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The Wellness Center

Alcohol

Whether someone drinks alcohol or not, knowing how alcohol affects the body, and what can make it more dangerous, puts everyone in a better position to look out for one another.

What alcohol does

  •       Alcohol is classified as a depressant, or downer, which means it slows activity in the brain and body.
  •       Alcohol can lower inhibition, impair judgment, and cause nausea, vomiting, or alcohol poisoning when too much is consumed.

What can affect intoxication

  •       Food and hydration: Eating before drinking slows alcohol absorption, reducing the risk of stomach discomfort, vomiting, and dangerous spikes in Blood Alcohol Content (BAC). Being dehydrated before you start can have the opposite effect; increasing how quickly and severely alcohol affects you.
  •       Medications: Prescription and over-the-counter medications may interact with alcohol and increase intoxication or create dangerous effects. Common examples include Tylenol/acetaminophen and antibiotics. Always review medication guidance and consult your doctor, pharmacist, or medical provider before drinking while taking a new medication.
  •       Other drugs: Using alcohol with cannabis, cocaine, prescription stimulants, or other drugs can make it harder to tell how intoxicated you are. The safest approach is not to mix substances. If you choose to, use less than you normally would of each.
  •       Sleep and illness: Poor sleep and illness can contribute to faster or more severe intoxication. Use extra caution if you’re not feeling your best.
  •       Mood: Negative emotional states, like stress, grief, or frustration, can increase the urge to drink more heavily and may cause alcohol to feel more intense than usual.

Ways to lower risks when drinking

  •       Eat before drinking and stay hydrated throughout the night.
  •       Set a limit for how many drinks you plan to have before you start.
  •       Know what a standard drink is: 12 oz of regular beer (5% ABV), 5 oz of wine (12% ABV), or 1.5 oz of hard liquor (40% ABV) each contain roughly the same amount of alcohol. Most canned seltzers and beers are around 5% ABV, but check the label; strength varies.
  •       Slow down, especially with wine, mixed drinks, or hard liquor, since alcohol content can vary and may be quite high.
  •       Drink with people you trust, and make sure you’re not alone if someone needs help.
  •       Alternate alcoholic drinks with water to help pace yourself and reduce the risk of a bad hangover.
  •       Pay attention to your body. Loud or unfamiliar environments can make it harder to tell how intoxicated you are. Washing your hands in the bathroom or stepping outside for fresh air can help you reset.
  •       Look out for each other. If a friend seems like they’re reaching a point where things are no longer fun or safe, step in, check on them, and help them slow down. If in doubt, call for help.

Other factors that can affect how you drink

Beyond how alcohol affects the body, your environment and habits around drinking can shape the experience too.

  •       Social environment: Drinking around new people or in an unfamiliar setting can encourage different and riskier habits. Always use your own judgment about how much you want to drink, regardless of what’s going on around you.
  •       Pre-gaming: Having drinks before going out can make it harder to pace yourself. A long window means more total drinking time; a short one can lead to drinking heavily very quickly. Either way, it’s easy to arrive somewhere already more intoxicated than you intended.

Signs of alcohol poisoning

Call for help right away if someone is:

  •       Vomiting repeatedly or unable to keep from vomiting
  •       Passed out or difficult to wake up
  •       Speaking incoherently
  •       Confused about where they are
  •       Breathing slowly, irregularly, or not at all
  •       Cold or clammy to the touch

If you see any of these signs, call Campus EMS at 408-554-4444. If you are off campus, call 911. While waiting for help, turn the person on their side — this reduces the risk of choking if they vomit.

For more information on what happens after students call for help for themselves or others, please refer to our medical amnesty policy. When in doubt, call for help.

SCU policy

Alcohol use and public intoxication are not permitted on SCU’s campus, regardless of a student’s age. Students age 21 and over who live in on-campus housing may consume alcohol in their residence only if every student living there is also age 21 or over. For more information, please see the Student Handbook.

Not every SCU student chooses to drink, and most of the best parts of college have nothing to do with it. If you ever want to talk or learn more, schedule a Wellness Coaching session or reach out directly at jmunoz2@scu.edu.