Alcohol
What’s a standard drink? | Understanding levels of intoxication | Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) | Biphasic model | Mixing alcohol with other substances | Alcohol poisoning and overdose | Harm reduction tips for alcohol use | How do I recognize a problem with alcohol? | What if I am worried about my drinking?
Smart choices start with real info about alcohol
Drinking in college is not a given and it doesn’t have to be a rite of passage. The stereotype of heavy drinking in college is not reality for most UCSC students. Most UCSC students don’t drink or drink at very moderate levels:
45%
UCSC students describe themselves as abstainers, infrequent drinkers, or light drinkers.
84.4%
Of UCSC students who drink, have only 1-4 drinks when they go out.
Source: 2021 American College Health Association National College Health Assessment, University of California, Santa Cruz, Executive Summary
Understanding what alcohol does to your body and the risks associated with alcohol use can help you in many ways:
- You can make a more informed decision about whether or not to drink
- You can recognize the warning signs of dangerous intoxication and call EMS for a friend
- You can reduce the risks associated with using alcohol (including injury, etc)
- If you choose to drink, you can make safer decisions about drinking
- You can get help for yourself or for a friend
What’s a standard drink?
Knowing how to count a standard drink is necessary for calculating blood alcohol concentrations. Too often, people underestimate how much they have had to drink because they aren’t using standard measurements.
Beer: One drink = one 12 oz. beer. This is normal strength beer (4% alcohol). Craft brew and malt liquor can have a much higher percentage of alcohol (look at the label).
Liquor: One drink = 1.5 oz. of liquor (40% alcohol or 80 proof). This is how much whiskey, vodka, gin, etc. is in a measured mixed drink or in a “shot”. Mixed drinks may not be measured and often contain far more than 1.5 oz. of alcohol. Drinks with a higher proof (like grain alcohol, Everclear, or 151 proof rum) should also be treated with caution.
Wine: One drink = 4-5 oz. of standard wine (12% alcohol). This is most table wines: white, red, rose, and champagne. One drink = 3 oz. of fortified wine.
Learn more at Alcohol and your Health.
Understanding levels of intoxication
Stage 1 – Non-use (0 BAC)
What You See: No drinking related problems, Low risk use doesn’t affect other aspects of life. Reasons for not drinking can be religious, personal, social.
What You Do: Support a friend’s decision to choose not to drink. Be sure non-alcoholic beverages and/or other activities that are not drinking-centered are available.
The Facts: Approximately 38% of the adult population does not drink.
Stage 2 – Feeling buzzed (~0.02 – 0.04 BAC)
What You See: People are more talkative. Shy people become more social. Feelings of general well-being or of being “buzzed”. More relaxed.
What You Do: Encourage a friend to slow down, space drinks out, and eat a meal. Encourage non-alcoholic beverages. Give feedback about behavior.
The Facts: This BAC can be reached very quickly.
Stage 3 – Questionable decisions (~0.05 – 0.07 BAC)
What You See: Unplanned sexual behavior. The person may think they can drive/walk home alone or will accept rides from strangers. Misplaced personal items and mood swings are common.
What You Do: Take away their car keys and arrange for a safe escort. Encourage them to stop/slow down. Do not laugh at inappropriate statements. Do not overreact. Do not argue but be assertive.
The Facts: If you’re helping a friend at this BAC level, be action-oriented rather than trying to reason with the individual.
Stage 4 – Talking Loud/Getting Injured (~0.07 – 0.10 BAC)
What You See: Louder music/voices, less sensitivity to pain, cannot focus well, misjudge distances (depth perception is off), and generally all senses are dulled.
What You Do: Establish your own safety first, try to get your friend to stop/slow down. Seek medical and/or professional assistance in case of injury.
The Facts: The drinking person has impaired judgement and reason; give them simple instructions. Physical and/or verbal aggression may occur. Know your limitations and seek help from staff, sober friends, or emergency personnel if needed.
Stage 5 – Staggering/Slurring (~0.11 – 0.15 BAC)
What You See: Slurring, staggering/bumping into things, spilled drinks, frequent bathroom trips, falling down/injuries, aggressiveness, inability to control excretion.
What You Do: Remove alcohol immediately, secure your own safety, and seek help. Do NOT leave this person alone
The Facts: The person at this level should NOT be drinking any more and should NOT be left alone. This person cannot make sense of the world around them. You should be responsive to your friend, not responsible for them.
Stage 6 – Life Threatening/Passing Out (~0.20 – 0.40)
What You See: Semi-consciousness or unconsciousness/passing out with low breathing rate (< 12 breaths/min).
What You Do: Monitor the person continually (breathing rate, state of consciousness, etc), and seek medical/professional help ASAP.
The Facts: Close to 200 people died from alcohol poisoning in the United States in 2024.
Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
Understanding BAC is key to understanding how alcohol affects your body and where you might be at risk for alcohol poisoning. BAC measures the ratio of alcohol in the blood. So, a BAC of .10 means one part alcohol for every 1000 parts of blood. To calculate your BAC, find the row with your approximate weight. Then select the number of drinks consumed. This BAC figure would result if the total number of drinks were consumed in one hour. Most people feel the positive effects of alcohol when their BAC is between .04 and 0.6, which is 1-2 drinks.
Note: These charts give you good general guidelines, but there are many factors involved in a person’s reaction to alcohol, including body composition, sex, use of medication or other drugs, and metabolism.
