We’ve all heard of the freshman fifteen, those dreaded pounds that everyone is telling you will happen, but we want to talk to you about a different 15 – the 15 ways you can get into some serious trouble while experiencing your newfound freedoms! So, listen up, we’re here to help you out.
1. Taking that drink without having a plan on how you will get home safely. Put it down and get a plan – then stick with it.
2. Thinking the DUDE (Designated Unimpaired Driver Extraordinaire) is the person who has been drinking the least. Uh-uh, silly fish. Swim away from anyone who has been drinking and thinks they can drive.
3. Thinking you will not be pressured to drink. Alcohol is part of our culture, but there is no one stronger than you. Be true to yourself. Find some friends who have the same values and stick together. Peer pressure can be positive also.
4. Thinking you will know how to handle it. Alcohol effects everyone differently. Take care of one another and take care of yourself. And, never drink anything of questionable ingredients.
5. Believing you have to drink to have a good time. P-P-P-P-lease. If you need alcohol to have fun, you need a personality check. Think back over your life and count the laughs you’ve had without alcohol. Ahhhh, nice memories. Why stop now?
6. Thinking alcohol is part of the college experience. You know what shouldn’t be part of the college experience? DUIs. Imagine your folks reaction when you tell them you need bail money.
7. Believing you’ll be safe to drive home because it’s only 3 miles away. Did you know a DUI conviction follows you around every mile of your life. Every job application will ask and some jobs will be out of the question with a conviction.
8. Thinking you don’t have options and have to drive home. Many campuses have a designated driver program. There are also ride shares, taxis, and friends. Pick one and plan ahead.
9. Believing it won’t happen to you. Every 53 minutes someone dies in an alcohol related crash. That’s almost 10,000 people a year. Some of them probably even thought it wouldn’t happen to them.
10. Not understanding Zero Tolerance laws. If you are underage and driving, any amount of alcohol in your system is illegal. There is no .08% Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) law when your are under 21.
11. Believing you can sober up with food or coffee. Only time will decrease your BAC and the time it takes depends on the amount of alcohol, what you have eaten, your weight, and your muscle density. There is no sobering agent you can take to help speed it up.
12. Thinking you’ll know you are over the legal limit by your behavior. That’s a lot of nope. Many times, physical behaviors are not apparent until a person is highly intoxicated. A BAC of .o8% can be as few as 2 drinks for a 120 pound female.
13. Thinking you can count drinks and predict your BAC. Well, the math while drinking may be fun, but a drink does not always equal a drink. Rates of Alcohol By Volume (ABV) differ for every drink and a shot may be a drink, but if you mix it with Coke, are you sure it’s one shot or could it be more? See what we mean?
14. Not knowing the rule of getting a DUDE (Designated Unimpaired Driver Extraordinaire). The number one rule of having a DUDE, is also being a DUDE. Volunteer to make sure your friends get home safely by being the responsible DUDE.
15. Finally, did you know you can fight the freshman 15 pounds by taking a look at how many calories alcohol contains. Woah! Alcohol is high calories and as with anything high calorie, you can really start feeling it when your favorite pair of jeans are too tight. BOO!
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