Alcohol
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Fast Stats
Stats from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism1
- Death: 1,825 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injury, including motor vehicle crashes.
- Assault: More than 690,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by another student who has been drinking.
- Sexual Assault: More than 97,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or acquaintance rape.
- Binge Drinking: 38% of college students aged 18 to 22 engaged in binge alcohol use in the past month. Likewise, 62% of these students did not engage in binge drinking in the past month.
- Injury: 599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 receive unintentional injuries while under the influence of alcohol.
- Academic Problems: About 25% of college students report academic consequences of their drinking including missing class, falling behind, doing poorly on exams or papers, and receiving lower grades overall.
Clemson University
- New Students: In 2020, 54% of new students at Clemson reported either abstaining from alcohol use or being a nondrinker.2
- Undergraduate Students: In 2020, 16% of Clemson undergraduate students reported having never used alcohol in their lives. Of students who reported using alcohol, only 45% of students reported weekly use.3
- Types of Use: In 2020, 31% of active alcohol users reported avoiding binge drinking in the past two weeks.3
- Negative Consequences: In 2020, Clemson University students who actively use alcohol reported varied negative effects of their use. This included 25% doing something they later regretted, 17% experiencing blackouts and 8% physically injuring themselves.3
2EVERFI 2020 AlcoholEdu Report
3National College Health Assessment – Clemson University 2020
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Clemson's Philosophy and Strategy
Clemson's Philosophy
Clemson University is committed to the personal growth of the individual and promotes an environment of well-being. Students who use alcohol and other drugs assume a responsibility to comply with South Carolina laws and University policies, to make decisions that reduce their personal risks, and to consider the health and safety risks posed to others. The University provides education, programs and policies designed to create an environment that fosters well-being and empowers students to make responsible decisions relating to alcohol and other drug consumption. Students who violate the University policy related to alcohol and other drug use are subject to discipline as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. Where those actions also violate state and/or federal law, students are subject to legal consequences as well.
Our Strategy
Clemson University utilizes a comprehensive, multilayered and evidence-informed strategy to decrease misuse of alcohol and other drugs and to reduce the associated negative consequences among University student populations. We use scientific research and data to identify priorities, mobilize action and improve performance. The American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA II) is used to assess needs, set priorities and measure performance, and serves as the national reference for this plan.
Long-Term Goal
Clemson University’s alcohol and other drugs strategic plan includes thresholds set for less than or equal to the national level as compared to the most recent NCHA national reference data in the following categories:
- High-risk drinking
- Illegal drug use
- Consequences of alcohol and drug use
- Protective behaviors
Strategic Subpopulations
Programs will be developed to address the individual student, campus, community and state/nation. Based on past data, Clemson has identified the following strategic subpopulations:
- Off-campus students
- Fraternity and sorority members
- First-year students
- Families
Clemson's Strategic Plan -
BAC Level
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) refers to the percent of alcohol (ethyl alcohol or ethanol) in a person's bloodstream. There are many factors that contribute to your BAC, and your body will have varied responses as your BAC increases.
Factors That Impact BAC
- Number of standard drinks
- Amount of time in which drinks are consumed
- Body weight
- Water composition
- Enzyme production and levels
- Sex assigned at birth and corresponding hormone levels
- Medications
- Food
Try this BAC calculator to understanding of how different factors affect your BAC: Responsibility.org BAC Calculator
BAC Impact on Your Body
When you pass a 0.06 BAC level, negative effects begin. These symptoms include fatigue, impaired sexual performance, inappropriate social behavior and over-expressed emotions (Adapted from the University of Rochester). As your BAC continues to rise to 0.08, you will experience cognitive judgement impairment, nausea and impaired motor coordination. Although in South Carolina a BAC of 0.08 or higher is considered unlawful to drive, BAC should not be the only factor used to determine if you are capable of driving safely. Always consider how your body reacts to alcohol use and side effects that would impair your ability to drive.
It is important to note that the physiological differences between men and women affect the way alcohol is processed through the body. Even if a man and a woman are the same size and drink the same number and type of drinks, the woman’s BAC level will be higher due to the body’s ability to dilute alcohol and metabolize alcohol differently as well as hormonal factors.
