Just In Time for Pub Night: Safe Partying for YU
Can we get a drum roll please…Get excited because for the first time ever York’s HealthEd’s Alcohol & Other Drugs Team has its very own blog! Our team specializes in teaching you all about safer partying, the effects of drugs, standard alcohol consumption, mocktail recipes and more so that you can make informed choices during your time here at university. Not only are we on campus to provide you with all the info you need, but we will now also have weekly blog posts that you can check out for the latest news, events info and hot topics related to alcohol and drugs.
With the start of the new school year, comes the endless list of party invites so today’s blog is all about safer partying!
Did You Know…?
-35% of York University students actually don’t drink
-Most of those who do drink consume 4 or less drink
But how exactly do we measure a drink? Get out your tablespoons, calculators and conversion charts…just kidding! We use something called standard serving sizes that are measurements used to define the appropriate amount of alcohol per drink. These standard serving sizes vary depending on the type of alcohol.
The standard serving sizes are…
BEER: 12 ounces
WINE: 5 ounces
HARD LIQUORS (like vodka, gin, rum): 1.5 ounces
Now nobody expects you to bring a measuring glass to a party, but it’s important to have an idea of what these serving sizes look like so it’s a good idea to measure them out at home.
Keeping track of the amount of alcohol that you consume can be hard especially if you consume mixed drinks that contain multiple shots of alcohol, so here are some tips to keep you on track.
Set a drink limit before you go out and make your best effort to stick with it
Bring a friend who you can trust will be strict enough to help you stick with your limit
Pace yourself! Eat snacks and consume non-alcoholic drinks in between your consumption of alcoholic beverages
Leave the credit card at home and only set aside enough cash to pay for the number of drinks you plan to have. After all, think of all the textbooks you can buy with the money you will save!
No matter how much you plan to drink, it’s crucial that you plan ahead to have a safe ride home. Select a designated driver from your group of friends, remember to bring bus fare, and add a few taxi numbers into your cell just in case. You never know when you might need one! Here are some phone numbers for taxi services that you can use in the Toronto area:
Crown Taxi: (416) 240-0000
City Taxi: (416) 740-2222
Co-op Cabs: (416) 504-2667
Check in every Thursday for a brand new post! Spread the word about our blog, have fun, party safe and learn more about our team on campus from the SC&LD office located at S171 Ross and on HealthEd’s webpage: www.healthed.scld.yorku.ca