Alcohol and sex: a risky combination
By Stefanie Ickowski

Students are constantly told by the media of the dangers of binge drinking and unprotected sex. However, there are more than 70,000 students across the nation between the ages of 18 and 24 who are victims of alcohol-related sexual assault or date rape.

“There are real physical consequences when you ingest any drug,” said Chris Spicer, a representative from Planned Parenthood who gave a presentation about alcohol and sex at Buffalo State College in late March.

“Alcohol kills brain cells and damages your liver, but the more immediate problem is when you wake up next to a stranger in the morning,” said Spicer.

During his presentation, Spicer had volunteers from the audience simulate the effects of alcohol by putting on magnified reading glasses to try to successfully complete a roadside sobriety test. In another demonstration he had two audience members put marshmallow Peeps in their mouths and try to ask for help.

Although the unsuccessful attempts to do these things drew a lot of laughter from the audience, Spicer said he wanted to show how beer goggles , or alcohol myopia, can affect a person's behavior.

Besides impairing vision and speech, alcohol also affects judgment and dexterity . When an intimate situation under the influence of alcohol occurs, people are more likely to act on impulse. And if they do remember to use a condom, there is a greater chance of misuse or breakage.

Spicer also explained New York state laws about consent and rape:

• A person has to be at least 17 years of age to consent to sex.
• When a person is drunk (.08 percent blood alcohol level), they can not enter into anything that involves consent .
• A person can sue for rape, even if both parties were drunk.

According to Spicer, in a rape charge, “the police will believe the person who shows up first.”

But dealing with those risks are not the only reasons to take responsibility when drinking. A sexually transmitted disease (STD), such as herpes, can stay in the body forever or even, in the case of HIV, be life threatening.

If a person does end up in a situation where they've had sex with someone they hardly know, they should get tested for a STD right away . While it might be embarrassing, it's important to get treated as soon as possible. Left untreated, an STD can cause damage in reproductive organs, as well as birth defects in children.

For some students, drinking may be considered a large part of the college experience. While that may not change, students can take precautions to avoid personal or legal problems:

• Only go out with a certain amount of money to spend on drinks. Leave credit or debit cards at home.
• Elect a designated driver or call a cab if you have had too many drinks.
• Avoid getting into intimate situations after drinking. Make your limits known and be prepared to say “no” if you feel pressured.
• The legal drinking age is 21. If you're underage you're putting yourself and possibly others at risk for legal trouble.
• Don't go drinking alone; use the buddy system.

“We've really go to have each other's back when we go out,” said Spicer.

Rape, unwanted pregnancy and STDs can occur when bad decisions are made under the influence of alcohol. While an occasional drink might not hurt, students should remember that the other part of the college experience is being independent and taking responsibility.