It’s that time of year again, time for everyone to forget the burdens of school, jump in your trucks and head to the coast for a week of awesomeness, adventure, sun, and partying. Just remember, don’t let the excitement get to your head, one of the biggest risks with the college experience of spring break is the binge drinking.
According to an article by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, “During spring break, approximately 42% of students get drunk on at least 1 day, 11% drink to the point of blacking out or passing out, 32% report hangovers, and 2% get into trouble with the police.”
In other research reported by the University of Washington, it was found that in a study of 735 students:
- 70% of students reported drinking during spring break
- 6% reported drinking on five or more days
- An average of 5.6 drinks were consumed per day during spring break
According to Dr. Eric Collins, a psychiatrist who specializes in treating addiction and Physician-in-Chief at Silver Hill Hospital in CT, he ‘believes that there is a societal concept that “heavy drinking is an expected behavior for young people and that everybody is doing it.” In reality, “young adulthood is about figuring out a way to drink responsibly.”’ We second that!
Now all that being said, imagine the thousands of drunken people all shoved into one beach, driving up and down the coast. That’s a lot of drunk drivers. Here are some tips that will better prepare you for the coming week.
Tips:
- Know the facts about drinking and driving
- Make sure to stay well hydrated with H2O.
- Make sure to eat meals, snacks, and drink non-alcoholic drinks between alcoholic drinks.
- Learn how to drink responsibly
- Respect someone’s choice not to drink – isn’t nagging and peer pressure more of a party foul?
- Have a safe ride plan! Get a sober ride or designate a DUDE
Finally, we’ll be on #SpringBreak15 too. Follow us through #BeTheDUDE and let us know where and what you are up to!
Sources:
http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2014/03/11/spring-breaks-greatest-danger/2/