General Facts
This is the legal drinking age in New York State.
What is 21.
Before 1982, the drinking age was 18. In 1982, it was raised to 21. The brain doesn't stop maturing until age 26. This is part of why the drinking age was raised to what it is now.
Injuries and violence are just two of the short term risks of this.
What is alcohol use.
Alcohol poisoning, risky sexual behavior, STD's, and unintended pregnancy are some others.
If you are driving your car with at least this BAC, you could be arrested for driving while intoxicated (DWI).
What is .08.
Tell them what BAC stands for (Blood alcohol content). Having a BAC of .08 means that your blood has an 8% composition of alcohol. The body's reaction times and motor skills start to decrease drastically at around .06. Note that anybody under the age of 21 cannot "blow anything over a 0.02, or they will face charges. The reason for the .02 distinction, is that alcohol can be used in cooking, alcohol plays a part in some religious ceremonies, and there is a certain level of error for the device.
Myth or Fact?
Alcohol makes you happy.
What is Myth.
Alcohol is actually a depressant. When a person consumes a moderate amount of alcohol slowly, the alcohol produces a mild "up," feeling or a "good buzz." This "up," feeling is followed by a "down," feeling, if you drink too much. There is a point when drinking more alcohol leads to more negative feelings--like fatigue and nausea. How you will feel also depends on your mood when you start drinking. If you are sad or angry before you drink, the alcohol may initially put you in a better mood. But then the opposite can occur, and you may well end up even sadder or angrier than before you started.
The body is capable of metabolizing this many drinks per hour.
What is one standard drink.
Time is the only thing that can sober you up and process the alcohol out of your system. Talk about some of the myths people use to sober up (coffee, cold shower, eating, slap to the face, etc.). Make sure to discuss serving sizes - just because it’s in one container doesn’t mean that it’s just one drink. Everybody is different on how they process alcohol. It can take up to 2 hours for your body to process all the alcohol of one drink.
This is a substance that is smoked, and can be deadly if mixed with alcohol.
What is marijuana.
When an individual consumes too much alcohol, the body's reaction is to vomit, in order to expel the alcohol. Marijuana has the ability to stunt the gag reflex, making it so the body cannot get rid of the alcohol, which can lead to poisoning and sometimes death.
These medications, if taken with alcohol, can amplify the effects of both substances.
What are opiates and depression medications.
Some others include allergy medication, and benzodiazepines.
Remember, alcohol is a depressant, and when two depressants are mixed together, the effects are amplified. Also, when mixing substances from different categories, say a depressant (alcohol) and a stimulant, there is potential for one or both to be magnified. It is extremely important to consider what medicines (prescribed or otherwise), that you are taking, and how they can effect you if you decide to drink.
This states that nobody under the age of 21 can consume alcohol and operate a motor vehicle.
What is Zero Tolerance.
If you are pulled over and you blow a .02, you are in violation of this law. Zero tolerance is a BAC of .02. Anything above this will result in a criminal conviction. Talk about why .02 and not .0--certain religions allow for wine in ceremonies, some food is cooked with alcohol (beer battered fish, lots of sauces are made with wine), and there is also a .01 margin of error on a breathalyzer. Setting the BAC at .02 eliminates the number of unfair stops.
Myth or Fact?
Alcohol warms the body.
What is a Myth/
Alcohol opens up the pores of the skin, allowing perspiration to increase, which actually lowers body temperature and cools the body.
This can happen if you ingest too much alcohol.
What is death.
Alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, and too much of it in your system will cause your breathing to stop and your brain activity to slow down. Also, if you are too drunk, and fall asleep and then vomit, it is possible to choke and suffocate.
This type of withdrawal can kill you.
What is alcohol.
(It is also possible to die from benzodiazepine withdrawal).
Sudden withdrawal from alcohol can cause brain damage, seizures, heart palpitations, and other effects that can lead to hospitalization and/or death. This is after years of heavy drinking and alcoholism, where the alcohol changes the needs of the body to actually require alcohol in order to survive.
Heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and dementia are just some of these.
What are long-term effects of using alcohol.
Some others include depression and anxiety, family and marriage issues, unemployment, and academic problems. There may be more.
This is a good opportunity to discuss how these could hurt their chances of reaching their goals, both academic and otherwise.
This law protects any person from arrest or prosecution, if they are seeking lifesaving help for themselves or someone else who may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
What is the Good Samaritan Law.
Example--if you are doing heroin with a friend and your friend overdoses, you can call for help even if you have needles or paraphernalia on you. There are some exceptions to this rule. If you have felony level drug amounts or if police come and there are signs of a larger dealing operation (drugs and money everywhere). Also, if you provide/sell a drug that causes someone else to overdose, the Good Samaritan Law does not protect you. Make sure to talk about what happens if you know someone needed help and you didn't call. Talk about what is happening on college campuses-Penn State Frat Hazing Case. It's better to be safe than sorry--you don't want to know that you could have helped save someone's life and you did nothing because you were scared of getting on trouble.
Myth or Fact?
As portrayed in films and on TV, a slap in the face or a cup of coffee can sober you up.
What is a Myth.
Neither will drinking water, eating bread, having an energy drink, taking a cold shower, or exercising.
There is only one thing that will get you sober and that is time. Your body needs time to process the alcohol in your blood and get rid of it.
There are also some tactics that people use to beat a breathalyzer test that are unproven: putting pennies in your mouth, eating peanut butter, or chewing gum.
