Steer Clear: Five Tips on How to Navigate the Drinking Haze

A couple is making out in the corner, their drinks spilling onto the carpet below. Two girls have locked themselves in the bathroom, ignorant of the angry line that snakes along the wall outside.  Suddenly there is a stir at the bottom of the stairs; a petite girl yells that everyone has to go. Now, a fight has erupted between the host and one of his very drunken friends – the party is over.

While this may sound like a typical Saturday night on a college campus, this is not the case for all students.  In fall 2010, 62 percent of freshmen said that they were abstaining from drinking according to a study done by Outside the Classroom, an organization at the forefront of bringing alcohol education to college students. While these freshmen enter college with the intent not to drink, once into the craze it can become harder to maintain that same pledge of abstinence.  Here are four tips on how to successfully keep that “no.”

Join organizations that peak your interests.

It’s no secret the first few weeks away from home can be challenging.  Navigating a new campus, class schedule and dining halls is stressful enough without the added pressure of figuring out a social life.  At the beginning of the year, a social life can mean partying. However, not everyone is out and drinking and carousing.  Across the board drinking rates are on the decline.  The number of students not drinking in high school is at an all time low over the past 25 years and the national binge drinking rates have been dropping according to Brandon Busteed CEO of Outside the Classroom.

“Right away, you’re definitely not alone,” said Nick Sullivan, resident advisor at Creighton University.  “There are plenty of people like you.  The trick is finding them.”  Sullivan suggests joining, “something you’re passionate about so you have a chance to get to know people outside of your floor or who went to high school with you.  These people will grow to like you outside of a drinking situation.”

Colleges have clubs, organizations and programs for any interest.  From intermural sport and club teams, to student government, to religious groups, you can join these organizations run by and for students.  For Sarah Boyum, Indiana University freshman, organizations have been a key part of her transition. 
      
“Getting involved in activities I like has really helped,” Boyum said. “I love photography and found people who do, too.  And they might have interests in partying and going out, but you don’t have to go with them.”

Boyum, who doesn’t drink, enjoys spending weekends hanging out with friends, watching moves, playing Nintendo 64 or working out. She has no problem being around peers who drink and goes to the occasional frat party.

“I think that there’s nothing wrong with going out and drinking socially,” Boyum said. “But, I think that when you’re going out solely to get wasted and it has nothing to do with who you’re going to hang out with that night or what you’re going to do or talk about, listen to, dance with, then that’s a problem and that’s when things can go wrong.” 

Fifty-percent of reported sexual assaults on college campuses involve alcohol according to a study by Wayne State University.  From 1998 to 2001 more than 500,000 students who were unintentionally injured due of drinking, according to a study by the Annual Review of Public Health.

Following these studies, lower binge drinking rates will potentially correlate with lower sexual assault and injury rates   
 
Surround yourself with people who support your decision.

Friends who have your back and enjoy similar activities will create a positive living environment as well college memories.

When asked about her college friends, Boyum smiled and pulled a strand of red hair behind her ear.  

“A majority of my friends are like me.  I met most through the orientation program here,” Boyum said. “Others, I have met through other activities I’m involved in and some of them go out and party.  They’ve asked me a few times to go.  Now they usually go out and we’ll do something different together some other time.” 

Boyum feels she has a full social life outside of partying thanks in part to her friendships. Meeting people who have diverse views on life and who are from different backgrounds, expands your college experience and opens you up for new adventures.

“It’s important to have a diverse group of friends who are interested in a variety of activities so you can have an active social life weather drinking or not,” Busteed said.

The trick to a diverse group of friends is finding people who are okay with your lifestyle choices as much as you are comfortable with theirs.

“You can always go out and be with your friends without drinking,” said Amy Frick, a junior at St. Louis University. “It especially helps if you have one other friend who has similar plans as you the next day so you can stick together while you’re out and then do something the next morning.”

Prepare to answer, “What do you want to drink?”

Deciding not to drink does not mean swearing off parties and bars for four years. College parties do not appear to be on the decline, despite the rise in students abstaining from drinking.

“The stereotype of college is that it is one giant wild party,” said Tara Jarvinen a junior at University of Iowa. “I came to college expecting that.”

Jarvinen goes out every weekend in Iowa City.  When asked if she regrets any drunken moments, she laughs, self-aware of her answer, “I only feel regret when I vomit because I think maybe I should have stopped a few drinks sooner.” 

Befriending someone who enjoys partying, like Jarvinen, doesn’t mean having to drink with him or her, or spending Saturday night alone while they go out.  Having a great time at a party while remaining sober can happen.  The trick is to think about what you are heading into.

Knowing that there will be drinking at the event can help you prepare for the inevitably question, “What are you having?”

“If you have to justify it, blame a test you have coming up,” Sullivan said.  “Even if you don’t have one, most people won’t question it.”

Avoiding questions in the first place can be as simple as holding a non-alcoholic drink from the start of the party. 

“People see you have something in your hands and they will let you be,” Frick said.

Planning will leave you confident in your decision and allow you to relax and enjoy the party.

Set long-term goals that use your free time

Both Boyum and Frick talked about how drinking interferes with long-term goals. Each plan to run a half-marathon next fall and spend a good amount of time training. 

“I work hard at my other goals,” Frick said. “Besides the half marathon, I have my academics and community service so, I don’t have time for drinking.”

Saying no to drinking does not mean swearing off alcohol forever, becoming a hermit for four years or spending your time avoiding any situation where alcohol might be present.

“It’s not like I’m saying ‘No alcohol will enter my throat!’ I’m just not into getting rip-roaring drunk,” Boyum said.  “I think just, as hard as it is, stick to what you want to do.  Regardless of what’s going on around you.  I’ll admit sometimes it’s a little lonely.  Sometimes it’s not as exciting.  You don’t have that, “Oh my God, I was at this party and…” kind of stories to tell your friends back at home. But I think in the long run, you’ll have better relationships with the people you meet, and then you can go to parties with them instead of going to parties to look for friends.  I just think you need to stay true to what you want.”