Alcohol & Other Drugs

How-To Drink Responsibly

Drinking responsibly means you must act responsibly first
Be a responsible adult and assign a designated driver for the evening if you do plan on drinking.
Eat before you drink!!
Real food (not chips, dip, pretzels or salad) will help your body absorb the alcohol slower and thus enter your bloodstream slower. Be sure to avoid foods (such as those salty fries) that will make you more dehydrated.
Alternate your drinks
Drink a glass of water or other non-alcoholic drink for every alcoholic drink.
Drink SLOWLY
Don't guzzle, shoot, or throw back your drinks. If you drink too fast, your body won't have a chance to keep up and tell you when you have had too much, until it's too late. A good rule to live by is one drink an hour.
Count your drinks
and set a limit before you go out.
WATCH YOUR DRINK
Never leave it alone, keep it close to you and covered if you can, and certainly don't put it down to dance.
Avoid punch bowls
Not many people think of this. Who is going to drug the whole party? Of more concern is that you don't know the alcohol content of the punch. In addition, drugs or other illegal chemicals could be in the punch, so steer clear of them-you never know what's in there!
Get your own drink
Don't accept a drink from anyone else. It doesn't matter how cute they are.
Don't mix
Alcohol and illegal drugs are a bad combination and taking them together can land you in a lot of trouble. Always check with your pharmacist to make sure it is safe to drink alcohol with your prescription or over-the-counter medication.
Take the E-chug

Moderate, Heavy, and High Risk Drinking?

  • Moderate drinking is an average of one drink or less per day for women and an average of two drinks or less per day for men.
  • Heavy drinking happens when a person exceeds the moderate drinking standards.
  • High risk drinking is 5 or more drinks in one sitting or within a short amount of time. For women, high risk drinking is 4 or more drinks.

What is Blood Alcohol Content?

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) is a measure of the concentration of alcohol in the blood. This can be affected by how much a person drank in a certain time frame, what alcohol they were drinking, their gender, body weight, food consumed prior to and during drinking, genetics, and a multitude of other factors. A blood alcohol content of 0.08 can result in an individual being arrested when operating a car under the influence. A blood alcohol content of 0.35 or higher can result in breathing stoppage, coma, and possible death.

What is your typical BAC level? Calculate your typical BAC level.

Contact Info

Alcohol & Other Drugs Resource Center

Memorial Hall 102
1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455

Phone: (309) 298-2457
Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm M - F
Email: aod@wiu.edu