Summer Drinking:
How to play it safe as the temperatures rise
By Anna Lekos Miller, senior, New York University
During the summer, with time off from school, some students may be socializing and partying more. When the weather turns warmer, some may turn to alcoholic beverages to try and quench their thirst.
If you’re over age 21, drinking one or two drinks with friends is one thing; high-risk or binge drinking is another. For some people, a few drinks can lead to more drinks, and that can lead to risky situations. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to .08% or above. This typically happens when men consume five or more drinks, and when women consume four or more drinks, in about two hours. While the number of college students who do not drink is growing, according to CollegeDrinkingPrevention.gov, about 4 in 5 college students drink, and about half of college student drinkers engage in heavy episodic consumption.
So with potential opportunities for summer drinking coming up, here are things to keep in mind.
Staying Hydrated
First of all, it is important to stay hydrated both before and while you drink—alcohol is a diuretic, meaning that no matter how thirst-quenching a beer may appear, or even taste, it will eventually dehydrate your body. Since water is the medium by which nutrients flow from the blood to the cells, hydration is very important for personal health.
“In warm weather, body heat loss is essential—leading to dehydration,” says Robert Pandina, director of the Center for Alcohol Studies at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. “Alcohol only exaggerates this effect, bringing many biological consequences.”
“During the summer it is even more important to drink lots of water—no matter how tempting it is just to reach for another beer,” says Mary*, a student at Chico State University in California. She is right—no matter what type of alcohol you drink, it will eventually make you feel thirsty—often causing you to drink more alcohol than you intended to and become sick if you do not hydrate.
Try Alternatives to Alcohol
To avoid dehydration, consider alternating each alcoholic drink with a glass of water or another non-alcoholic drink. If the goal of your socializing is to enjoy the sunshine and relax, consider making a festive mocktail to enjoy all of the flavors of your favorite cocktail without potential adverse effects.
Eat While or Before Drinking
It is also important to eat a full meal before you start drinking—this can be difficult during the summer when light foods that do not absorb alcohol well are more appealing. However, if you drink on an empty stomach, the alcohol will be transported to the bloodstream faster, and you will have a higher blood alcohol concentration faster.
Mary recommends eating dinner two hours before you start drinking—fatty proteins and whole grains are good choices. Even a glass of milk can slow down absorption of alcohol. Also, eating can give you a sense of fullness, which can lead you to consume less alcohol.
Playing It Safe
It’s well known that alcohol increases the risk of car crashes, drowning, and other tragedies.
Binge drinking is also a risk factor for sexual assault, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The risk for rape or sexual assault increases when both the perpetrator and victim have used alcohol before the attack. (Note, however, that assault is always the perpetrator’s fault.)
The vast majority of sexual assaults happen between acquaintances, and the assaults are often planned or orchestrated with drugs such as “roofies” (the slang for the date-rape drug rohypnol) or excessive alcohol. Alcohol is the drug most commonly used to commit sexual assault, according to womenshealth.gov.
Do you have an iPhone? Consider downloading the Circle of 6 app—this award-winning anti-violence app lets you choose your six closest and most convenient friends and program their contact information into your circle. Pre-programmed SMS messages provide scenarios such as, “Call me. I need an interruption” and “Come and get me. I need help getting home safely,” complete with GPS coordinates. In two easy taps, you can let your circle know what is going on, where you are, and ensure that help is on the way. To get the application, CLICK HERE.
“Circle of 6 is a tool that meets young people where they are and offers concrete strategies for supporting each other, whether safety threats are coming from intimate relationships or potentially dangerous social situations,” says Nancy Schwartzman, Circle of 6 co-creator and executive director of The Line Campaign, Inc.
Regardless of the scenario, alcohol notoriously blurs the lines of sexual consent. If a person has alcohol in his or her system, he or she may not be able to give consent because it has altered his or her ability to do so. The absence of a response is not consent, and “convincing” or talking someone into having sex is not consent. For more information on sexual assault, CLICK HERE.
Keep in mind, too, that drinking in excess may lead some students to post embarrassing photos on Facebook. And those photos may have serious implications on your ability to land a job or internship or can cause problems in your current relationship. Some high-risk drinkers may also black out and not remember where they are or what happened.
Summer Travels and Drinking
Summer is a great time to travel, but it is important to remember that while you are traveling, the risks of crime, assault, and sexual assault can often be exacerbated. The combination of alcohol and being outside your comfort zone automatically makes you a more vulnerable target. Be aware of your surroundings at all times, and always let trusted friends know where you are and whom you are with.
As with many things, moderation is key when it comes to alcohol, and with some forethought, you can keep your summer drinking from becoming summer drinking gone wild.
*Name changed for privacy purposes.
ANNA LEKAS MILLER IS EARNING HER BACHELOR'S IN SOCIAL AND CULTURAL ANALYSIS AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK CITY. SHE HAS WRITTEN FOR THE NATION, ALTERNET, GLOBAL COMMENT, NEW POLITICS, GENDER ACROSS BORDERS, FEMINISTE, AND ELECTRONIC INTIFADA.
Find Out More
Click for the latest about students and alcohol from the U.S. College Drinking Prevention website.
Click for more about the consequences of binge, or high risk, drining from the U.S. CDC.
Click for more about responsible consumption practices from The Century Council's website.
For a blood alcohol calculator, CLICK HERE.
To learn more about how alcohol affects your health, CLICK HERE.
Dry Soda Vanilla Orange Mocktail
- 1 12oz bottle Vanilla Bean DRY soda
- 2-4 dashes of orange bitters
- 1 orange slice, twisted
- Ice
This is an excellent non-alcoholic Mad Men-esque drink. Grab an old-fashioned glass (it’s all about the presentation), throw some ice in there, add a dash or two of bitters, and top with an orange twist. For more mocktail recipes, CLICK HERE.
To learn more about knowing the signs of intoxication and how to help a friend who may have had too much to drink, CLICK HERE.
For more on impaired driving, CLICK HERE.
