Drinking Could Be Safer, But You Didn’t Hear It From Me

National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week is October 20 through 26. It’s a great time to educate yourself about alcohol use and how to be safe on campus. So, in honor of that, if you chose to drink, not to drink, or want to help a friend, here are some tips that we swear by!

1. Avoid the Juice

A cup of Jungle Juice ranges from 5 to 6 standard drinks, but you never really know how much alcohol is in your cup. Try to stay away from it. But if you choose to drink it, do it slowly! Trust, you’ll thank me later.

Be Wise Peer Educator Seon holding a plastic bin

2. Check in with yourself

Alcohol heightens your emotions, so check in with yourself before you go out. You don’t want to end up crying in the bathroom, do you? Also, know what you want to get out of drinking. If you can’t drink without negative consequences, or are concerned about dependence, recognize that. If you feel concerned about yourself or a friend, visit the Barnes Center to speak with a counselor for help and more resource information.

SAMHE Malavika journaling

3. Plan your night

Know where you’re going, who you’re with, and how you’re getting home. Make sure your way home is a sober way home!

The Barnes Center Peer Educators huddled together to plan their night

4. Get a fracket

Syracuse is cold, especially at night. Although you think you’re “alcohol blanket” is going to fight off hypothermia, it’s not. Alcohol can make you appear to be warm and not pay attention to how cold it actually is. Get a jacket you don’t mind losing and take it out with you!
Pro Tip: Check out a thrift store for a cheap option.

PEEHRS Amanda in her fracket

5. Eat protein

You may think that a pasta dinner or late-night bagel will to absorb your alcohol, but this is not the case. Proteins actually help slow your absorption of alcohol better. So, eat protein not carbs before going out. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, quinoa, lentils, chia seed, chickpeas, and beans are good go to’s!

Be Wise Peer Educator Bassam eating a wrap

6. Know your standard drink sizes

Not all drinks are created equal, in order to stay safe, know how many standard drinks are in your cup.
Fun fact: Carbonated drinks increase you intoxication rate, so consider mixing with water or juice instead.

A solo cup explaining different standard sizes of drinks. 1.5 oz of liquor. 5 oz of wine. 12 oz beer.

7. Count your drinks

If you want all the good affects from alcohol and little of the bad, know how many drinks your max is. Pro Tip: Tally your drinks on your arm with a sharpie or keep the tabs of beer to keep track.

a student's hand with hash marks to keep track of their drinks

8. Alternate between alcohol and water

Alternate your drinks so they don’t sneak up on you, and you know the full effect of each drink before you continue beyond your limit.

Be Wise peer educator Brittany holding a red solo cup and bottle of water

9. Know your CUPS

Know how to help out a friend if they end up with alcohol poisoning by knowing the signs and what to do.

CUPS sticker to show signs of alcohol poisoning. Cold skin, unresponsive, puking, slow breathing

Stop by one of these events hosted by the Be Wise Peer Educators as part of National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week:

    • Enjoy a nightclub-like atmosphere with mocktails, games, music, and fun! A great way to connect with friends and meet new people Sans Alcohol.
    • A free dinner style conversation about alcohol, cannabis and other drugs and how they impact our lives and futures.

Written by Catherine Campbell ’22, College of Arts and Sciences

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