The College of Health and Human Services launched an alcohol awareness campaign on campus this semester. Statistics such as, “seven out of 10 KSU students who drink always use a designated driver when they party,” and “31 percent of students choose not to drink at all” can be found printed on signs and banners around campus.
Sherry Grable, director for the Center of Health Promotion and Wellness, said the survey came about through a grant that the center received from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety.
“Our goal was to battle misperceptions that students have on campus regarding the drinking norms,” Grable said, “along with providing safe partying tips for students so they can hopefully decrease their risk of getting hurt or hurting someone else.”
Grable said the statistics come from the American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment, a standardized health assessment that the Wellness Center conducts every two years.
The statistics, which are based solely on KSU students, came from a survey conducted in 2012.
A recent survey conducted by The Sentinel concerning student drinking patterns paints a slightly different picture. In a survey of 100 students, 57 percent said they used a designated driver when drinking.
Steven Moore, a junior studying History Education, said drinking should only be done responsibly or it could lead to situations where “injury and death can occur, like with drinking and driving.”
Drinking can be seen as a rite of passage for college students, but it is a ritual that can be abused by many. Fifty-one percent of the people surveyed said they drink regularly, with regularly being defined as once or twice a week every week.
Of the 100 people surveyed, 56 percent of them were younger than 21.
Sophomore Samantha Raymond said it is okay to have fun, but she does not think students should drink in excess.
“It’s too dangerous with the risks of expulsion and jail,” Raymond said, “especially for underage students. Besides, they should be focusing on school, they’re paying for it.”
The signs around campus have also found their way onto the Internet. Popular Twitter account @ShitISeeAtKSU posted a picture of one of the signs, referring to a statistic that “46 percent of KSU students drink less than four drinks when they party and 31 percent choose not to drink at all,” with the tagline: “So here is to the ‘supposedly’ 23 percent of us that get absolutely [expletive] up #cheers.”
The tweet received feedback such as “here’s to the 23 percent #occupykennesaw,” and “I’ll drink to that.” The survey showed that 20 percent of the students questioned said they choose not to drink at all.
Deshawn Dortch, a freshman majoring in Computer Science, said he does not drink because he thinks it’s unhealthy, especially in excess. “I don’t care about peer pressure, Dortch said. “I never feel like I’m missing out because I hang out with plenty of people that do drink, and if anything, I’m having the better experience because I actually remember the whole night.”
