Staff Editorial: The Guilfordian recognizes Alcohol Awareness Month
April is Alcohol Awareness Month and if you drink, we at The Guilfordian urge you to drink responsibly.
If you drink, be sure to stay with a group that you trust and know will watch your back. At the same time, be sure to watch out for those around you. Avoid separating yourself from your group at all costs. There is safety in numbers.
If a friend is harmed or loses consciousness, it is important to get help. Students are protected by the College’s amnesty policy, so you will not be penalized if you possess or have consumed alcohol when you contact 911 and Public Safety about the incident.
Do not accept drinks from people you do not know and trust. Also, once you have a drink, make sure you keep an eye on it. It is often difficult or impossible to detect if a date-rape drug has been added to a drink because they are typically colorless and odorless.
If you know ahead of time that you will be drinking, make preparations. Plan ahead for transportation afterward and make sure you are comfortable with the people you will be with and the area where you will be.
When drinking, it is vital to keep your own limits in mind. Stay hydrated and make time to eat. Remember to check in with yourself often to ensure that you do not consume more alcohol than you intended and are comfortable with. A good thing to do would be to find a way to keep a tally of how much you drink while you drink. For instance, keep hold of your bottle caps if you are drinking beer bottles.
Do not attempt to drive after you drink. You may feel like you are able to safely navigate roads, but driving while drunk is extremely dangerous to you and other drivers. Make every effort you can to prevent people around you from driving after they have been drinking.
Drinking responsibly is vital and saves lives. As a community, we must work together to hold ourselves and those around us accountable for safe drinking.
Reflecting Guilford College’s core Quaker values, the topics and content of Staff Editorials are chosen through consensus of all 13 editors and one faculty adviser of The Guilfordian’s Editorial Board.
