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 drinks that contain energy drinks and 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 of you drinking on Facebook - employers, parents and university officials may see these.
How many drinks did you have the last time you consumed alcohol? Often times with mixed
drinks, kegs, and malt beverages, when people say that they've had two drinks, they've really had between 4 and 6. Listed below are the number of ounces of each type of alcohol that equal one drink. You can use the lines on a Solo cup to approximate these serving sizes.
Standard Drink Sizes:
- 12 oz. - Beer
- 10 oz. - Wine Cooler
- 7 oz. - Malt Liquor or Ice Beer
- 5 oz. - Wine
- 1.5 oz. - 80 Proof Liquor
Count your drinks: try a BAC-calculator for iPhone or Android.
Signs of Alcohol Poisoning
If someone exhibits ANY of these signs, call 911 immediately!
- Fever or chill
- Difficulty walking or standing
- Unconscious or semi-unconscious
- Poorly aware of surroundings
- Vomiting while unconscious or semi-unconscious
- Bluish gums or fingernail beds
- Low body temperature or seizures
- Slow or irregular breathing; difficulty breathing
- Cold, bluish or clammy 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.