When you arrived on campus at Penn State, you may or may not have ever consumed alcohol in your life up to that point. If you had, hopefully you were of legal age to do so. It’s no secret that students often spend free time in college socializing with friends on or off campus. Many times, such gatherings include alcohol. The more you research about college drinking ahead of time, the better prepared you’ll be to make informed decisions when the time comes.
You’re likely already aware that drunk driving takes lives. It also often leads to a whole host of legal problems. If you want to avoid alcohol-related legal trouble in college, it’s a good idea to be fully aware of your rights and to know where to seek support if a problem arises. In short, the more you know about typical drinking habits in college, the potential effects of alcohol on your body and the possible hazards associated with alcohol consumption, the greater your chances of avoiding alcohol-related problems.
Reasons college students drink alcohol
Your decision to have a beer or other alcoholic beverage may not be for the same reasons as another college student’s. While every person’s life situation is unique, many college students cite similar reasons for drinking, such as those included in the following list:
- A lot of college students say they are more relaxed in social atmospheres if they have alcohol in their systems. In fact, some say drinking alcohol is a great way to break the ice in situations where they are meeting others for the first time or attending parties with large groups of people.
- Boredom is a factor that leads some college students to drink. They say it’s simply ‘something to do.’
- You may be among those who think alcohol helps food taste better.
- Many people say that drinking alcohol helps them have more fun because they let down their guard and loosen up in ways they don’t normally do when not drinking.
- Sex appeal is often noted as a reason to drink in college. Many seem to think that drinking enhances their own sexiness as well as making others more attractive to them.
College life can be quite stressful. This may be why some students say they use alcohol consumption as a coping mechanism. The good news is that if you feel like your drinking habit has gotten out of control and you want to reach out for support, there are resources available to help you. Not everyone who gets in trouble with the law by drinking, however, is addicted to alcohol. In fact, sometimes things can go wrong the very first time you imbibe then get behind the wheel to drive.
If a police officer stops you on a DUI suspicion and you wind up facing charges, it can definitely have a negative impact on your college career. Facing charges doesn’t always result in conviction, though. The type of support you secure plays a big part in the ultimate outcome of such situations.
