Vol.9 No.3

Drinking And Dying

In several of America’s top institutions of higher learning, binge drinking has been blamed for a rash of recent deaths. Drinking hits the “binge” category after five drinks in a row for men, or four for women.

It has become increasingly common for younger college students to engage in this illicit activity. Unfortunately the results have been devastating. Some die when their blood becomes to thick from alcohol for oxygen to reach the brain. Others die from choking on their own vomit.  Still others have succumbed to accidents caused by  a decrease in rational thinking. For instance, in a North Carolina fire, five youth are suspected of dying because they were too drunk to escape.

This widespread outbreak of deaths attributed to drinking has caused many colleges to reevaluate their drinking policy, especially for minors who are most likely to succumb to peer drinking pressure. Newsweek, October 13, 1997.