Be sure to drink plenty of water and eat before and during drinking. 85% of Mizzou students eat before or during drinking.
Try to alternate nonalcoholic beverages with alcoholic beverages, space alcoholic beverages out, or set a limit for drinking whether it be number of drinks or money spent.
WATCH OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER
Look out for your friends. Offer help if it looks like someone might need it. 96% of students at Mizzou would help a person they suspect had alcohol poisoning.
BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT
We recognize that BAC estimations operate on a gender binary that is not inclusive, but we recommend using sex assigned at birth to estimate BAC.
KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DRINKING
A standard drink is 12 oz beer, 8-9 oz malt liquor, 5 oz wine, 1.5 fl oz liquor.
Pour your own drink, watch the bartender make your drink, and never leave your drink unattended.
AVOID BINGE DRINKING
Binge drinking is when you have 5 or more drinks within 2 hours.
Most MU students have 0-4 drinks when partying.
AVOID ALCOHOL IF YOU ARE PREGNANT OR MAY BECOME PREGNANT
Using Alcohol while pregnant is never safe for the developing fetus as it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or an array of chronic disabilities.
MISSOURI'S LAW
Legal drinking age is 21 years of age or over.
Do NOT drink and drive. Individuals under the age of 21 years can receive a DUI (driving under the influence) if their BAC is 0.02% or higher. If 21+ years of age, an individual can receive a DUI if their BAC is 0.08% or higher.
USE A DESIGNATED DRIVER, RIDE SHARE, OR TAXI
Designate a sober driver before the party begins, whether that be a sober friend, STRIPES, Uber/Lyft, or a Taxi. 88% of Mizzou students regularly use a designated driver when they need one.
Memorial Stadium offers a sober pledge as part of the CHEERS program. The designated driver can turn in a pledge card and receive a FREE non-alcoholic beverage at home football games.
Some medications interact negatively with alcohol. Always talk to your doctor before drinking alcohol to learn about any possible interactions that alcohol could have on your health.
COMMON MISPERCEPTIONS
Myth: Caffeine will sober me up. Fact: Caffeine does not decrease a person’s blood alcohol content. Instead, caffeine decreases the depressant effect of alcohol so that a person is less likely to feel the effects of alcohol until later, which increases the risk of negative consequences from a higher BAC.
Myth: A cold shower will help me sober up. Fact: Only time will decrease a person’s BAC. A cold shower is just mean.
Myth: I just need to learn to “hold my liquor”. Fact: Learning to “hold your liquor” is developing a tolerance to alcohol. Having a tolerance to alcohol means your BAC still rises at the same rate, you just do not feel the effects the same which makes it more likely to experience alcohol related injuries.
Myth: I need to drink to “keep up” with my friends or partner. Fact: Drinking to “keep up” with others makes it more likely that you will experience the not so good things related to alcohol like hangovers and vomiting. A person’s height, weight, and sex all have a role in how a person processes their alcohol.
REFERENCES AND ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
University of Missouri statistics obtained from the 2019 Missouri Assessment of College Health Behaviors Survey (MACHB), N=879 MU students.
