The Health Certer staff encourages students to comply with the Maine State Law regarding the use of alcohol ( see the Colby Student Handbook, pp. 76-82). Irresponsible use of alcohol can lead to many adverse consequences in a person's life. Listed below are some but certainly not all of the consequences associated with excessive alcohol use.

1. Missing class as a result of a hangover.
2. Decline in academic performance.
3. Vomiting with the risk of choking on the vomitus.
4. Unwanted/unplanned/ unprotected sex leading to embarrassment, shame, unplanned pregnancy, or the acquisition of a sexually transmitted disease, including AIDS.
5. Date rape.
6. Violent or abusive behavior.
7. Arrest for operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.

Although some students choose not to drink alcohol, others make the choice to drink while at Colby. The staff at the Garrison-Foster Health Center recommends that if you choose to drink, you do so responsibly.

Tips for responsible drinking:

1. Know how much alcohol you are going to drink before you start drinking. Make sure you set reasonable limits on total quantity of alcohol consumed.
2. Drink only one to one-and-a-half alcoholic beverages (12-ounce beers, four-ounce glasses of wine, or shots of hard liquor) per hour. (Remember that it takes the liver approximately one hour to clear one 12-ounce can of beer, one four-ounce glass of wine, or one measured shot of hard liquor from the body.)
3. Consider drinking one or two "soft drinks" before starting to drink alcohol to prevent rapid consumption of alcohol to quench your thirst. It is also reasonable to drink "soft drinks" between alcoholic beverages to slow down overall consumption of alcohol.
4. Pay attention to when you start an alcoholic drink and note when you begin your next one. Make sure that at least forty-five minutes has passed.
5. Remember the reasonable limits you set for yourself before going out and stick to them. If you find you are unable to do so, you might recognize that you are developing a problem with alcohol.

If you want further information on responsible drinking, call the Garrison-Foster Health Center for an appointment to speak with a counselor.

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