the absorption of alcohol, meaning that BAC increases more slowly. Bad things happen when alcohol hits all at once (like blackouts).
3. Drink only with trusted friends or use the buddy system
   Friends who know you, and are looking out for you, can protect you from being in an unsafe situation. Also, if a friend appears abnormally drowsy, or excessively drunk given the amount of alcohol consumed, it may indicate the use of a predatory drug like Rohypnol or GHB. Get to a safe place and/or seek medical attention.
4. Ask a close friend to intervene if he/she thinks you've had enough
   It can be as easy as saying, "I don't want to hook up with anyone tonight," or "don't let me make a fool out of myself."
5. Set a limit for yourself and stick to that limit
   Most William and Mary students have four drinks or less when they drink. (The average for men is 5.2; the average for women is 3.1.)
6. Try to maintain a BAC at or around .05
   The most positive effects of alcohol are experienced at or around a blood alcohol content of .05. You can find out how much alcohol can get you there and help you stay there depending on your gender and body weight. These are just estimates!

   Women’s Maximum Number of Drinks (BAC ≤ .05)
   	Time Spent Drinking
   Body Weight	1 hour	2 hours	3 hours	4 hours	5 hours
   100	1.5	2.0	3.0	4.0	5.0
   120	2.0	3.0	4.0	5.0	6.0
   140	2.5	3.5	4.5	5.0	6.0
   160	2.5	3.5	4.5	5.5	6.0
   180	3.0	4.0	5.0	5.5	6.5
   200	3.0	4.0	5.0	6.0	7.0
   	1	2	3	4	5
   	Number of Drinks

   Men’s Maximum Number of Drinks (BAC ≤ .05)
   	Time Spent Drinking
   Body Weight	1 hour	2 hours	3 hours	4 hours	5 hours
   130	2.5	3.5	4.5	5.0	6.0
   160	2.0	3.0	4.0	5.0	6.0
   160	3.0	4.0	5.0	5.5	6.5
   180	3.0	4.0	5.0	6.0	7.0
   200	3.5	4.5	5.5	6.0	7.0
   220	3.5	4.5	5.5	6.0	7.5
   240	4.0	5.0	6.0	7.0	7.5
   	1	2	3	4	5
   	Number of Drinks

7. Pace drinks over time (ideally one drink an hour)
   
8. Avoid drinking games
   When playing drinking games, it is likely that a lot of alcohol can be consumed in a short amount of time. It is also likely that you can loose track of how much alcohol you've consumed. You can always play with another beverage, or make your own rules.
9. Alternate between alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages
   Alternating between an alcoholic beverage and water can help you to both maintain a low BAC and prevent dehydration.
10. Keep track of how much you're drinking
11. Use a designated driver who is completely sober
12. Always have an exit plan
    Knowing how to safely get home if a problem occurs can be very helpful. Some suggestions: keep the number of a cab company in your cell phone, have cab fare in cash, enlist friends as allies to intervene, and set up a signal to let a friend know if you need a rescue.
13. Never leave your drink unattended, and do not accept a drink from someone you do not know.
    Be aware that predatory drugs like GHB and Rohypnol can be used to facilitate a sexual assault. However, alcohol is still the most commonly used predatory drug

When sex is a possibility:

1. Pay attention to how much your partner is drinking
2. Remember that consent to sexual activity before drinking is helpful but never final
3. Remember that impairment of judgment can begin with the first drink
4. Remember that probability of miscommunication is high when people have been drinking.
5. Warning bells should be going off if you see an opportunity in hooking up with an intoxicated person. If you're in doubt - wait!

Who is responsible when both people are drinking?