Drinking Smart
Drinking Smart
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Alcohol is the substance of choice for many college students. People drink for many reasons: to fit in, loosen up and relax, make friends, or to have something to do and talk about. Alcohol lowers inhibitions and makes it easier to go up to a stranger or someone you don’t know well and start a conversation. While that can be a good thing, alcohol can factor into sexual assaults, injuries, and academic failure. Making informed choices about alcohol is one way to reduce its associated risks.


Disclaimer: Any information found within our website is for general educational and informational purposes only. Such information is not intended nor otherwise implied to be medical or legal advice by Student Caffé Corporation. Such information is by no means complete or exhaustive, and as a result, such information does not encompass all conditions, disorders, health-related issues, respective treatments, or recovery plans. You should always consult your physician, other health care provider, or lawyer to determine the appropriateness of this information for your own situation or should you have any questions regarding a medical condition, treatment or recovery plan, or legal situation. Click to read the full disclaimer.

Alcohol and the Law

When at college, it can be easy to get swept into the campus drinking culture. This culture often encourages underage drinking, binge drinking, and making poor choices. While drinking is illegal for students under 21, there is nothing wrong with drinking legally, provided you are safe about it, understand the law and the consequences for breaking it, and don’t let alcohol interfere with your other commitments. Be sure that you understand your campus’ specific rules regarding alcohol.

What does the law say about having and consuming alcohol underage?

Alcohol is regulated by both state and federal law. In 1984, Congress approved the National Minimum Drinking Age Act which defined alcohol as beer, wine with more than 0.5% alcohol, and distilled spirits, and mandated that individuals under 21 years of age not be allowed to purchase or publicly possess alcohol. Each state has created its own laws about possession, provision, and consumption of alcohol beyond that. The map below describes some of the laws pertaining to alcohol in each state. Knowing the following definitions is important to understanding the laws:

  • Possession: Possession is exactly what it sounds like: having alcohol on your person or in your keeping. You can possess alcohol even if you are not physically holding it. For instance, alcohol found in your bedroom would still be in your possession.
  • Consumption: Consumption of alcohol occurs as you are physically drinking (or eating) it.
  • Internal possession: This occurs after the consumption of alcohol as determined by a blood, urine, or breath test. Minors can be charged with internal possession if their blood alcohol content (BAC) shows that they’ve been consuming alcohol even if there were no witnesses to the actual consumption.
Drinking Smart Map Placeholder
Drinking Smart Map
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Drinking Smart Map Overlay

You may notice that some of the laws seem to contradict each other. For instance, in Rhode Island, providing alcohol to a minor is allowed if it is provided by a parent or guardian, but the underage possession of alcohol is prohibited. Generally speaking, it means that parents will not get in legal trouble for providing alcohol, but the minor will get in trouble for possessing it. In some cases, seemingly contradictory laws may be outdated. In others, minors may be allowed to possess alcohol to do their jobs (serving or bartending), but they are not allowed to consume it. It is better to be safe than sorry, however. Before you go to college, learn about the different laws and the repercussions for breaking them in your state. For more information and details, visit the Alcohol Policy Information System website.

What does the law say about parties at which underage drinking occurs?

There is no federal law that addresses parties where minors gain access to alcohol, but there are 10 states with laws that specifically address the hosting of parties at which underage drinking occurs: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. These laws intend to deter underage drinking parties by shifting the responsibility of the behavior of the guests to the host. If hosts allow underage drinking to occur on their property or a property that they rent, they have committed up to two violations: allowing underage drinking and providing alcohol to minors. In some states, the party host may be liable for the actions of drunk minors. Party hosts may be subject to fines, imprisonment, or civil lawsuits.

Just because the host of a party may face consequences doesn’t mean that attendees won’t face consequences as well. If underage party-goers are caught in possession of (physical or internal) or caught consuming alcohol, they may also be subject to the laws in their state. Depending on your location, you may be cited; made to pay a fine, perform community service, or attend alcohol education classes; have your driver’s license suspended or revoked; or given jail time.

