October 30, 2001
Drinking too much or too quickly means dealing with side effects: throwing up, getting hurt, passing out, or the embarrassment of forgetting what you did and who you did it with. If you don’t know your limits, or you decide to exceed them, the consequences could be bad news. Be aware of the dangers, and know how to take care of yourself and your friends. The Partnership - Campus & Community: United Against Dangerous Drinking has provided the following information on identifying and helping victims of alcohol poisoning, having a safe party, and more:
When more than one drink per hour is consumed, alcohol accumulates in the bloodstream. This can lead to a loss of consciousness (passing out) and decreased respiration and blood pressure. This is why drinking games, chugging contests, keg stands, and shots can be dangerous.
Here are the signs to watch for:
- passed out or difficult to wake
- cold, clammy, pale, or bluish skin
- slowed breathing: fewer than eight times per minute (with ten seconds or more between breaths)
- vomiting while asleep or awake
Here’s how to help:
1. Turn a vomiting person on their side to avoid choking.
2. Clear remaining vomit from the mouth.
3. Try to keep the person awake.
4. If breathing stops and heartbeat is not present, perform CPR if you are trained.
5. Off campus call 911 immediately. On campus call 863-1111 immediately. Don't worry about getting into trouble. It is important to get your friend immediate care.
6. Never leave the person unattended.
7. Don’t let them “sleep it off.” Passing out can be dangerous for someone with signs of alcohol poisoning. Blood-alcohol content will continue to increase and they can choke if they vomit while unconscious.
Too much alcohol keeps the brain from converting short-term memories into long-term ones, so you can’t remember what you did, even if you were doing something cool. This is common among alcohol abusers, and is an early sign of alcoholism.
A few tips for keeping the headaches, nausea, and irritability at bay:
- Aim for one drink per hour. That’s as fast as your liver can deal with it.
- Drink slowly. Don't gulp or chug.
- Dilute drinks. Avoid shots.
- Have a substantial meal before drinking.
- Re-hydrate with water or non-alcoholic beverages during and after drinking. Your body needs it.
- Don’t try to prevent a hangover by taking aspirin or other pain killers before or while you are drinking.
You are legally liable for your guests if you serve alcohol. Take steps to make sure things don’t turn ugly—because if they do, you’re responsible.
- Plan when the party will end. Stop serving alcohol one hour before. This gives your guests a chance to sober up a bit before they leave.
- Provide food. It slows the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.
- Provide non-alcoholic beverages. Guests need to re-hydrate.
- Designate a bartender, someone tough who can cut a drunk person off—or do it yourself. You can be held legally liable for serving someone who is visibly drunk, so don’t be afraid to cut someone off.
Most Penn State students party smart. The majority—70 percent—have zero to four drinks when they party.