Alcohol and college students tend to go hand in hand, especially when you think of the classic movie Animal House.
The legal drinking age in the United States was 18 until 1984. But President Reagan raised the drinking age to 21. Since then, college students have found ways to drink alcohol illegally.
While an occasional drink by an underage college student breaks the law, it’s not the cause for concern.
College kids today are consuming more massive amounts of alcohol at alarming rates.
To learn more about this social problem, keep reading.
The Pitfalls of Alcohol and College Students
Going out with your friends to celebrate acing an exam or receiving an A on a term paper is fine but within reason.
About 60 percent of college students, ages 18-22, reported drinking alcohol within the last month, according to CollegeDrinking.gov.
But when people drink in excess, it leads to adverse consequences such as binge drinking, health issues, and lower G.P.A.
Read along as we discuss the damage alcohol might do to a college student.
1. Binge Drinking
According to CollegeDrinking.gov, nearly 2 out of 3 college students admitted to binge drinking within the past month.
Binge drinking occurs when the blood alcohol level is 0.08 g/dL or higher. The elevated blood alcohol level happens through the consumption of four or more drinks for women and five or more for men within two hours, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).
2. Dangerous Situations
When people drink their inhibitions lower, putting them at risk. According to CollegeDrinking.gov, roughly 696,000 students between the ages of 18-24 get assaulted by a student under the influence of alcohol.
Ninety-seven thousand students reported an alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.
So it’s essential to use the buddy system when venturing out to drink because you might find yourself in a dangerous situation.
3. Falling Grades
If you’ve fallen into the pattern of excessively drinking every week or night, then your chances of a high G.P.A. are low. Sure there are some souls lucky enough to make excellent grades without much effort. But for the majority of college students, that isn’t the case.
Drinking alcohol impacts not only your brain but also your ability to function. Alcohol causes blurred vision, difficulty walking, and impaired reaction times, according to NIAAA. Plus, the more you drink for extended periods, the higher the alcohol damage.
So if you want to do well in your courses, it’s best to keep the drinking to a minimum and seek alcohol treatment services when a problem develops.
4. Legal Troubles
Alcohol might lead to legal issues if you commit a crime while intoxicated. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,837 died in alcohol-related crashes where the drivers had elevated blood alcohol concentrations of .01 to .07 g/dL.
Taking a life is one of many outcomes causing legal troubles for someone drunk. Committing an assault might occur, too, which could result in life-changing consequences.
5. Alcohol Poisoning and Death
Alcohol poisoning impacts thousands of college students each year, causing them to receive emergency medical attention. If a person experiencing alcohol poisoning doesn’t seek medical care, it could lead to damage or death.
Sadly an estimated 1,825 college students die from alcohol-related injuries such as car accidents, slip and falls, fires, and drownings, according to the Washington Post.
While this fact is relevant for all people drinking alcoholic beverages, college kids need to take warning because even one death is too many.
Think Before You Drink
Not all stories involving alcohol and college students will end in tragedy. But it’s crucial to be prepared for the potential consequences. If you know someone with a drinking problem, get them help before they end up in the news for committing a preventable crime.
