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It's possible that you or your friends have considered trying alcohol or have already tried it before.
There are many risks associated with drinking as a young adult. Alcohol affects many parts of the human body—wherever water goes alcohol goes too. This means that regardless of age alcohol is associated with many serious health risks.
Back to topConsequences of underage drinking
While drinking may have many negative effects on a person's health like increasing risk for certain cancers and liver disease, there are many other risks associated with underage drinking. Some of the risks include:
- Doing poorly in school (teens who drink alcohol are more likely to get bad grades than teens who don't)
- Increased risk for depression and anxiety
- Poor decision making (teens who drink are more likely to engage in other risky behaviors)
- Risky sexual activity (underage drinking is associated with a higher risk of risky sexual behavior like unprotected sex, and being sexually active at a younger age)
Possible legal consequences like minor in possessions (MIP) could keep someone from being able to play sports or be in other extracurricular activities.
Responsible alcohol consumption
If you are of legal drinking age, it's important to know and practice safe alcohol consumption guidelines and remember it is possible to have or develop a problem with alcohol in college. According to NSDUH, 13% of college students ages 18-22 meet the criteria for an alcohol use disorder.
Responsible drinking guidelines are for people who are 21 and older, not pregnant, and who have not experienced problems with alcohol or other substances in the past. Remember to talk to your doctor if you are taking any medications that could react negatively with alcohol before consuming alcohol.
Tips for responsible alcohol consumption include:
- Pace yourself
- For women: no more than 1 drink per day and no more than 7 in one week
- For men: no more than 2 drinks in one day or 14 in one week
- Know what you're drinking and stick to standard drink sizes
- Avoid drinking out of jungle juices, borgs, tall boys, Four Lokos, etc.
- Don't play drinking games
- Avoid taking shots
- ALWAYS eat before and after drinking
- Make sure you stay hydrated and drink water
- Do not mix drugs with alcohol (this includes marijuana and medications prescribed by your doctor)
- NEVER drive after consuming alcohol
What is a "standard drink?"
Did you know that just because you order one drink it doesn't mean that it's equivalent to drinking one standard serving of alcohol? Popular drinks that contain more than a standard drink size are:
- Long Island iced tea = 4 standard drinks
- Tallboys = 1.5 - 2 standard drinks
- Margaritas = 1.7 standard drinks
- 1 bottle of wine = 5 standard drinks
Binge drinking
Binge drinking is defined as having 4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more drinks for men in roughly 2 hours. In youth, however, binge drinking is defined as only 3 drinks for girls and 3-5 drinks for boys.(4)
Binge drinking accounts for 90% of all alcohol consumed by teens(5). There are many risks associated with binge drinking, including(6):
Risks associated with binge drinking
- Higher risk of acute harm, such as blackouts or overdoses
- Higher risk of unsafe sexual behavior, sexually transmitted infections and unintentional pregnancy
- Increased risk of violence, falls, burns, drownings, and car crashes
- Increased risk for certain diseases and cancers
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels
It may be common knowledge that the legal drinking limit is 0.08 BAC but what exactly does that mean and how does blood alcohol content affect your body?
Remember a person's blood alcohol content differs based on how much and how fast they drink and may be different from person to person due to factors such as height, weight and gender.
| BAC level | Effects |
|---|---|
| Mild 0.01-0.06% |
|
| Moderate 0.08-0.15% |
|
| Severe 0.15-0.3% |
|
| Life-threatening 0.3% and above |
|
Alcohol poisoning
Alcohol overdose causes areas of the brain that are important for supporting life to shut down. These areas are important to control breathing and heart rate. Alcohol poisoning is extremely dangerous and can lead to impaired brain function and even death. If you think someone may be experiencing alcohol poisoning, seek medical attention immediately.
What to do
- Seek medical attention right away
- Stay with them, DO NOT leave them alone
- Turn them on their side to prevent choking
- Try to keep them conscious
- Make sure they stay warm
- Recall details about the person and how much they drank
Many universities have implemented “Good Samaritan” policies to protect students who seek medical attention immediately. Check to see your university's policy:
- Drake
- Iowa State University
- University of Iowa
- University of Northern Iowa
Hangovers
Hangover is the term used for the negative aftereffects of consuming too much alcohol. Hangovers are caused by many factors such as dehydration, exposure to acetaldehyde (the toxin alcohol produces in your body) and mini withdrawal from the effects of alcohol on the brain(3).
Symptoms of a hangover include nausea, vomiting, headaches, anxiety, muscle aches, fatigue, weakness, sweating, light sensitivity and more.