Most college students amaze me. They really do. Listening to them talk about what they do in their free time just cracks me up and befuddles me immensely.

Never would I think I’d hear so many college students basically brag about how they almost got into a car accident because they were driving drunk. How they were in the backseat, wasted and were almost in an accident because the driver was also drunk.

Every time I hear these people finish bragging and telling their story, I have to ask myself, “What is wrong with them?”
The best part is when these same people complain about how they don’t have enough money to pay the rent. Or how they failed an important exam because they were a little hungover from last night’s drinking binge. Or how they need new brakes for their car but they don’t have the cash. It makes me laugh sometimes. 

Why? Because these people would have plenty of money to fix their cars and pay the rent and would do better in their classes if they didn’t spend all their money and free time getting wasted at the local bar.

Now, I’m not saying that all college students do this. But, a lot of us do. Maybe you, the reader, are one of those people.

Why are you in school?

When I hear these stories, I really wonder why these college students are even in school. College is serious business. You, or maybe your parents, or even the government is spending a lot of money on you to get an education. Why? So you can get a good job when you graduate.

“…these people would have plenty of money to fix their cars and pay the rent and would do better in their classes if they didn’t spend all their money and free time getting wasted at the local bar.”

So why are they wasting on alcohol not only that money but the money from their jobs? Do they not know the fallbacks of drinking constantly?

The effects

Alcohol slows the function of the central nervous system which alters a person’s thought process; his/her emotions, vision, hearing, etc. Drink too much and you can even lose the ability to be able to walk straight or even talk correctly. It also can change your personality from friendly to violent.

And if you consume too much alcohol too fast, you can get alcohol poisoning which can kill you. Alcohol poisoning can cause in some cases, unconsciousness, severe trouble breathing, seizures and death.

People who drink on a regular basis can also end up being obese and unhealthy. It causes high blood pressure and, if continued into adulthood, can cause organ damage in your brain, heart, liver, lungs, etc.

And then there are the hangovers after every drinking binge, which cause fatigue, thirst, headaches, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, dizziness, etc. It can also cause you being unable to pass your midterm.

DUI’s

Getting caught while driving under the influence (DUI) in Arizona results in jail time, loss of your driver’s license for a period of time and up to $1,800 in fines. And that’s just for the first offense.

The second offense can cost over $2,500 and almost 90 days in jail, depending on your blood alcohol content. You will also lose your driver’s license for an entire year and you could be placed on probation for five years.

The charges get worse as you gain more offenses. The other thing when it comes to having a DUI on your record is that you’ll have a less likely chance of getting a job. Because who would hire someone with jail time under his belt?

Also, think about this. Do you, a college student who probably lives in the dorms or have an apartment and a job while taking classes and paying for college have $2,500 or more to waste?

Alcohol isn’t cheap

And finally, alcohol is expensive. For example, a single shot of vodka can cost between $6-$40, depending on the brand, age and where you buy it. 

But, it is still around $6 for a tiny glass of liquid that you could spend on a small pizza or a meal at a local fast food joint, or something healthy, like fruit or yogurt.

With all this information and all the negatives to drinking, I cannot fathom why college students do this to themselves. Why they so readily damage their bodies and their minds just for a beverage that probably tastes horrible.

Perhaps it’s because it’s a stereotype, a generalization. Maybe it’s the movies that show college students getting wasted and having a good time. Maybe its peer pressure. Maybe its depression. Maybe this and that. 

There is really no good excuse.

The negatives nearly always outweigh the positives. I can’t force anyone to do anything. All I can do is encourage you readers to think before you drink.