One standard drink, in volume (ounces) and alcohol content, measures what, for beer, wine, and liquor?
What is 12oz at 5% for beer, 5oz at 13% for wine, and 1.5oz at 40% for liquor?
There are problems with this. Bars usually serve beers in larger than 12oz portions and wine in larger than 5 oz portions. This is common with craft beers. The ABV, or alcohol by volume, varies in craft beers by quite a bit, so beware. Also, wines and spirits can carry larger alcohol content as well. The container should state the percentage of alcohol. In a world where bigger is usually better, alcohol is not the exception. Discuss how the SOLO cup has measurements for if they are at a party and using one.
These are the amounts of alcohol, consumed within a two hour period, that are considered binge drinking for both a male and a female.
What are five for males, and four for females.
Also, seven drinks within a week for females, and fifteen in a week for males, is considered binge drinking.
To be considered low risk, you must stay within these limits, if not lower than.
Coma, mental confusion, and vomiting are all signs of this.
What is alcohol poisoning.
Other signs include irregular or slow breathing, hypothermia or low body temperature, and bluish or very pale skin.
If you come across somebody who has alcohol poisoning, turn them on their side (so they don't choke on their vomit), and call 911. Alcohol poisoning can lead to permanent brain damage or death.
You might spend 15 days in jail, pay a fine of $150, and do community service, if you do this.
What is have an open container of alcohol in public.
If you get charged with this, or other offenses, your financial aid could be interfered with! This could also interfere with your ability to transfer! The charges may be on your record and/or your background check! THINK.
Myth or Fact?
If a person has a high tolerance for alcohol, their blood alcohol content (BAC) will not be as high when they are drinking?
What is Myth.
Just because someone has a high tolerance to alcohol does not mean that their BAC will be lower. Tolerance is scary, because outwardly, they are not showing signs that they are intoxicated, but they could have a high BAC.
The pathway of ingestion for alcohol typically begins at the mouth and ends here.
What is the brain.
The typical pathway is mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, blood stream, liver and brain. Along the way, each organ has the potential of being damaged. There are other ways to ingest alcohol though, including eating alcohol infused candy, inhaling vapor from heating alcohol, "eyeballing"-which is putting alcohol directly into the eyeball, snorting it, and inserting alcohol soaked tampons into the body.
This will coat your stomach and slow the absorption of alcohol, keeping you from becoming intoxicated.
What is nothing.
The stomach cannot be "coated," in order to prevent alcohol absorption. However, if you were to eat before consuming alcohol, the slow-digesting food reduces the amount of alcohol that is absorbed directly into the blood stream through the mucus membrane lining of the stomach. Food also slows the rate of the stomach emptying into the small intestine, where absorption of alcohol occurs at a much faster rate.
These are some stimulants that are regularly mixed with alcohol.
What are energy drinks?
Examples of this are Four Loko, Red Bull and vodka, Jagermeister.
THIS IS DANGEROUS!! Both substances are fighting for control over your body, because depressants slow things down and stimulants speed them up. This fight causes a large amount of pressure on the heart.
FACT-the formula for Four Loko was changed because it contained so much energy, sugar and alcohol that otherwise healthy young people were having heart attacks upon consumption! Regular Four Lokos have the equivalent of four standard drinks, and the gold cans have up to six!
Calling a LYFT or an UBER, or riding with a designated driver, can be options for you to avoid this.
What is drinking and driving.
Although designated drivers are a great way to get home safe, 1 in 5 designated drivers will drink to impairment (.06). If you do have a designated driver, make sure they are not consuming any alcohol. Even one drink can effect your ability to drive. It is better to be safe than sorry--do not get into a car with a person who has been drinking, period.
Myth or Fact?
Beer has less alcohol than hard liquor.
What is a Myth.
A 12 oz. bottle of beer (5% ABV) has the same amount of alcohol as a standard shot (1.5 oz. @ 40% ABV/80 proof) of liquor or 5 oz. of wine (13% ABV).
There are many factors that influence intoxication. Name four of them.
What are gender, body weight and type, age, rate of consumption, food consumption, medication and other drugs, environment, mood, stress level, fatigue, and tolerance to alcohol.
ANY OF THESE ARE CORRECT!
Rate of consumption-the more drinks you consume in a given time period, the more intoxicated you will be. Amount consumed-drinks with more alcohol such as "doubles," will cause you to be more intoxicated. Age-young and healthy people break down alcohol faster than the elderly and people in poor health. Gender-women typically have more body fat than men and less body water with which to dilute alcohol. Also fewer enzymes to aid in digestion. Body weight and type-the heavier you are, the more it can take to become intoxicated. An overweight person generally becomes intoxicated faster than a muscular person who weighs the same and drinks the same amount. Food consumption-food slows the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. Food does not absorb the alcohol. It merely slows the speed at which alcohol is absorbed. Medication and other drugs-many common drugs impair the user and increase the effects of alcohol. Environment and mood-many factors, including lighting, decor, music and seating pattern can affect a guests behavior and consumption of alcohol. The surroundings, including interacting with other guests, may trigger emotional responses. Alcohol usually exaggerates mood. A person who is depressed or upset will likely become more so while drinking. Fatigue and stress-physical, mental or emotional fatigue and stress make a person more susceptible to the effects of alcohol. Tolerance to alcohol-experienced drinkers develop tolerance to alcohol. After prolonged, regular drinking, the liver develops an ability to break down alcohol more rapidly, and brain cells may become less sensitive to alcohol.