Alcohol Day

California State University of Marijuana and Beer is a frequent joke said by the students, but the idea may have a large amount of truth to back it up. Budweiser, zinfandel, vodka, whiskey, choose your poison, from Four Lokos to Cape Cods many college students are frequently drinking. No matter their legality, students at Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB) are consuming alcohol at a high rate.

To help provide safety and awareness there will be a National Alcohol Screening Day event on Tuesday, April 12 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Main Quad. The event will be hosted by the Personal Growth and Counseling Center along with the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (SAMHSA).

It has been rumored here at CSUMB that students are likely to spend more money on alcohol than on tuition. This means students individually are spending over $2,500 a semester on alcohol alone. Although this is unlikely 100 percent accurate, it provides some insight that the students are consuming large amounts, and likely to an unhealthy extent.

Drinking can prove to be very dangerous, excessive alcohol consumption kills about 75,000 Americans each year, and with the addition of the 40,933 who died in alcohol related accidents there were about 115,933 deaths directly related to alcohol in 2010, according to MSNBC.com. The alcohol related accidents include everything from vehicular accidents to decisions made that would have likely not been made had the person been sober (jumping off the roof into that pool).

Alcohol consumption is dangerous for the body because it causes negative short and long term side effects. Short term effects include loss of coordination, impaired attention and judgment, and a loss of inhibition. The combination of the last two can prove to be very dangerous and may lead to wrong decisions. Long term alcohol abuse can lead to cirrhosis of the liver and certain cancers. It also may damage the nervous system causing depression and in more serious cases dementia.

Is it possible to have a drinking problem and not be aware of it? The MSNBC.com article states that a man who consumes more than two drinks in a day or four drinks an occasion, or women who consumes more than one drink daily or more than three for an occasion, are considered alcohol abusers. This means if a man goes to a party and has five drinks, while a woman goes and has four drinks, within two hours they are both considered binge drinkers.

The health and safety concerns are not the only present when it comes to alcohol, which can cause major damage to your wallet. When going to a bar, a beer is going to run about $6, unless it is happy hour or another "special" circumstance, and a cocktail runs about $10. This option adds up very quickly, it can become very easy to spend $100 on yourself and friends at the bar. One may agree with this, but argue that drinking at home is cheaper. It will be cheaper, and it will still likely have an impact on the student's budget. At this event students will be able to be screened for alcohol use diseases, and also learn valuable information on these diseases and the use and abuse of alcohol. The screenings are completely anonymous and may provide helpful information to students who have concerns about their own alcohol consumption. There will also be information provided on how to drink responsibly.

Alcohol can cause anything from driving impairment to liver damage. The risks are too high to not be knowledgeable and aware while drinking. Although it may be fun, it may also prove dangers or land you in trouble. Any student who has a concern for their health is encouraged to participate in this confidential screening day. Those who do attend are encouraged to participate in the grand prize drawing that will be taking place at the conclusion of the event.