The Dangers of College Binge Drinking

 Posted on December 00, 0000 in DUI

For many college students, drinking is as much a part of their life as going to classes or making new friends. College parties are almost synonymous with large quantities of beer and liquor. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) estimates that nearly 40% of college students between the ages of 18-22 binge drink regularly. Some of the drinking results in relatively harmless fun, but sometimes, the behavior can lead to charges of driving under the influence (DUI) or worse.

What Is Binge Drinking?

When you think of binge drinking, an image of a person chugging drink after drink may come to mind. But it is not always so easy to spot binge drinking. Many individuals would be surprised to know that they are binge drinking—especially if everyone around them is drinking the about the same quantity. Binge drinking is defined as having four or more drinks in two hours for women and five or more drinks for men. Men are often larger and can metabolize alcohol more easily than women. Drinking this amount of alcohol will almost certainly bring a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 or above. One in six adults report binge drinking and it is much more common for younger adults than older adults.

What Are the Consequences of Binge Drinking?

This type of excessive drinking can be even more dangerous than casual drinking for many reasons. The drinker may lose count of how many drinks he or she have had. Drinkers may think they are capable to drive when they are not.

Drinking may seem like a harmless part of the college experience but it can have deadly consequences. On average, 1,825 college students die from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor-vehicle crashes, every year. Many college students are unfamiliar with how their body handles alcohol and consequently drink more than they should. Students may also be encouraged by peers to drink excessively. This can result in alcohol poisoning or blacking out.

Drinking excessively also puts young people at an elevated risk for sexual assault. A person who is passed out from drinking can become a victim easily. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism estimates that 696,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted in colleges every year.

Binge Drinking and DUI

While many college parties are often in walking distance for most attendees, binge drinking can also impair decision-making abilities. Too often, an intoxicated person will get into his or her car for a late-night food run, a pack of cigarettes, or some other errand that seems vitally important in the moment. Before he or she knows it, the person has been stopped by police and arrested for driving under influence.

If you are a college student facing DUI charges, your future could be in jeopardy. Contact an experienced Kane County DUI defense attorney to discuss your case and to explore your available options. Call 847-488-0889 for a free consultation at The The Law Office of Brian J. Mirandola today.

Sources:

https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/collegefactsheet/Collegefactsheet.pdf

https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/binge-drinking.htm