Last Updated on December 10, 2019 by Valarie Ward

A recent article published by Forbes magazine contributor, Dr. Robert Gladder, brings light to what he calls “Spring Break’s Greatest Danger.” And you could likely guess what it is without even reading his article. Here are the best Spring Break College Trips USA, Mexico and Bahamas | Lifestylez. So what’s the greatest danger facing college students during Spring Break?

Binge Drinking.

Is that what you guessed? To make his point, Dr. Gladder noted a publication by the American College of Health that found men and women drinking anywhere from 10 – 18 drinks per day, often within short spans of time, during spring break. Compare that to the the 2-3 drinks the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends as safe or normal, and you will agree, Gladder has a point. (1)

What Is Binge Drinking?

The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels to .08 or higher. This typically occurs after 4 drinks for women and 5 drinks for men—in about 2 hours. (2)

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines binge drinking as drinking 5 or more alcoholic drinks on the same occasion on at least 1 day in the past 30 days; whereas Heavy Drinking is defined as drinking 5 or more drinks on the same occasion on each of 5 or more days in the past 30 days. (2)

Why Do College Students Go Overboard on Spring Break?

Ok, so we don’t really have an answer to this question, but we can share findings from a few sources that could at least give us an idea as to why Spring Break can seem to bring out “the wild side” of college students. Here’s what we found:

A study published by the National Health Institute (NHI) called: “I Got Your Back”: Friends’ Understandings Regarding College Student Spring Break Behavior”, revealed that the desire to engage in high risk behaviors such as excessive drinking and sexual behavior is the very reason why a majority of students want to go on Spring Break – they actually look forward to do things they would not normally do. The same study also shows that students who travel with their friends on spring break are far more likely to drink more alcohol than their peers that do not travel during spring break. Student’s who drink during spring break reported they drink 68% more alcohol away from home than they would have at home. One reason for this is the lack of adult supervision makes it much easier to engage in risky behaviors. (3)

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro conducted a study with 2 universities that revealed 51.2% of females and 64.2% of males from the survey got drunk during Spring Break. The study showed that men were more likely to go on spring break to engage in risky behaviors than females, and compared to females, males were also more likely to choose spring break destinations based on party and night life activities. What is interesting in this study is the researchers looked at not only gender but also religion as a factor for how college students behave during spring break. People who had strong religious influence chose not to engage in risky behaviors, such as excessive drinking or sexual activities, as much as those who did not. (4)

Want To Have a Safe Spring Break? Drink Responsibly. That Means:

1. Know Your Limits and Say NO!

Chances are if you’re drinking on Spring Break, it’s not the first time you’ve had a drink. If you notice yourself getting a little light headed, overly talkative or simply feeling out of it, quit drinking while you are still alert and aware. It takes confidence to say no to alcohol and drugs when it seems like everyone around you is doing it. But we promise you, if you build up the confidence to turn down that second or third drink in a row, you will not only survive Spring Break, but you’ll actually be sober enough to enjoy it.

2. Looking Out For Your Friends

Even if you don’t drink, being responsible means looking out for people around you. If you notice a friend has had a little too much, help them get to a safe place and assist them if they need emergency assistance. Never leave someone who has had too much to drink alone to fend for themselves. Be a friend who cares and look out for their safety as well as your own.

3. Educating Yourself on the Dangers of Binge Drinking

Binge drinking can cause serious health problems including alcohol poisoning, liver damage and even heart failure. It can also cause you to be unaware of what’s going on around you, which can put you in a very dangerous situation. Drinking too much at one time can also lead to you do things you would not normally do such as argue, fight or be overly aggressive. Keep yourself safe by remembering rule #1: Know your limits!

4. Never Driving or Operating Equipment While Under The Influence of Alcohol

Drinking and driving is against the law. Not to mention it’s dangerous. Alcohol can limit your vision as well as your coordination, so it’s best not to drive after you’ve been drinking. This also applies to operating any kind of equipment or vehicles such as boats, motorcycles, skateboards – anything that could injure you if you’re not completely sober. If you know you’re going to be drinking, make plans in advance for how you will get to and from your destination so you don’t put yourself or others in harm’s way by getting behind the wheel.

Sources

1. Spring Break’s Greatest Danger, Dr. Robert Gladder for Forbes

2. NIAAA: What Is Binge Drinking?

3. I Got Your Back”: Friends’ Understandings Regarding College Student Spring Break Behavior

4. The Impact of Gender and Religion on College Students’ Spring Break Behavior