Alcohol: Safer Use and Harm Reduction Tips
Drinking doesn’t have to be part of your college experience if you don’t want it to. Many Oxy students don’t drink, or, if they do, they drink infrequently. In a Spring 2025 survey, 41% of students reported not drinking at all in the last 2 weeks, and among those who did drink, 33% reported that they did not binge drink. (Source: Healthy Minds Study.) If you choose to drink, there are actions you can take to keep yourself and your friends safe.
Understanding a Standard Drink
Knowing what counts as one standard drink helps you track how much alcohol you’re really consuming. In the U.S., a standard drink contains about 14 grams of pure alcohol, which equals:
- 12 oz. of beer (5% alcohol)
- 5 oz. of wine (12% alcohol)
- 1.5 oz. of liquor (40% alcohol, such as vodka, rum, or whiskey)
Keep in mind that cocktails and mixed drinks often contain more than one standard drink.
General Tips for Safer Drinking
- Set Limits: Know your limit and stick to it—no more than one standard drink per hour is a good pace.
- Avoid Drinking Games: Games encourage rapid consumption and make it easier to lose track of how much you’re drinking.
- Eat First: A full stomach slows alcohol absorption.
- Hydrate: Alternate alcoholic drinks with water or non-alcoholic beverages.
- Track Your Intake: Use an app or mental notes to stay aware of how much you’ve had.
- Watch Out for Each Other: Go out with friends, stay together, and speak up if something seems off.
- Plan Ahead: Arrange a safe ride, use a rideshare app, or plan to stay nearby. Campus Safety will pick students up within ~1 mile of campus.
Tracking Intoxication: What to Look For and What to Do
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) rises with each drink, and changes in behavior and decision-making happen along the way. Here’s what different stages of intoxication in a friend may look like and how you can respond:
Stage 1 – Non-Use (0.00 BAC)
What You See: No drinking-related problems. People may choose not to drink for personal, religious, or social reasons.
What You Do: Support their choice. Make sure non-alcoholic beverages are available when planning gatherings or parties.
Stage 2 – Feeling Buzzed (~0.02–0.04 BAC)
What You See: People feel relaxed, talk more easily, may act more social or uninhibited.
What You Do: Encourage spacing drinks, eating between drinks, switching to water or soda, and giving calm feedback if behavior starts to shift.
Stage 3 – Questionable Decisions (~0.05–0.07 BAC)
What You See: Risky behavior like flirting more aggressively, thinking it’s okay to drive or walk home alone, losing belongings, mood swings.
What You Do: Take keys away, offer a safe way home, don’t encourage risky jokes or behavior, and speak up with calm, assertive support.
Stage 4 – Talking Loud / Getting Injured (~0.07–0.10 BAC)
What You See: People get louder, react slower, misjudge distances, feel less pain, or stumble.
What You Do: Prioritize safety—yours and theirs. Encourage them to slow down or stop drinking. Get help if anyone is hurt or showing signs of serious impairment.
Stage 5 – Staggering / Slurring (~0.11–0.15 BAC)
What You See: Slurred speech, poor balance, spills, frequent bathroom trips, possible aggression, or loss of bladder control.
What You Do: Remove access to alcohol, do not leave them alone, and get help from sober friends or professionals if needed.
Stage 6 – Life-Threatening / Passing Out (~0.20–0.40 BAC)
What You See: Loss of consciousness, slow or irregular breathing (fewer than 12 breaths per minute), inability to wake up.
What You Do: Call 911 immediately. Monitor breathing and consciousness continuously. Do not leave them alone.
Substance Use Support
If you're concerned about your substance use or want to explore your options, Emmons Counseling can help connect you to supportive resources. Schedule an appointment on your student health portal, call (323) 259-2657, or walk in on weekdays between 1 pm and 3 pm. You can also try our confidential self-assessment, which will help you explore your relationship with alcohol and options if you want to reduce or stop drinking, by clicking .
If you’re concerned about a friend in the moment, aren’t sure how to handle a substance-use related emergency, or need help after hours, call the 24/7 Crisis Line: (323) 341-4141. Emmons will follow up with the caller the next business day.