Note: Two exceptions to social host laws occur when the “host” is a family member of the party-goers or a tenant in the residence where the party is occurring; in these cases the host may not be at fault. Another exception may be granted if the host didn’t actually know that underage drinking was occurring at their residence (e.g., when a parent comes home to find that their underage son or daughter has thrown a party that involves alcohol).

What is a DWI?

DWI, or driving while intoxicated, is a crime that consists of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. A DWI is the same thing as a DUI (driving under the influence) and an OUI (operating under the influence), though the names may differ between states. DWIs are often given for drunk driving. A person is incapable of driving safely if his or her blood alcohol content is 0.08 or higher. In all states, if an individual who is pulled over for suspected drunk driving is underage, his or her blood alcohol content cannot be greater than or equal to 0.02.

The penalties for a DWI can include jail time, fines, driver’s license suspension, and community service depending on the circumstances and the number of prior DWI offenses an individual has on their record. Refusing to take a field sobriety test after being pulled over may automatically result in a fine or license suspension. Field tests are typically performed before breathalyzers and include a test of balance, a test of the ability to focus on and follow an object with your eyes, and a heel-to-toe walk. Individuals who fail field tests are subjected to breathalyzers to estimate their blood alcohol content.

If you have been drinking or doing drugs at all, the safest plan is not to drive. If you are away from home, choose one of your friends to stay sober and be the driver or consider calling an UberLyft, or taxi to bring you back to campus or to your apartment. Many colleges also offer shuttle services, and big cities offer late-night public transportation. In the United States, 29 people die every day in or as a result of injuries incurred during drunk driving accidents. In 2017, over 10,000 people died and more than 300,000 people were injured in drunk driving accidents. Your life, the lives of your friends, and the lives of strangers are not worth the “convenience” of driving under the influence.

What if I have a friend in need of medical attention but I’m underage and have been drinking?

If you are at a party and someone becomes unresponsive, they need urgent medical care. Regardless of whether you are underage or under the influence of alcohol (or illegal drugs), calling 9-1-1 should be a priority and could save someone’s life. Good Samaritan laws exist to protect individuals who call for emergency medical attention from arrest or prosecution despite the fact that they may be under the influence of alcohol or drugs. You can learn more about Good Samaritan laws here.

Responsible Drinking

Drinking responsibly encompasses a number of things, like keeping an eye on your friends while you’re out, drinking water throughout the night and between each drink, having a sober designated driver, and eating beforehand. The following tips will help ensure responsible drinking:

  • Eat food before you drink and while you are drinking. If your stomach is full before you start drinking, you may slow the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. Particularly good at slowing down alcohol absorption are foods that are high in fat. Go ahead and get that extra cheesy grilled cheese sandwich if you’re planning a night on the town.
  • Drink water between drinks. Alcohol dehydrates. Make it a point to drink water between each alcoholic beverage that you consume. This will keep your blood pressure at a normal level and help prevent a hangover in the morning.
  • Don’t chug your drinks. If you’re chugging drinks, you are drinking to get drunk, which can lead to getting sick, binge drinking, and alcohol abuse down the line. Choose drinks that you enjoy drinking and that you can sip over a longer period of time instead of ones that taste so bad you feel like you have to toss them back. This way, your body has more time to absorb and metabolize the alcohol that you’re putting into it.
  • Don’t accept drinks that you didn’t see being made. Alcohol is the most commonly used date rape drug, but there are actual substances that can be easily added to your drink that will cause amnesia, loss of motor function, and impaired judgment. Make all your own drinks (or watch them as they're made at a bar) and don’t leave then unattended for any reason.
  • Don’t mix drugs and alcohol. While this is particularly true for illegal drugs, you should also be aware that everyday over-the-counter medications and prescription drugs may also interact with alcohol. Read about the side effects of any medications you are taking. If they interact with alcohol, drink water or soda for the evening instead.
  • Don’t mix caffeine and alcohol. Mixing caffeine and alcohol means you’re doubly likely to experience dehydration, as both make you need to urinate more frequently. Caffeine may also dull the effects of alcohol, leading you to drink more than you would otherwise. You can learn more about the effects of caffeine on the Student Caffé blog.
  • Do not drink and drive. Drinking and driving puts not only you and whomever else is in the vehicle at risk, but also pedestrians and other drivers. The results of drunk driving kill nearly 30 people every day. Get a designated driver or walk as a group, but under no circumstances should anyone who has been drinking ever attempt to drive a motor vehicle.
  • Stay with your friends. An intoxicated individual has an altered sense of direction and distance, making walking home alone dangerous. Go out as a group and go home as a group, whether you call for a ride or walk home together. Don’t assume that anyone can make it alone, even if that person protests.
  • Keep an eye on your friends. If you see a friend who is drinking a little too fast or getting a little too drunk, offer him or her some food or water. Try to dissuade that friend from accepting another alcoholic beverage. If he or she has passed out or gone into a stupor, your friend may need immediate medical attention. Call campus security or 9-1-1.

