Communication
Prior to your student's first year at UNO, they'll be asked to complete an online teaching exercise called the College Alcohol Profile (CAP).
This will provide them with some feedback about the choices, risks, and consequences of drinking. It will also help to correct misperceptions about the drinking norm itself at UNO. Part of this training will be some specific suggestions about how to avoid high-risk drinking.
We want you to know what they'll be taught here, so you can add to or reinforce those strategies.
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Ways to Help Your Friends |
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Be the designated driver. |
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Be a role model for your friends. |
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Know and respond to alcohol poisoning. |
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Drinking Tips |
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Know your limits, stick to them, and stay in control. |
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Determine how many drinks to have and stop at your number. |
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Eat right before and while drinking. |
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Learn from past mistakes and make adjustments. |
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Drink one or two an hour. Shots hit in about 20 minutes. |
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Check if your medicine interacts badly with alcohol. |
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Don't drink if you have a strong family history of alcoholism. |
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Drink for quality, not quantity (a 6-pack of imported or micro beer). |
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Be aware of your situation. If you feel unsafe, leave. |
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Watch your drinks while being made and after. Never leave your drink alone, even if you only have a soft drink. |
Specific Strategies
Below are some strategies you may use to talk to your student about how they can manage situations to keep them safe. It’s best to choose a couple of the strategies, based on what you know about your student.
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Suggest AlternativesMake sure your student has a plan of some activities that could be used in place of drinking. |
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Use DeceptionStudents often report holding a drink but not actually drinking it. This deception helps others to leave them alone and not pressure them to drink something. |
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Turn Pressure AroundThis strategy involves questioning the other person about pressure. Effective phrases include:
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Share ResponsibilityHave your student talk with a friend before the party, and share a plan to stay safe. Ask that friend to help make sure they both stick to the plan. |
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Leave the SceneSuggest your student have a plan for how to get home if there’s no one at the party who has not been drinking or if they're in a situation they feel is unsafe. |
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Plan AheadMost underage drinking occurs at parties, and in most cases, your student know that alcohol will be at the party. They need to have a plan for how they're going to deal with the situation so they'll stay safe. |
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Use HumorIf your student typically converses with a lot of humor, advise them to use it to think of things to say that can get them out of a bad situation. Encourage them to make the humorous statement on their own, so it’s something they feel confident in. |
