ALCOHOL
Alcohol can have a significant impact on your decision making, health, relationships, and the community. Here are some suggestions to keep you healthier, safer, and smarter:
Healthy Choices
- Drink a glass of water between each drink of alcohol; this will keep you hydrated and will slow down your drinking rate, keeping your BAC from getting too high.
- Decide how much you will drink before you drink and stick with it.
- Eat a meal before drinking.
- Steer clear of drinking games - keep your drinking rate slow.
- Avoid mixing alcohol with caffeine.
Safer Choices
- Designate a sober driver or use CARPOOL.
- Make decisions about your night before you start drinking (how you will get home, who you go home with, etc.)
- Know the people you're with, watch out for yourself and your friends.
- Watch your drink at all times.
Smart Choices
- Plan your party ahead of time.
- Only take cash to the bars - starting a tab can lead to over spending.
- Know the laws and university policies.
- Avoid drunk texting and drunk dialing.
- Do not post pictures or videos of your drinking online - employers, parents and university officials may see these.
Sometimes with mixed drinks, beer from kegs, and malt beverages, people might say that they've had "one drink" because it was in one container, but in reality they might have had two or more. Listed below are the number of ounces of each type of alcohol that equal one drink.
Standard Drink Sizes:
- 12 oz. - Beer
- 5 oz. - Wine
- 1.5 oz. - 80 Proof Liquor
Count your drinks: try a BAC-calculator app!
Signs of Alcohol Poisoning
If someone exhibits ANY of these signs, call 911 immediately!
- Mental confusion
- Unresponsive
- Seizures or slurred speech
- Throwing up while unconscious
- Hypothermia
- Erratic or slow breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Paleness/blueness of skin
Medical Amnesty
Texas has a 911 Lifeline Law that provides medical amnesty from alcohol possession and consumption charges against minors if they:
- Request medical assistance for a minor due to alcohol consumption
- Remain at the scene
- Cooperate with medical and law enforcement personnel
Officers responding to these kind of incidents are focused on the person in need of help - not running after minors in possession who weren't the first to call. This law only applies to Class C misdemeanors (like a minor in possession (MIP)) and not Class A misdemeanors (such as furnishing alcohol to a minor). Additionally, if the person experiencing the medical emergency is a minor, the law does not grant amnesty to that minor.
KNOW YOUR RESOURCES
Learn more about the resources available through Student Life, on-campus, and in the community.
KNOW YOUR RESOURCES
Learn more about the resources available through Student Life, on-campus, and in the community.