Halloween has always been viewed as a time for fun with friends and family. College students indulge in Halloween as well – just add alcohol, tiny costumes and more alcohol.

Sacramento State Alumnus Nicholas Hansen, 25, loved this holiday while attending college and still plans to celebrate to his full potential.

“Halloween is fun for kids, “ Hansen said. “That’s how college students relate to Halloween – it was always a great time. Therefore college kids will seek out any possible way to make Halloween the best party (while) meeting random people, drinking excessively and letting people judge you based on your costume.”

In high school, Halloween was a dud if it landed on a weekday, but in college, it’s a two week celebration. Even the day of Halloween is celebrated during the week because now students have the option of skipping class the next day.

The 20-somethings have the social gates of opportunity surrounding All-Hallow’s-Eve. Everything from house parties to bar crawls in downtown Sacramento have themed nights in advance and after the holiday.

Criminal justice major Gage Starin, 23, looks forward to this holiday because there is no barrier to raging on this night.

“It’s better in college because you can go out freely without any restrictions and there is always something to do with a ton of people,” Starin said. “Some people simply just like to drink and have a good time. Adding costumes into the mix can adds laughs, scares and new friends.”

Drinking and costumes go hand-in-hand on Halloween. The night when it’s socially acceptable to leave the family morals at the house and get wild.   

The day of “boos” and spooks is most popular with booze and tasty spirits.

According to Arthur Shapiro of A|M Shapiro & Associates LLC, a alcohol sales specializing company, Halloween is only second to the Super Bowl Sunday in alcohol sales.

Jose Cuervo, Jack Daniels and Johnnie Walker can usually be found on the guest lists of parties at houses and in the bar scene.

Keg parties, drink specials and flask carrying are at an all-time high during these couple weeks.

Junior communications major Olivia Durante, 20, agrees drinking comes with the Halloween territory.

“To most, college drinking always seems socially acceptable. Even people who normally don’t go out, do on Halloween,” Durante said. “Drinking is something to do in a social setting since we can’t go trick-or-treating anymore.”

The aspect of Halloween that does carry over from high school and childhood are the costumes.

Senior government major Galen Dobbins, 28, loves seeing all the costumes children wear while knocking on his door during before the sunsets.

“My favorite part of Halloween is giving out candy to trick-or-treaters and seeing the costumes based on things from pop culture that happened this year and how people either love it or get offended by it,” Dobbins said.

The classic cat, witch or doctor costumes are not only seen on the kids going door-to-door for candy, but also on college students. Only there seems to be quite a big difference between the two.

This is most easily seen with costumes for women, or not seen rather.

Women are often seen parading around town half naked, yet, instead of being considered a street-walker, they are still seen as the girl who was dressed in sweats during chemistry class last week.

It’s the one day a year women can dress provocatively without being accused of being a slut.

Kenneth Reyes senior sociology major , 26, says there is no dress code for Halloween. It’s more of an anything goes type of holiday.

“It’s socially acceptable for girls to dress half naked because people can chalk it up to the holiday and act like it, in no way, reflects on their character the other 364 days of the year,” Reyes said. “It’s an excuse to wear whatever they want without being judged.”

Some female students even feel pressured to dress more risque than the norm, including kinesiology junior Hannah Gunter, 20.

“I feel like it’s almost required to dress cute but somewhat slutty for girls. It would be a little weird for a girl to come in a costume we would wear in 3rd grade,” Gunter said. “It’s the one time girls don’t judge each other as being sluts. It’s more about who can rock their costume more.”

With half-naked girls, alcohol and the college scene, there isn’t a better way to celebrate two weeks of Halloween. Be safe, have a great time and make memories that you may or may not remember in the morning.