Have a drink or two

After receiving the notorious No. 1 party school ranking from the Princeton Review and being featured in the May 12 issue of Time magazine, those not familiar with IU's apparent alcohol problem are few.\nMuch of the concern lies in a social activity practiced by many youths: binge drinking -- defined as the consumption of five or more drinks in a row for men, four for women. The survey conducted last year, referenced by the Time article, revealed that roughly 52 percent of IU students are binge drinkers. \nDespite educational efforts by school administrators and health officials and a considerable crackdown on drinking by law enforcement, a significant number of students still drink recklessly. Although there are many reasons for this abuse, binge drinking has become a cultural staple of youthful liberation.\nMany assert that drinking will never cease among college students (and they're probably right), but you have to wonder why so many students drink in excess. I'm not going to run the gamut of sociological and psychological impetuses for drinking, but let's look at one of the most cited causes: peer pressure. \nMany students, especially those younger and more naive, view drinking as a way to "fit in," or, as student Anna Kumis said to Time magazine, a "rite of passage." Among male students, the amount of alcohol a guy can "hold" is often considered a measure of his manhood.\nThere's no doubt that students feel pressured into consuming alcohol by their classmates, but I think the larger question remains: why is it weak or "uncool" to have only a few drinks or to not drink at all? We have all heard the boasting of how "wasted" and "wrecked" people get; the sheer intensity of these words even suggests the voracity of the drinking involved. At countless parties I've noticed that students abstaining or only having a few drinks are looked at with a snotty eye of confusion and sometimes ostracized for drinking too slow and "nursing" their beverage. \nI'm sure this will all sound hypocritical when I admit that, for many years, I acted just as immature and reckless as the people I criticize. I have realized, however, that drinking in moderation has some excellent advantages, including a lower risk of a hangover, a decreased chance of doing something regrettable, fewer calories and, of course, a broader appreciation for palatable libations. On top of all of these advantages, you'd be surprised that a "night out" of temperate drinking can be quite cheap.\nBinge drinking is not exclusive to IU. All four instances (1993, 1997, 1999 and 2001) of the Harvard University College Alcohol Study have shown that the rate at which college students binge drink has hovered around 44 percent. Each of the surveys sampled over 10,000 students from 119 colleges across 38 states and the District of Columbia. The students were asked how many times they binge drank during the two weeks prior to the questionnaire. The study highlights the cultural and environmental problems on college campuses, but students have the power to change that.\nAlcohol is a substance that is meant to be pleasantly enjoyed, and there's no reason why it shouldn't. Nonetheless, we must ask ourselves: how much is enough? Alcohol can enhance an evening out, but you certainly don't need to down a 12-pack to have an awesome time. As the old saying goes -- to err is human. We all make mistakes and bad decisions regarding alcohol, yet it might prove that using more self-control can lead to a fulfilling experience and possibly a better image for IU.