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When Not To Drink

Avoid Hangovers

Lower Tolerance

Drink Guidelines

Stay in the Zone

Resources

Virginia Tech believes that decisions concerning alcohol consumption are a personal choice, and that students should make informed alcohol use decisions. For those students who are not 21, the only legal choice is to abstain from drinking. For those students who choose to consume alcohol we recommend that you consume alcohol in a low-risk and legal manner to reduce eliminate negative outcomes associated with your alcohol use.

These educational materials promote low-risk alcohol consumption for those who choose to drink, and should not be construed as endorsing or promoting underage consumption.

What is the Pleasure Zone?
The pleasure zone is that range of blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) that have the highest probability of reducing negative outcomes. Positive outcomes are optimized when you choose not drink or keep your BAC at or below .06. Research indicates that negative drinking outcomes increase steadily at BACs > .06. By keeping your BAC at or below .06 you can significantly reduce any negative outcomes you might have as a result of drinking.
Maximize Positive Outcomes by Staying in the Pleasure Zone to
Stress Reduction	While research indicates that a few drinks can reduce tension and stress, further reductions in stress do not occur after the first few drinks. Thus, by staying in the Pleasure Zone you can reduce stress while reducing or eliminating regrettable outcomes. In addition, there are many other ways to reduce stress (i.e., eliminating the source of stress, exercise, relaxation exercises, listening to music, playing computer games, talking with friends).
Social Enhancement	Research indicates that a few drinks can increase sociability by making you more talkative. Unfortunately, beyond a few drinks, alcohol actually decreases social skills by decreasing your ability to interact with others. In fact, most VT students (72%) find it easier to make new friends and develop relationships without drinking (Based on a random survey of 1029 VT students in February 2002.
Maintenance of Sexual Pleasure	The inhibition of sexual pleasure begins at BACs of approximately .05 and increases quickly, often resulting in sexual dysfunction at BACs above .10. Alcohol impairment also makes it less likely that you will practice “safe sex,” increasing your risks for unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.
Sharper Cognitive Abilities	Even small amounts of alcohol can impair learning for up to 72 hours. Alcohol impairs the transfer of information to long-term memory, decreases attention span, and inhibits restful sleep.

To optimize these positive outcomes, choose not to drink or follow our Party Positive Drinking Guidelines.