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Standard Drink Sizes and Risk Reduction
Standard Drink Sizes
The amount of liquid in your glass, can or bottle does not necessarily match up to how much alcohol is actually in your drink. Different types of beer, wine or malt liquor can have very different amounts of alcohol content. In the United States, one "standard" drink contains roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in
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12 ounces of regular beer, which is usually about 5% alcohol;
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5 ounces of wine, which is typically about 12% alcohol;
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1.5 ounces of distilled spirits, which is about 40% alcohol.
What Is A Standard Drink? (n.d.). Retrieved from URL
If You Choose to Drink:
- Keep track of the number of drinks you consume
- Alternate with water
- Eat before and during drinking
- Know what’s in your drink
- Choose not to play drinking games
- Don’t pressure others to drink
Learn more strategies on how to plan ahead, step up and return home safely.
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Drinking Categories
A Social Drinker
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Drinks slowly (no gulping/chugging)
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Knows when to stop drinking (does not drink to get drunk)
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Eats before or while drinking
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Never drives after drinking
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Respects non-drinkers
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Knows and obeys laws related to drinking
A Problem Drinker
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Drinks to get drunk
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Tries to solve problems while drinking
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Experiences personality changes — may become loud, angry or violent, or silent, remote or reclusive
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Drinks when he or she should not — before driving, going to class or work
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Causes other problems — harms himself or herself, family, friends or strangers
An Alcoholic
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Spends a lot of time thinking about drinking and planning where and when to get the next drink
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Keeps bottles hidden for quick pick-me-ups
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Starts drinking without consciously planning and loses awareness of the amount consumed
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Denies drinking
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Drinks alone
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Needs to drink before a stressful situation
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May have “blackouts” — cannot remember what he or she did while drinking although he or she may have appeared “normal” to people at the time
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Goes from having hangovers to more dangerous withdrawal symptoms, such as delirium tremens (“DTs”), which can be fatal
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Has or causes major problems — with the police, an employer, family or friends
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Drink Spiking
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Safety Tips When Going Out
Look out for your friends, and ask them to look out for you. Alcohol is the most common substance used to perpetrate drug-facilitated sexual assault. You can play a powerful role in helping other people stay safe.
- Be aware of drinks in punch bowls or other containers that can be easily “spiked” (when alcohol or another drug is added to a drink without permission).
- Don’t accept drinks from other people. If someone offers to get you a drink from a bar or at a party, go with the person to order your drink. Watch your drink as it is poured and carry it yourself.
- Open your drink yourself. Keep control of it at all times.
- Don’t drink anything that smells strange. Stop drinking any drink that tastes strange. Some drugs that could be added to drinks may taste salty or bitter, but most are tasteless and odorless.
- Drugs can be placed on the outside of closed cans and bottles. If you accept a drink, wipe off any drink container whether it is open or closed.
- Don’t drink more than you want to just because someone else wants you to. Don’t drink more than you want to so that someone else will like you or be impressed.
- Get help right away if you feel drunk and haven’t had any alcohol or if you feel like the effects of drinking alcohol are stronger than usual. Find a friend who can help you get to a safe place.
- Look out for your friends, and ask them to look out for you. You can play a powerful role in helping other people stay safe. If a friend seems out of it, seems much too drunk for the amount of alcohol they drank, is acting out of character or seems too drunk to stay safe in general, get them to a safe place. Ask your friends to do the same for you.
- Get support even if you can't remember exactly what happened. Some substances used in drink spiking can cause short-term memory loss, are odorless, colorless and tasteless, or can be hard to see if your drink is dark.
- Carry Narcan®. Naloxone (also known by the brand name Narcan®) is a life-saving medication that can reverse an overdose/poisoning from opioids when given in time. It works quickly by blocking the effects of opioids and restoring normal breathing within minutes. It is also safe to use, even if opioids are not present.
- Students can contact Healthy Campus to receive training and Narcan® at no cost. Narcan® is also available by request at the Redfern Health Center Pharmacy and covered by most pharmacy insurance plans at a reduced cost to the student.
