Need a good reason to drink in moderation, or to not drink at all? Here are ten reasons why college students should not binge drink.

Binge drinking is the consumption of about four drinks in a two hour period (for males) and about three drinks in a two hour period (for females). For many college students, this is a normal Saturday night-- or perhaps even a mild Saturday night. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 90 percent of the alcohol consumed by people under 21 in the United States is in the form of binge drinking [1].

Need a good reason not to binge drink? Here are ten of them.

Alcohol Poisoning & Other Fatalities

Overconsumption of alcohol can kill you, or it could lead to irreversible brain damage. Alcohol can depress nerve cells that control breathing and the gag reflex, which can be fatal. Alcohol poisoning can also cause hypothermia and severe dehydration, which also can be fatal.

Keep this in mind: according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 1700 U.S. college students between the ages of 18-24 die each year from injuries related to overconsumption of alcohol, including alcohol poisoning, motor vehicle crashes, and other accidents. [2] To put this in perspective, think of all your Facebook or MySpace friends. Are there less than 1700 of them? If so, imagine if the whole group of them were dead-- and that's less than the number of students who die each year from alcohol related deaths.

Sexual Assault and Other Assaults

Every year, almost 100,000 U.S. students between the ages of 18-24 are victims of a sexual assault or date rape in which alcohol is involved [2]. Sexual violence is an epidemic on college campuses, and the overuse of alcohol makes sexual assault much more likely. This statistic is part of a larger one--the estimated 700,000 students who are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.

Academic Consequences

About 25 percent of all U.S. college students feel that their academic performance has suffered because of excessive alcohol consumption. [2] Ever miss your Friday class because you were partying on Thursday night? If this is a habit, you're probably part of the 25 percent.

Alcohol Addiction

How does one become addicted to alcohol? Well, for one thing, you have to drink-- a lot-- and many students meet this simple prerequisite. An estimated 6 percent of U.S. college students are addicted to alcohol, and many more are at risk of dependency. [2]

Drunk Driving

Every year, an estimated 2 million U.S. college students drive while under the influence of alcohol.

Legal Issues

If you live in the U.S. and you're under 21, all drinking is illegal. Imagine what it would be like to call your parents in the middle of the night and ask them to bail you out of jail. An estimated 5 percent of all U.S. college students find themselves in trouble with the law every year for underage drinking, public drunkenness, DUIs, and other alcohol related crimes. [2]

Weight Gain

Would you eat a whole chocolate cake in one evening? Or eat three bags of potato chips? Of course not. You'd get fat. Well, consider the approximate number of calories in a typical night of college binge drinking:

• 5 regular 12-ounce beers : 700-800 calories
• 5 shots of liquor: 500-1000 calories
• 5 8-ounce Long Island iced teas: 1000-1200 calories
• 5 3.5 ounce White Russians: 1200-1400 calories
• 5 10-ounce rum and Cokes: 1600-1800 calories
• 5 8-ounce margaritas: 2000-2500 calories [3]

Expense

Having trouble paying for college? Five drinks at a typical bar can cost you anywhere from $20 to $50.

Hangovers, Vomiting, Dry Mouth, and Other Physical Effects

Binge drinking is not good for your body-- and your body tells you so with these highly unpleasant after-effects.

Losing Control of Your Behavior

Alcohol lowers your inhibitions, which can lead to illegal or reckless behavior, unsafe sex, or simply making a total fool of yourself. Ever regret your drunken behavior in the morning? If so, this might be reason enough to keep your drinking under control.

For better or for worse, drinking has become a major part of the college culture. If you're going to drink, you need to take safety precautions-- and the simplest thing you can do is to know your limit and avoid binge drinking.

Sources

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Quick Stats: Binge Drinking. June 16, 2006.

2. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. A Snapshot of Annual High-Risk College Drinking Consequences. July 11, 2007.

3. Recipe Circus. Alcohol Calories and Points.