The Wellness Center recognizes that consuming alcohol happens on campus and believes proper education on how to be safe when consuming alcohol is very important and pertinent to students who choose to drink and for students who do not choose to drink.
Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA) laws specify the legal age when an individual can purchase alcoholic beverages. The MLDA in the United States is 21 years.
Studies show a relationship between underage drinking behaviors and the drinking behaviors of adult relatives, adults in the same household, and adults in the same community and state.
Blood alcohol content (BAC) is the amount of alcohol in the bloodstream. If someone were to have a BAC of .10, this would mean that one-tenth of 1% of the blood in their body is alcohol. The more alcohol a person consumes the more intoxicated and impaired they become. The alcohol percentage is determined by the amount of alcohol consumed, the time in which the alcohol was consumed, and body weight. Eating prior to, or while drinking, may also temporarily influence BAC, reducing its effects.
They may become more self-confident or daring.
Their attention span may shorten.
They may look flushed.
Their judgement may not be as sharp and they may be more impulsive; they might say the first thought that comes to mind, rather than an appropriate comment for the given situation.
They may have trouble with fine movements, such as writing or signing their name.
Excitement (BAC = 0.09 to 0.25 percent)
They could become sleepy.
They might have trouble understanding or remembering things (even recent events).
They might not react to situations as quickly.
Their body movements may become uncoordinated.
They may begin to lose their balance easily.
Their vision could become blurry.
They may have trouble sensing things (hearing, tasting, feeling, etc.).
Confusion (BAC = 0.18 to 0.30 percent)
They are likely to be confused — they may not know where they are or what they are doing.
They may be dizzy and stagger on their feet.
They might be highly emotional, aggressive, withdrawn, or overly affectionate.
They may not see clearly.
They may be sleepy.
They likely have slurred speech.
They may have uncoordinated movements (trouble catching an object thrown to them).
They may not feel pain as readily as a sober person.
Stupor (BAC = 0.25 to 0.4 percent)
They may barely be able to move at all.
They may not be able to respond to stimuli.
They may be unable to stand or walk.
They may vomit.
They may lapse in and out of consciousness.
Coma (BAC = 0.35 to 0.50 percent)
They are unconscious.
Their reflexes are depressed (i.e. their pupils do not respond appropriately to changes in light).
Their skin feels cool to the touch (lower-than-normal body temperature).
Their breathing slows and becomes more shallow.
Their heart rate may slow.
Their life could be in danger.
Death (BAC more than 0.50 percent)
The person usually stops breathing and dies.
Binge drinking is defined as consuming 4/5 or more drinks in a 2-hour span reaching a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher. College students binge-drink at higher rates than young people the same age who don’t attend college. Some students go to college with a lot of past drinking experience. For others, college is a time of new freedom. For students who binge-drink, getting drunk is often the main goal. And getting drunk can lead to many other dangers. These include dizziness, loss of coordination, diarrhea, vomiting, lack of judgment, or even passing out. If a person vomits when passed out, the airway can become blocked. The result can be death.
To avoid binge drinking, use the MAPP tips!
Every day, 29 people in the United States die in motor vehicle crashes that involve an alcohol-impaired driver. This is one death every 50 minutes. Source here.
Choose not to drink and drive and help others do the same. Even one or two drinks over an hour can cause impairment.
Before drinking, designate a non-drinking driver when with a group.
If out drinking, get a ride home or call a taxi.
Don’t let friends drink and drive.
Choose not to binge drink themselves and help others not to do it.
Talk with a doctor or nurse about drinking and driving and request counseling if drinking is causing health, work, or social problems.
Buckle up every time, no matter how short the trip. Encourage passengers in the car to buckle up, including those in the back seat.
There is no known safe amount of alcohol use during pregnancy or while trying to get pregnant. There is also no safe time during pregnancy to drink. All types of alcohol are equally harmful, including all wines and beer.
Responsible Drinking During COVID-19- Bars, dorm rooms, parties, restaurants, and other places where people gather to consume alcohol increase the risk of transmission of the COVID-19.
Remember MAPP for safe alcohol consumption while still having fun:
Measure: Measure and pour your own drinks. This also means counting how many STANDARD drinks you have had. Do not share cups or drink after others.
Alternate: Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Alcohol is a diuretic.
Pace: Track of how many drinks you have had and as a general rule, one alcoholic beverage per hour is a safe bet. Make sure to eat beforehand as well.
Plan: Before you start drinking, make a plan for how much you plan to drink. Do not mix alcohol with your medication or other drugs.
Per St. Olaf’s Policy on Alcohol and Illicit Drugs, “Individuals who make the call to get medical assistance for an intoxicated student will not face sanctions under the Code of Conduct for use or possession of drugs or alcohol.” Click here to review the Medical Exception further.
Alcohol Poisoning is serious: if someone has too much to drink they could be at risk of liver damage, injuries, or death. Know the signs and get help when you see someone exhibiting these signs. Remember, the person could have one or all of these symptoms. Not sure what to do? Get help! Call Public Safety at x3666 (From your cellphone: 507-786-3666) or an ambulance at 9-1-1.
The person is unconscious or semi-conscious and cannot be awakened when touched, spoken to, or shaken.
The person is cold, clammy, or has pale or bluish skin.
The person has slowed breathing (less than 8 breaths per minute or longer than 10 seconds between breaths).
The person is vomiting while sleeping or passed out/ is not fully conscious during or after vomiting.
The person drank a large quantity of alcohol and collapsed.