- Carry a Celebrate Safely phone number card to have access to friend’s cell phone number in case your phone dies. Healthy Campus and The Office of Community and Ethical Standards has these available for all students.
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Be an Active Bystander
If you see an unsafe situation, learn how to be an active bystander and create a community that does not tolerate drink spiking.
- Direct: Stop the person immediately if the behavior is dangerous. Take the substance away to keep them from drinking or using. Take their keys away to stop them from driving.
- Distract: If the person is in a risky situation, invite them to join you in a safer environment and stay with them.
- Delegate: Find someone else who can intervene – bar staff, an organization leader or someone who knows the person better.
- Delay: If you’re not able to intervene in the moment and the problem isn’t urgent, follow up the next day to calmly share your concerns about how substance misuse is affecting them. What specific behaviors worried you?
- Document: Take a screenshot if you see a concerning text or social media post and follow up.
Be kind. Consider how you would want someone to help you if the roles were reversed. Make sure you don’t leave anyone in a situation that may be dangerous to themselves or others.
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Signs That a Drink Has Been Spiked
- Salty or bitter taste: Some spiking substances may taste salty or bitter.
- Foggy appearance: If your drink looks foggy or cloudy when it was clear before, it may have been tampered with.
- Excessive bubbles: Some drugs fizz and bubble when they react to the contents of a beverage. If your non-carbonated drink is suddenly fizzy, don't drink it.
- Sinking ice: If your ice has sunk when it was floating before, don't drink it.
- Change in color: Some drugs cause a drink's color to become lighter, darker or even change completely. If your drink has turned a different color, or even if you think it has but aren't sure, don't drink it.
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Drink Spiking Symptoms
Many of the symptoms of drink spiking are similar to drinking alcohol. However, if a drink is spiked an individual may exhibit these symptoms after consuming minimal amounts of alcohol:
- Feeling drunk, woozy or drowsy
- Feeling “out of it” or drunker than expected
- Mental confusion
- Speech difficulties (such as slurring)
- Memory loss
- Loss of inhibitions
- Nausea and vomiting
- Breathing problems
- Muscle spasms or seizures
- Lowered body temperature and blood pressure
- Loss of consciousness
- An unusually long hangover
- A severe hangover when you had little or no alcohol to drink
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How to Report if You Suspect Drink Spiking
We strongly encourage you to report suspected drink spiking. It is important that we know the occurrence, location and timing of such incidents.
- Emergency: If you or a friend has an emergency or needs immediate assistance, call 911 or text 911 if you are unable to call. You can report suspected drink spiking by calling the Clemson University Police Department (CUPD) at 864-656-2222 for on-campus incidents or the Clemson City Police Department at 864-624-2000 for incidents occurring in the city.
- Medical Amnesty Policy (MAP): The purpose of the policy is to facilitate access and remove barriers to students who require medical assistance in alcohol and/or drug related emergencies, and to provide the opportunity for caring, non-punitive interventions in response to such incidents. The MAP is a key component of Clemson University’s comprehensive approach to reducing the harmful consequences caused by the excessive consumption of alcohol and/or drugs. The MAP represents the University’s commitment to informed decision-making and promotion of responsible behaviors when faced with alcohol and/or drug related emergencies.
- Title IX Office: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (amending the Higher Education Act of 1965) is a gender equity law prohibiting discrimination based on gender in education programs and activities receiving federal funding. Sexual harassment, which includes sexual violence and other forms of nonconsensual sexual misconduct, is a form of sex discrimination and is prohibited under this law. Allegations will be reviewed centrally by Clemson’s Title IX coordinator or appointed deputy Title IX coordinators to determine if it meets the criteria above. If the above criteria are met, students will be typically be referred to the Office of Community and Ethical Standards (OCES) and employees to the Office of Human Resources (HR) for adjudication. The adjudication process includes an investigation, assistance from a trained advisor, a live hearing with cross-examination and a right to an appeal. Matters that do not fall within the scope of Title IX could still be actionable under the Student Code of Conduct or applicable employment policies.