What are my limits?

The amount of alcohol that you can drink responsibly depends on your sex, weight, metabolism, tolerance, and the type of alcohol that you are consuming. One drink means something different for beer, wine, and spirits (vodka, rum, whiskey, bourbon, tequila, etc.). One drink of beer is 12 fluid ounces (one standard can or bottle), one drink of wine is five fluid ounces, and one drink of spirits is one and a half fluid ounces. The difference in amount is due to the difference in alcohol content. Traditionally, beer has less alcohol than wine, and both have much less alcohol than spirits. (There are some beers with higher than average alcohol contents, typically found at microbreweries.)

The body can generally process one drink per hour, though again, this depends on a number of factors that differ for each individual. You can estimate your blood alcohol content with this calculator, but remember that this is a best guess based on your input, not a 100% accurate calculation. A blood alcohol content of 0.08 is the legal limit for driving, but you should never drink and get behind the wheel of a car.

While 0.08 is the legal limit for driving, you may find that you reach a blood alcohol content higher than 0.08 after only a few drinks. You need to be very, very careful. If you drink too much too fast, you could suffer from alcohol poisoning (essentially, overdosing on alcohol), which can lead to a coma or death. Once you hit a BAC of 0.1, your judgement, reaction time, and motor skills are all significantly impaired. Starting around a BAC of 0.16, you may feel sick, nauseated, and generally unwell. This could result in emotional outbursts. At a BAC of 0.2, you’ll lose the ability to walk by yourself without falling over or stumbling. At this point, you may begin to vomit or black out. If your BAC gets much higher than 0.25, you’re likely already suffering from alcohol poisoning. You may lose consciousness or fall into a coma.

The only thing that can reduce an individual’s BAC is time. You may have heard that taking a cold shower, drinking a cup of coffee, or eating a large meal can help you sober up in no time. None of these techniques will actually lower anyone’s blood alcohol content. If you begin to feel sick or disoriented, have trouble speaking or walking, or notice that a friend is “sloppy drunk,” use the buddy system and go home. Under no circumstances should you or your friend keep drinking.

What is binge drinking?

The Center for Disease Control describes binge drinking as a habitual pattern of alcohol consumption that elevates an individual’s blood alcohol content to 0.08 or above. In a two-hour period, men typically need to have five drinks to reach this level while women need only four. Binge drinking is commonly done by college students and minors, with 33% of college students and 14% of twelfth grade students admitting to binge drinking in the past two weeks (as of 2017). For comparison, in the same survey, 35% of college students and 18% of twelfth grade students reported being drunk in the past month, indicating that the majority of the students who drink binge drink.

Binge drinking, and getting drunk in general, can have a variety of side effects: loss of motor function leading to injuries, unsafe sex and accompanying consequences, gateway to alcohol abuse and alcoholism, impaired decision-making and judgment, liver disease, and alcohol poisoning. As mentioned above, alcohol poisoning occurs when the level of alcohol in a person’s system becomes dangerously high. Symptoms include confusion, loss of consciousness, vomiting, seizures, slow or irregular breathing, and hypothermia. Alcohol poisoning can lead to death and immediate medical attention is necessary; call 9-1-1 if you or someone you are with is experiencing these symptoms.

Page last updated: 03/2019