Emily Slater, Editor in Chief
Graduation is right around the corner. With graduation comes graduation parties, followed by the promise of summer vacation. While this is a great time, full of well deserved fun and relaxation, it is also a time in which many students choose to indulge in more risky behaviors than they do during the school year. One such behavior is binge drinking.
According to the National Institute of Health, alcohol is the most abused substance by young people in America. When Americans drink underage, ninety percent of the time, they are binge drinking. Binge drinking is the consumption of multiple alcoholic beverages in a short amount of time. This kind of drinking is glorified as just a part of the college experience, almost as a right of passage. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism reports that 2 in every 5 college students have engaged in binge drinking at least once in the last two weeks. It may be a normal part of college life, it is not an experience without risks and consequences.
While many Lone Star College-Kingwood students are underage, binge drinking is dangerous even if you are of legal drinking age. Alcohol lowers inhibitions, allowing you to make decisions you wouldn’t otherwise make, not to mention the health risks posed by binging. Whilst binge drinking is incredibly dangerous no matter the drinker’s age, it is still ever so prevalent in today’s society. In lieu of giving a well meaning but all-in-all useless warning about the dangers of alcohol, here are some reminders on drinking responsibly:
- It can wait.
One third of all American teens have drank prior to their fifteenth birthday. The pull to drink underage is strong, but it’s not worth the risk of both natural consequences and legal repercussions. If you’re in college, your 21st birthday isn’t far away. Protect yourself and wait.
- Don’t overdo it.
Drinking is not an inherently bad thing. It becomes problematic when done in excess. Know your limits and don’t surpass those limits.
- The Uber fee is worth it.
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, someone is hurt or killed in an alcohol related crash every 20 minutes in Texas alone. The consequences of drunk driving can haunt you for your entire life. Have a designated driver, call an Uber, or drink somewhere safe for you to stay until you’re completely sober.
- Location, location, location.
Speaking of being somewhere safe, that applies even if you’re not planning on staying the night. If you plan on drinking, be in a place where you feel safe with people you trust.
College is meant to be a time full of new and exciting experiences. Don’t let the consequences of drinking irresponsibly overshadow those experiences.
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