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College Binge Drinking Tags

College Binge Drinking

By Leslie Thompson

The keg stand—familiar with it? If you’ve ever been to a fraternity or sorority party, you’ve probably seen one. Or perhaps you’ve even taken a turn. A staple of college parties, the keg stand is just one of hundreds of binge-drinking games plaguing colleges and universities around the country. Binge drinking is the consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. Nearly 44 percent of college students are binge drinkers, which means two out of every five students consume 4-5 alcoholic drinks within a two-hour period.

There are many reasons why college students binge drink. Many drink because their peers drink and they follow suit. Some drink simply to get drunk. Others drink as a way to relieve pressure, academic or familial. Whatever the reason, binge drinking is an issue that affects college campuses and brings with it a slew of problems.

First and foremost, the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages takes a toll on the body. Short-term binge drinking impairs an individual’s motor functions, which can lead to accidents, injury, and death. It can also cause inflammation or scarring of the liver. Long-term drinking can increase one’s blood pressure and damage heart muscles, and has been linked to several types of cancer. Another major consequence students need to be aware of when drinking is the possibility of alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning occurs when an individual consumes an excessive amount of alcohol within a short period of time and their blood alcohol level raises to toxic proportions. This by itself can cause death, but alcohol poisoning also causes vomiting, which can potentially choke a person to death.

For college students, health issues may not seem relevant or carry that much weight; after all, many young people believe they’re invincible. Something closer to home may be the impaired judgment that comes with excessive drinking. It is reported that over 50% of college students who binge drink have blacked out or have forgotten what they did while drinking during the school year. When an individual is no longer capable of making responsible choices for himself, problems arise. For example, drunk driving is a huge problem with college-aged kids; an estimated 2.1 million college students drive under the influence each year. Sexual assault and unsafe sex are also rampant among heavy drinkers. Students who binge drink are also more prone to miss class or postpone studying. These are major issues that negatively impact an individual’s college experience.

There are also second-hand side effects related to binge drinking. Non-drinkers living with a binge drinker can experience interrupted sleep or study hours, destruction of property, physical and verbal abuse, and even sexual violence.

Binge drinking affects the entire college community, not just those who partake in drinking. Even though college is a period of independence for young adults, students need to be aware of the effects alcohol has on their body, their mind, and their peers.