Alcohol-The Basics

There are many ways to talk about alcohol and the basics of what every Duke student should know. However, we're going to go for the direct approach in this document. If you have further questions, contact Jeff Kulley, PhD, the campus Coordinator of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services, at CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services, 660-1000).

Curious if your alcohol use is a problem? Take an anonymous online self screening and get instant feedback.

What are the concerns?

The Student Health Center has many of the same concerns that Duke students have, including:

• lowering risk of liability to students and the university;
• lowering risk of injury to students
• lowering risk of property damage
• increasing student interaction and safety
• increasing the number of students engaged in social activity.

The Student Health Center is happy to share accurate, current and clear information on alcohol and alcohol issues. We dislike scare tactics as much as you do.

What is a drink?

It's important to know what a 'drink' is before we start any other conversation on alcohol. Duke University uses the following to understand the concept of a drink:

• 1 to 1.5 ounces of hard alcohol is equal in alcohol volume, which is equal to
• 4 to 5 ounces of unfortified (table) wine, which is equal to
• 12 ounces of beer (standard can), all of which individually is one drink.

In other words, there is the same amount of alcohol in those measures of those drinks, and so are a standard. For example, if someone has 9 ounces of wine, 1.25 ounces of tequila, and thirty-six ounces of beer, they've had six drinks (two wine, one shot of hard alcohol, and three beer 'drinks').

How much can I (safely) drink?

Well, that depends on how much risk you're willing to take. No, really. The more you drink, the greater the effects on the body, and the greater risk the alcohol puts you at.

For nearly everyone, regardless of tolerance or anything else, after the first two drinks, inhibitions are gone. You may not notice this effect, but the chemical effect of alcohol on the brain happens within the first two drinks for everyone, regardless of size or gender.

Losing inhibitions is rarely a bad thing-it means you're more likely to do things you wanted to do in the first place. This might mean being more comfortable in social situations, talking to people, dancing, and relaxing.

After the third drink for most people, and the fourth for everyone, judgment is lost. Again, this is often unnoticed by the person drinking, and ups the risk a little. This is best described as doing things you may not have wanted to do. For example, without inhibitions you may have talked to people you wanted to, but were a little shy to. Without judgment, you may do so loudly, or say the wrong things without noticing, or you may yell?

Another example: without inhibitions, you may get up and dance; without judgment, you may actually think you're good at it.

Again, risk goes up from here, and because judgment is lost, this is where legally the state of North Carolina draws the line at driving. In other words, it's the basis for the .08% BAC level, because nearly everyone is at this level after four drinks.

The third thing lost during drinking is motor control and skills. This is usually where a person might start noticing other person's drinking. Slurred speech, poor hand or eye movement, unsteady walks, and bad coordination all occur at this stage, from anywhere from five to nine drinks, depending on the person.

By the time this happens, inhibitions and judgment are long gone, and the combination leads to a much higher risk. You may do things you didn't want to do, and be unable to physically alter the situation. Risks of accidents (vehicle, stairs) and assault (physical, sexual) both increase at this stage.

At the Student Health Center, and echoed throughout the Division of Student Services, the suggestion is made to drink four or less drinks in a sitting (event), period. It does allow those who choose to drink a way to keep from being at excessive risk.

For those who drink beyond this point, the following may happen:

• Loss of memory (black out), or the inability to remember part or all of a period of time, while still being physically active;
• Loss of consciousness (pass out); and
• Loss of involuntary muscle control, including vomiting, breathing and heart trouble.

How can I help a friend who has passed out or is vomiting?

You should keep an eye on friends who have passed out. First, check for responsiveness. Tap them or gently shake them, to see if they've passed out or have only fallen asleep. Someone who has passed out will be unresponsive, and it's a good idea to seek help for them.

At the very least, turn them onto a side, so that if they vomit, they won't breathe it in, which may impair breathing or lead to aspiration pneumonia, a potentially fatal situation. Check their breathing; if it's less than six a minute, call 911, as this is a real risk for harm. Stay with them or arrange for someone to stay with them until help arrives.

If they vomit, understand that this does not get rid of alcohol; by this point, any alcohol in the system is already absorbed, and all that is coming up is fluids and food without alcohol. Keep the airway clean and open if they're passed out, but if awake, ask them to try not to vomit, as it can cause the problems above.

The next day, you might also want to have a conversation with your friend, about why you had to take care of them. For information on this and other ways to intervene, contact either CAPS or the Student Health Center.

For a check-up on your own drinking, just click on the graphic below to take the BAR Exam (Brief Alcohol Review)! It only takes a few minutes to learn if your drinking habits are healthy or risky!