Alcohol Myths

Myth #1- I can drink and still be in control

FACT: Drinking impairs your judgment, which increases the likelihood that you will do something you'll later regret such as having unprotected sex, being involved in date rape, damaging property, or being victimized by others.

Myth #2 - Drinking isn't all that dangerous

FACT: Among college students, alcohol contributes to deaths from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, as well as assaults, sexual assaults or date rapes, and poor academic performance.

Myth #3 - I can sober up quickly if I have to

FACT: It takes about 2 hours for the adult body to eliminate the alcohol content of a single drink, depending on your weight. Nothing can speed up this process - not even coffee or cold showers.

Myth #4 - It's okay for me to drink to keep up with my boyfriend

FACT: Women process alcohol differently. No matter how much he drinks, if you drink the same amount as your boyfriend, you will be more intoxicated and more impaired.

Myth #5 - Beer doesn't have as much alcohol as hard liquor

FACT: A 12-ounce bottle of beer has the same amount of alcohol as a standard shot of 80-proof liquor (either straight or in a mixed drink) or 5 ounces of wine.

Myth #6 - I'd be better off if I learned to "hold my liquor"

FACT: If you have to drink increasingly larger amounts of alcohol to get a "buzz" or get "high", you are developing tolerance. Tolerance is actually a warning sign that you're developing more serious problems with alcohol.

Myth # 7 - I can manage to drive well enough after a few drinks

FACT: The effects of alcohol start sooner than people realize, with mild impairment (up to .05 BAC) starting to affect speech, memory, attention, coordination, and balance. And if you are under 21, driving after drinking any amount of alcohol is illegal and you could lose your license. The risks of a fatal crash for drivers with positive blood alcohol content (BAC) compared with other drivers (i.e., the relative risk) increase with increasing BAC, and the risks increase more steeply for drivers younger than age 21 than for older drivers.

(Source: College Drinking)