Responsible Drinking

  • Wellness Center
  • Alcohol and Other Drugs
  • Responsible Drinking

St. Olaf College does not allow alcohol on campus, even if you are of legal drinking age. Should you choose to drink, the Wellness Center urges you to do so responsibly. Check out the information below to help keep you safe.

What is a drink?

A standard drink is a twelve ounce bottle of beer, one five ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.

What is binge drinking?

Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks for men and four or more drinks for women at one time OR reaching a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .08 or higher. Binge drinking can take on many forms. Here are the most common binge-drinking behaviors:

Drinking a lot in a short amount of time, drinking a lot…period, playing drinking games, reaching a very high blood alcohol level, experiencing problems as a result of drinking (motor skills, slurred speech, etc.)

Tips for responsible drinking:
  1. Drink slowly and allow time between drinks (no more than one drink an hour).
  2. Eat food before and while you drink (protein is best).
  3. Drink water or juice between alcoholic drinks
  4. Set a limit for the night and stop when you’ve reached your limit.
  5. Watch your drink at all times and do not accept drinks from others.
  6. Plan how you will get home and have a designated driver.
  7. Don’t mix alcohol with medication or drugs.
  8. Avoid drinking games.
Signs of Alcohol Poisoning

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.

  1. The person is unconscious or semiconscious and cannot be awakened when touched, spoken to, or shaken.
  2. The person is cold, clammy, or has pale or bluish skin.
  3. The person has slowed breathing (less than 8 breaths per minute or longer than 10 seconds between breaths).
  4. The person is vomiting while sleeping or passed out/ is not fully conscious during or after vomiting.
  5. The person drank a large quantity of alcohol and collapsed.