Drinking and Pregaming Myths: Debunked

By Ashley Paskill on December 10, 2017

Drinking is a common activity among college students, especially for those who are of legal drinking age. Many students pregame or have alcohol before going out in order to have fun or save money, among other reasons. Many myths about pregaming and drinking, in general, have been debunked by a study put out by alcohol.org. Being safe, careful, and knowledgeable while drinking can help students stay healthy and have a more positive experience.

Myth: There are benefits to drinking in moderation.
Truth: It depends.
While drinking in moderation can be okay for some, some people do not know where the line between moderate and too much is, and drinking too much has negative effects on a person’s body. Also, some people do not handle alcohol well, so the negatives outweigh the positives. It is possible to experience alcohol use disorder, characterized by drinking longer than intended or having many bad experiences with drinking.

Myth: Pregaming, especially before a social event, can calm nerves and have other benefits.
Fact: Yes, but it can also be dangerous.

If you drink too much, your body will develop an alcohol tolerance, which can cause more anxiety and stress. After the initial effects of the alcohol fade away, less desirable outcomes such as anger, memory loss, and fatigue may set in. Pregaming can lead to drinking more later on and can increase the risk of sexual assault, self-harm, or violence

Myth: The most deadly substances in the U.S. are opioids, heroin, or cocaine.
Fact: Alcohol-related deaths are the highest they have been in 35 years.

The number of people dying from alcohol poisoning and other alcohol-induced issues has hit the highest it has been in 35 years. These exclude those killed in drunk driving accidents, other accidents, and homicides by those under the influence. While deaths from other substances are issues that many public health experts have focused on ending in recent years, alcohol is now the most deadly substance.

Myth: All alcohol is created equal.
Fact: Different beverages have different alcohol consistencies.
Tequila is the most dangerous pregame beverage and should be the last thing people should use to pregame. One glass of beer does not have the same alcohol content as one glass of wine and vice versa. It is important for those who are drinking to monitor their alcohol content so that they can be sure they are drinking safely and are creating a positive experience for themselves and those around them.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format