Resources and Education on Alcohol Usage
The Wellness Center is a judgment-free zone that offers education about harm-reduction drinking practices as well as support for students seeking to change their drinking behaviors.
What is moderate drinking?
According to the CDC and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, moderate drinking is defined as no more than 1 drink per day for women (not to exceed 7 drinks in a week) and no more than 2 drinks per day for men (1 drink per hour and not to exceed 14 drinks in a week).
- It takes about one hour for one standard drink to metabolize in your system, depending on your assigned gender at birth and weight
Drinking in moderation provides the lowest risk of adverse health effects, but the only way to avoid the health risks associated with alcohol consumption entirely is not to drink
What is excessive or risky drinking?
Excessive or risky drinking includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, any drinking by people younger than age 21, and anyone who is currently taking prescription or over-the-counter medications.
- Binge drinking, the most common form of drinking, is defined as consuming
- For women, 4 or more drinks during a single occasion
- For men, 5 or more drinks during a single occasion
- Heavy drinking is defined as consuming
- For women, 8 or more drinks per week
- For men, 15 or more drinks per week
Why are some of the risks of heavy drinking?
Excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for an average of 79,000 deaths in the United States each year. Approximately, 1,825 of them are college students. More than half of all these deaths are due to binge drinking. Excessive drinking is also associated with physical injuries to self and others, as well as the development of chronic health conditions.
Who can I talk to on campus about my drinking or drug usage?
- Request a confidential AOD Consultation with the Recovery & AOD Assistant Director, Jason Muñoz
- Schedule a phone consultation with CAPS (408) 554-4501
- For 24/7 after-hours support, call (408) 554-5220
Additional Resources: