Instead of the old “Just say no” strategy of most alcohol and drug prevention programs, Mike Green, ex-football player and coach of Westchester University, had a different message for Sacramento State athletes Wednesday in the University Union Ballroom.

Green spoke to a room of almost 500 students about what the dangers and consequences of what he called the “one-nighter.”

“The one-nighter is one night’s problem with secondary consequences,” Green said. “It’s not alcoholism. You don’t have to be an alcoholic to have an alcohol problem.”

Instead of focusing on scare tactics and guilt to deter students from drinking, Green stressed the importance of drinking responsibly and having “spotters.”

Spotters are people who take friends’ car keys away, even it means buying a drink in exchange for it, Green said.

“You are your brother and sister’s keeper,” Green said. “It’s OK to drink but not OK to turn our backs on a teammate.”

Heather Dunn Carlton, the coordinator of Alcohol Education, said while anybody was welcome, the night’s event was mainly designed for athletes, not only fulfilling their educational requirements but also to teach them about responsibility.

“Especially for athletes, it affects their performance and they can lose scholarships over it,” Dunn Carlton said. “Consequences can be significant.”

While Alcohol Education’s ideal is the “harm reduction model,” which means reducing the consumption of alcohol to reduce risk, Dunn Carlton said the next best thing is moderation and to offer tools for students to be responsible and safe adults.

Aside from having spotters, Green offered advice such as keeping drinks close to one’s chest while socializing, never leaving drinks unattended and making sure to eat and keep hydrated before going to parties.

“We hear it all the time, but he just gave it to us straight instead of sugar coating it,” said Ashley Lewis, a junior on the crew. “The way he gave us the message was more effective than to tell us not to drink.”

Mary Chou can be reached at [email protected]