Alcohol Use and Responsible Drinking
Discover helpful information on alcohol and how it relates to your well-being. Find facts about college drinking along with interactive websites to explore your own consumption patterns.
[ Drink Responsibly 
] [ Alcohol Education ]
Assessments
Evaluate yourself by assessing your drinking behaviors through the use of these tools:
e-CHUG is an evidence-based, alcohol intervention and personalized feedback tool. It is designed to help students assess their alcohol consumption by using personalized information about their own drinking and risk factors.
Alcohol Screening
How much is too much? If you consume alcoholic beverages, it's important to know whether your drinking patterns are safe, risky, or harmful. You can assess your own drinking, learn about alcohol and health issues, and find resources for additional help. Take the Test - Assess Yourself!
Alcohol Calculator
The alcohol calculator assesses the amount of money you spend on alcohol and calories consumed. Learn how gender, body weight, food, what you drink, how much you drink, and how fast you drink can influence your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC).
Evaluate Your Drinking
Fill out this questionnaire regarding your alcohol use and receive instant responses about how you rank in relation to the general population. Receive specific feedback about the answers you entered.
General Information
Search Go Ask Alice's Q & A database that houses numerous alcohol and other health-related questions and answers. Alice is produced by Columbia University's Health Education Program.
Have any questions on alcohol use and abuse? Check out College Drinking Prevention for the most frequently asked questions.
Get facts and information on alcohol issues such as binge drinking, under age drinking, and alcohol advertising, plus alcohol issues related to health and parenting.
Articles/Fact Sheets
Get all the alcohol related information you need from these fact sheets.
The Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth offers a variety of fact sheets focused on underage drinking.
High Risk Drinking
High Risk Drinking is defined as:
- Chugging, drinking games, shots (drinking anything out of a punch bowl, trough, hose, or funnel).
- Drinking to get drunk (intoxicated).
- Driving after drinking or riding with someone under the influence.
- Drinking too much too fast.
- Going to parties where people drink too much.
- Not knowing what is in your glass or leaving it unattended.
- Mixing alcohol with medications or illegal drugs.
Binge drinking
Many college students drink because of peer pressure, academic stress, or to simply get drunk. So how much alcohol is too much? When students drink excessively in a short time period, or "binge" drink, they put themselves and others at risk.
College Drinking Statistics
Did you know that:
- 159,000 of today's first-year college students will drop out of school next year because of alcohol or other drug-related reasons
- One night of heavy drinking can impair your ability to think abstractly for up to 30 days?
High-Risk Drinking Among College Students
Learn the facts about college drinking.
Myths About Drinking
"I can drink and still be in control." Have you fallen prey to some of the most common myths about alcohol? Find out the truth at College Drinking Prevention.
Alcohol Poisoning
People can experience different effects of alcohol. Over consumption can result in unconsciousness and slow the heart enough to stop beating.
- Wake the person up. If they do not respond, call 911 for help.
- Turn the person on their side. This will prevent choking on their vomit.
- Examine the person's skin. See if their skin is clammy, cold, pale or bluish.
- Examine their breathing. Notice if their breathing is irregular, shallow, or slow (more than 10 seconds between breaths).
*If you notice any of the signs above, call 9-1-1 right away and make sure someone stays with the person until help arrives. You could be saving a life!
Responsible Drinking
Low Risk Drinking is defined as:
- Being 21 or older.
- Drinking only if you want to, not letting others dictate your choice.
- Eating a meal before drinking.
- Drinking no more than one drink per hour. A drink is defined as 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of regular beer, 8 ounces of malt liquor, or 1.5 ounce of 80 proof spirits.
- Alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
- Always knowing what you are drinking; never leaving a drink unattended.
- Knowing how you will get home safely before you go out.
- Having a designated driver.
Parents
Communicating with your Student
Drinking issues are a growing problem on college campuses nationwide, particularly for first-year college students. In an effort to reduce underage drinking and alcohol-related consequences, our staff is using a strategy where families play an active role in this process. There are several important things to consider when approaching this topic:
- The transition from high school to college provides parents with an optimal time period to talk their student.
- Research shows that the impact of such discussions, just prior to starting college, leads to lower alcohol consumption during college students' first year.
- Further, these talks lower the risk that students will experience serious alcohol-related consequences.
- Our staff encourages you to stand apart from most parents, take an active role, and communicate with your student.
Fall Semester (pdf) - A time for parents to revisit discussions about college drinking.
College Drinking Prevention has created a comprehensive site for parents to learn the facts about drinking and how to discuss alcohol use and abuse with their child.
Campus Support and Services
Health Center
- To talk to a caring professional about alcohol use and abuse, call Counseling Services at (208) 426-1459.
- Students in need of medical assistance can contact Medical Services at (208) 426-1459.
- For additional information about alcohol contact Wellness Services at (208) 426-5686.
21st Birthday Intervention
Students who are turning 21 during the academic year at Boise State University will be sent an online birthday e-mail and opportunity to participate in an educational survey. The survey will explore students anticipated drinking behaviors on their 21st birthday and educate students on the consequences of consuming large sums of alcohol.
