Alcohol Awareness

Often, people feel pressured to drink. These pressures work for many different reasons, but mainly because it is hard to feel left out and humans naturally want to feel socially accepted by their peers. However, there are many harmful consequences of excessive drinking including: hangovers, class absences, alcohol poising, unplanned sexual activity, sexual assault, accidental injury, spending money excessively. So, you must decide for yourself. Are you going to be pressured by others or are you going to make healthy and smart decisions. The freedom not to drink is your choice, thus don’t let others take that freedom away. Drinking and pressure all boils down to one question: who decides if and what you will drink?

Gain Knowledge

Alcohol Awareness Handbook.pdf


How to say, “No Thanks”:

Expect Pressure

  • Remember times when you have been pressured to drink in the past
  • Think about why you don’t want to drink

Plan What You Will Say

  • Plan how you’ll respond if offered a drink

Think Ahead

  • Take non-alcohol drinks to the party.
  • Be low key about it and others will probably not notice
  • Hang out with people that drink less
  • Organize non-drinking activities

Review Your Reasons

  • Know why you are not drinking so you can feel confident in your decisions

Educate yourself about the signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning:

  • Person is unresponsive and cannot be awakened.
  • Cold, clammy, pale skin
  • Breathing is slow or irregular, meaning that there is 10+ seconds between breaths.
  • Vomiting while in an unconscious state.
  • Unable to stand or walk.

Consuming alcohol under the age of 21 is illegal. However, if you choose to partake in drinking underage there are ways to stay safe and minimize negative consequences.

  • Pace yourself, choose to be responsible and have one drink or fewer each hour
  • Alternate drinks with non-alcoholic drinks
  • Eat food before or during drinking
  • Plan a safe way to get home
  • Know the signs of alcohol poisoning and call 991 if in doubt.