How to Stay Safe

Empower Yourself

1. Take 30 seconds while getting ready to do a Personal check. How are you doing physically, emotionally, socially, academically, spiritually, and sexually? Make a plan before you go out. Go out in a group. Self safety, have a plan about getting home. It is always best to designate two sober people for the evening.
2. Remember you do not have to drink to have a good time. Drinking is a personal choice. Do not let what others are doing determine what you do.
3. Determine the number of drinks you will have prior to drinking. Count each drink and spread them out over the evening. Remember diluting alcohol with water or juices slows down absorption into your blood stream. Carbonated beverages speed up absorption.
4. Use the three S’s. Space drinks to one or less per hour, Sip and Socialize. Keep the beer tabs or bottle caps in your pocket so you know how much you drank. It is best for women not to exceed two drinks per occasion.
5. Alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Drink plenty of water.
6. Agree before you go out who will be the designated sober driver… Or better yet designate two sober people for the evening.
7. Watch your friends. If you came together and one or more want to leave, make sure they have a plan to get home safely.
8. Avoid drinking games. Drinking is one place women can never be equal to men.
9. Always eat before and during alcohol consumption (cheese and meat are good healthy choices). Foods high in protein and fat digest slower which helps to slow down the absorption of alcohol. Drinking on an empty stomach will cause you to become intoxicated much quicker and can contribute to having blackouts.
10. Pour your own drink and measure.
11. Never drink and drive.
12. Never ride with someone who has been drinking. Keep Cab numbers in your wallet.
13. Use a blood alcohol calculator or a Blood alcohol card so you can stay under a .06. If you are a minor this does not keep you safe from consequences. Staying under a .06 if you are of age lets you enjoy the evening and avoid legal consequences. BAC cards available through our office.
14. Say “no thanks” If you don’t want to continue drinking, or you can just hold a cup with a non-alcoholic beverage. It helps to have something in your hand.
15. Participate in activities like dancing, talking, and eating to take the focus off alcohol.
16. Do not use alcohol to blow off steam, or a bad day. It will only make the situation worse.
17. Do not let yourself become intoxicated. If your going to drink, drink to be social not for the buzz. Buzz means Intoxication.
18. Just because someone is in your class doesn’t mean you know them as well as you think. Think about the situation… make clear decisions (but remember that alcohol impairs your judgment). Seventy percent of acquaintance rapes happen in the male’s dorm, apartment or home.
19. Know the drinking laws and campus policy.
20. ALCOHOL IS THE NUMBER ONE DATE RAPE DRUG. Know the alcohol content of your drink, never set your drink down or share it with anyone.

Remember the Tips on PMS.

Take at least 30 seconds before going out to think about the above factors before you make the decision to drink. For women this means PMS.

P – Personally how am I doing: physically, spiritually, emotionally, academically, sexually, and socially.

M – Make healthy choices and have a plan.

S – Safe evening with healthy self discoveries about socializing.

Helpful Tips for Maintaining Limits and Safety

Find an Alternative Beverage:

Make a list of the non-alcoholic drinks you like if you are choosing not to drink, or just want something for weekends when you do not want to drink. Also substituting nonalcoholic drinks in between an alcoholic beverage will keep you hydrated, and slow down the drinking. Be sure to make choices that are likely to be available in situations when you would order an alcoholic drink. Consider trying new ones so you have a variety of choices

You Can Make the Choice Not to Drink:

Remember that making the choice not to drink is just as important as any other decision you make for yourself. It is important to practice different ways to refuse a drink so that no one takes that choice away from you, even if it is just for one evening. Some reasons you could use include:

I am taking medication that doesn’t mix with alcohol.

I do not want to drink tonight.

I need to get up early and prepare for a big exam or paper.

I like to stay in control.

I like to remember what I do and who I talk to.

I can say “no” when offered a drink, because I don’t want to drink that evening.

Develop Home (Dorm Room or Apartment) Strategies:

Most students find it easier to change their drinking habits if they don’t keep alcohol in their dorm room. If you are used to drinking to help you relax, or to relieve tension it will not be readily available.

Many times students will have a few drinks prior to going out in order to relax or as a social lubricant, and then drink again when they go out. The danger is the student may forget how many they had and drink twice as much i.e.? three in the room or a shot or two, then 3 at a party. Not having alcohol in your room can be one way to avoid the pre-party trap. Your room is a place you can set limits.

Event pre-parties can also place your room and reputation at risk, as others may believe they have to over-indulge to have a good time, and either get sick in your room, or bring hard alcohol.

Stay Active:

Most of us plan our lives, so we have something to look forward to when we are done with our work, studying, or exams. Sometimes, for students drinking is really a way of filling that time, or we get so caught up in thinking that drinking is the fun, that we forget about the other activities we used to look forward to, or were fun. Boredom can become an unexpected problem. The result: drinking can become a habit when bored.

Plan healthy activities for free time and weekends when you need a break. Exercise regularly, learn new hobbies from friends, spend time volunteering in the community.

Office of Student Affairs