According to the CSUS Bulletin, Sacramento State just received a $60,000 grant, which was part of a $300,000 grant that the Federal Department of Alcohol and Drugs awarded to Sacramento County organizations.

Most college students drink, and it’s no secret that underage students drink, as well. I did when I was a freshman, a sophomore and well, since I was 16. According to a fact sheet on the Advocacy for the Prevention of Alcohol Problems Web site (www.cspinet.org/booze/collfact1.htm) more than four drinks for a woman in one sitting and five for a man is considered binge drinking.

Raise your hand if you’re a binge drinker by these parameters. I think that covers everyone I know who drinks and I would guess that is about 98 percent of my friends.

I would even go as far to say that most of my friends drink more than that and always have. This is crazy. There comes a point of personal responsibility, and everyone should remember that when they drink. To say that younger students do not know the dangers of excessive drinking or drunk driving would be ludicrous as it’s preached everywhere we go.

There are dangers to drinking and you should know your limits. No one else is responsible for how much you drink and chances are when friends tell friends to slow down, few people actually listen.

Of course if someone can’t walk out of the bar they came into, then others are now forced to take care of that person. I call these my friends, not that it happens to me, I hold my alcohol quite well. But if that situation were to ever occur, I know my friends wouldn’t leave me alone on the bar room floor. I do think that alcohol amongst college students is a problem, but I don’t think there is anything that can be done to avoid it.

According to the fact sheet on the above mentioned APAP Web site this is one of the dangers of binge drinking — someone may have to take care of you. I think worse things can happen. For instance drunk driving, which is a concern for all drinkers and non-drinkers, should be avoided at all costs.

If a person has a few too many drinks (and we all know it doesn’t take that many) and is unable to drive, then people need to take a cab or call a friend. I know in the local area you can call Safe Rides and it will take you home for free. That is being a responsible drinker. Don’t risk someone else’s life or your own for a good time out.

I don’t believe I am telling anyone anything new here. This is because even if we don’t all apply to the rules of drinking all the time I do believe that the majority of people do know the rules. I’d say 99 percent of people that drink know the dangers of drinking too much and you have to be a freaking idiot if you don’t know that 12 shots, when you never drink, is asking for alcohol poisoning.Of course this brings on the issue of peer pressure and trying to be cool. Well, it’s not cool to drink yourself into a coma and I know that people die from this. When I went to Chico State we lost students every year to irresponsible drinking. And I won’t lie, it was sad and a damn shame. Drinking responsibly is something everyone is responsible for personally.

We also have underage drinkers. I was one. I drank in high school and anyone who wants to say that makes me an alcoholic or bad person or that I had bad parents is just silly. I wasn’t drinking alone, and I knew my limits even then. When I felt a little giddy, wasn’t walking straight and was slurring my words, I was drunk. Of course I didn’t drive because that would be dumb. I know that we all have times when we think we’re fine and aren’t. Most people do and you rely on those around you to look out for you. My parents were responsible parents but every kid rebels a little bit so I would say that’s a cop out to blame your folks. Take responsibility for your own actions.

What can be said when underage drinkers are not arrested on campus in the dorms? What can you do? Is this grant going to supply money for surrogate parents to do dorm patrols? I don’t think so.

And talk about how extremely inappropriate that would be. I’m assuming, since I never got a response to my phone calls inquiring more about the grant, that its purpose is probably to encourage students to take a class on the dangers of binge drinking. Good luck with that. It could be used to create a class for students to attend when they have been caught one too many times for underage drinking, which we already have on campus — it’s called e-chug. It could be to fund that program. All right, maybe that’s a good use of money, maybe. It could be used to fund the people who are running these alcohol awareness programs.

I’m just curious if there is any new information or if we are simply trying to prevent … well, what are you trying to prevent? Is this grant trying to prevent me from having four drinks on a Friday night?

Why don’t we have a class on responsibility? I know a ton of people we could sign up for that class. Seriously, a binge-drinking grant makes as much sense as a grant for prevention of premarital sex. I don’t think it will make much of a difference, and I think that it’s a shame tthis money isn’t being used elsewhere.