The purpose of this survey is to intervene prior to a student's 21st birthday in an attempt to prevent high-risk drinking behaviors during the celebration. Effective interventions have been explored with limited information as to "what" impacts students drinking.
CHOICES
College students face important decisions when it comes to alcohol. Continued high-risk behaviors can have long-term consequences. CHOICES is a brief alcohol prevention program that may help students identify risk associated with their alcohol use.
For more information on attending a CHOICES class, go to healthservices.boisesetate.edu/calendar.
Idaho RADAR Center
The Idaho Regional Alcohol Drug Awareness Resource (RADAR) Center is an alcohol, tobacco, and other drug information clearinghouse. They are your connection to resources and people in cities across the nation who are working together to prevent alcohol and other drug problems.
Campus and Community Alcohol Coalitions
Idaho College Health Coalition (ICHC)
Representatives from Idaho universities and colleges have joined forces with government agencies statewide to help address alcohol and drug abuse to promote healthy lifestyles among college students.
Alcohol Policies
Are you familiar with the alcohol and drug policies at Boise State University or those for the State of Idaho? Check out the links below:
- Student Code of Conduct - Alcohol (Article 4, Section 2)
- Housing Handbook Alcohol Policy
- Medical Emergency Protocol for Drugs and Alcohol
This policy is intended to notify students that Student Code of Conduct charges may not be filed against them for drug and/or alcohol policy violations if they act in a responsible manner by seeking emergency medical assistance in alcohol or drug-related emergencies. - Boise State Drug & Alcohol Free Workplace
- Boise State University Alcohol Beverage Permit Process Policy #1050
- Idaho Statutes - Title 23 Alcohol Beverages
- City of Boise Code - Possession of An Open Container of Alcoholic Beverage in Public Places
- Find other college alcohol policies
Local Resources
Alcoholics Anonymous Treasure Valley
Phone: (208) 344-6611
Address: 1516 Vista Ave., Boise
Hours: Monday - Friday 10am-5pm; Saturday by appointment only.
E-mail: tvico@qwest.net
National website: www.alcoholics-anonymous.org
Al-Anon/Alateen (For Families and Friends of Alcoholics)
Phone: (208) 344-1661
Address: 1111 S. Orchard St. Door 5, Room 172, Boise
Hours: Mon, Wed, Fri; 10am-2pm
National website: www.al-anon.alateen.org
Idaho Treatment Resources
Visit www.substanceabuse.idaho.gov
- For state approved facilities in your area
- For Idaho DUI Evaluator Directory
Substance Abuse Treatment Line
800-922-3406 between 9:00am-7:00pm, M-F, Mountain Time
- Screening to determine eligibility for state funded treatment. Referrals based on eligibility status.
Listing of Treatment Facilities (to include non-state funded programs)
- www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov
Websites
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism houses information on alcohol research. It includes a database with quick facts on alcohol related topics and The National Library of Medicine, along with a selection of pamphlets and brochures.
Facts on Tap is a site that focuses on alcohol and the college experience. Students are able to relate to other college students' experiences while getting the facts on alcohol abuse. This site includes stories from students who have been affected by someone's drinking problem and also gives tips on how to help a friend get their drinking troubles under control.
Alcoholism: What You Need to Know About offers a wide selection of articles, classifieds, and newsletters about alcoholism. You can also find treatment programs in any state, plus talk to people with similar issues in the chat room.
The Alcohol Epidemiology Program (AEP), directed by Alexander C. Wagenaar, PhD, is a research program within the school of Public Health at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. The mission of the AEP is to conduct advanced research to discover effective community and policy interventions to reduce alcohol-related social and health problems. Some of their recent studies include adolescent drinking, alcohol-involved traffic crashes, and public opinion surveys.
Use the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website to find the most reliable and useful information on prevention, treatment, alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs on the web.
College Drinking: Changing the Culture is a great educational site that offers information about college alcohol policies along with facts about college drinking for students, parents, and community leaders. You can also look at NIAAA reports and other current research.
If you want to learn more about alcohol law and policy, zero tolerance, and what the alcohol experts have to say then check out Alcohol: Problems and Solutions.
Go Ask Alice's Q & A database houses numerous health-related questions and answers. Alice is produced by Columbia University’s Health Education Program.
Center on Alcohol Marketing and Youth provides a comprehensive look at the marketing of alcohol to youth.
Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free Foundation is an initiative to prevent the use of alcohol by children ages 9 to 15.
www.thecoolspot.gov is a young teen's place for information on alcohol and resisting peer pressure.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has the latest and credible information regarding alcohol and public health. This center is recognized as the lead federal agency for protecting the health and safety of people - at home and abroad, providing credible information to enhance health decisions and promoting health through strong partnerships.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration works to discourage impaired driving through a three-pronged strategy: high-visibility law enforcement with supporting communication campaigns; enhanced prosecution and adjudication; and medical screening and brief intervention for alcohol abuse problems.