How do male and female-bodied people react differently to alcohol?
Because of several physiological reasons, a person who is born female will feel the effects of alcohol more than a person born male, even if they are the same size. There is also increasing evidence that female-bodied folks are more susceptible to alcohol’s damaging effects than are male-bodied folks. Below are explanations of why male and female individuals process alcohol differently.
- Ability to dilute alcohol – Female-bodied individuals have less body water (52% for the average female vs. 61% for the average male). This means that a male body will automatically dilute the alcohol more than a female body, even if the two people weigh the same amount.
- Ability to metabolize alcohol – People born female have less dehydrogenase, a liver enzyme that breaks down alcohol, than men. So, a female-bodied individual will break down alcohol more slowly than a male-bodied person.
- Female-bodied individuals are more susceptible to long-term alcohol-induced damage – Female-bodied individuals who are heavy drinkers are at greater risk of liver disease, damage to the pancreas, and high blood pressure than male heavy drinkers. Proportionately more women suffering from alcohol use disorder die from cirrhosis than do men.
What other factors affect your response to alcohol?
- Food – Having food in your stomach can have a powerful influence on the absorption of alcohol. The food will dilute the alcohol and slow the emptying of the stomach into the small intestine, where alcohol is very rapidly absorbed. Peak BAC could be as much as 3 times higher in someone with an empty stomach than in someone who has eaten a meal before drinking. Eating regular meals and having snacks while drinking will keep you from getting too drunk too quickly.
- Genetics – Some people have more difficulty metabolizing alcohol due to variants in the ADH1B and ALDH2 genes. They may experience facial flushing, nausea, headache, dizziness, and rapid heartbeat. This is more common in individuals of East Asian descent.
- Family History – An individual with a family history of alcohol use disorder (parents, guardians, siblings) is at higher risk for developing an alcohol use disorder themselves. This is not just about genetic risk. We learn habits and attitudes towards substances from our families, and initiation of substance use often occurs within families.
Biphasic model
Did you know that alcohol is both a stimulant and a depressant? When you are coming up on alcohol, you might notice that you feel happy, more relaxed, and playful. That effect usually only lasts for the first couple of drinks and will last longer the slower you go. If you have developed a tolerance to alcohol, it might be harder to achieve that state.
With time, or more drinks, you dip into the dysphoria stage. Many people think that continuing to drink will keep you in that sweet spot of feeling chill and good, but that isn’t how it works. Alcohol starts working more as a depressant.
Mixing alcohol with other substances
Alcohol can be dangerous when mixed with other recreational drugs or medications. Below are some of the reactions that might take place after mixing alcohol with different types of drugs.
Alcohol and sedatives
Using alcohol with GHB, rohypnol, ketamine, barbiturates, tranquilizers, or sleeping pills will multiply the sedative effects of both drugs, which can slow down your central nervous system enough to cause loss of consciousness, a coma, or death. Sedatives like GHB and Rohypnol have been used as date rape drugs because of this dangerous combination.
Alcohol and marijuana
Using alcohol with marijuana can decrease motor control and mental concentration and greatly impair your ability to drive. You might experience “the spins” or increased paranoia. Because marijuana suppresses the gag reflex, you may not be able to throw up alcohol when your body needs to.
Alcohol and opiates
Using alcohol with narcotics such as heroin, codeine, or Vicodin slows down the central nervous system and can cause your breathing to stop, a coma, or even death.
Alcohol and prescription drugs
Numerous medications interact harmfully with alcohol. Alcohol’s effects are heightened by medicines that depress the central nervous system, such as sleeping pills, antihistamines, antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs, and some painkillers. Using alcohol with a prescribed drug or an over-the-counter drug may affect your liver’s ability to metabolize the medication and can decrease the medication’s effectiveness. The combination of drugs can also multiply the effects of the alcohol and the medication, and may cause liver damage. If you aren’t sure if alcohol and your medication play nicely together, read the label or contact a pharmacist. The National Institute of Health has a list of common medications that should not be mixed with alcohol.
Harm reduction tips for using alcohol
- Go slow. Most UCSC students who are medically transported drank too much too fast. Avoid shots or drinking games.
- Set a drink limit for the night and try to stick to it.
- Alternate your drinks with water. 1 alcoholic drink, 1 glass of water.
- Eat before you go out. This will slow the uptake of the alcohol.
- Arrange for a designated driver before you leave, or use Uber, Lyft, or the bus. Check out transportation options.
- Avoid drinking games or other activities that lead to drinking a lot in a short period of time. Most medical transports at UCSC are due to students drinking too much too fast.
- Avoid mixing alcohol with other substances. Alcohol doesn’t always play well with other substances, including prescribed or over-the-counter medications. You might find yourself feeling super sick or drunk faster than usual. If you decide to mix street drugs with alcohol, go low and slow to see how it affects you first. Learn more about mixing alcohol with other substances.
- Remember, caffeine does not impact your BAC and will not sober you up. Only time will sober you up.
- Stop friends from “topping off” your drink – this makes it harder to keep track of how much you’ve had.
- Pour your own drinks and watch your drink. Many date rape drugs are colorless and tasteless.
- Know the signs of alcohol poisoning. Call for help if you are concerned about a friend or yourself. Remember, you are covered under the Responsible Action Plan if you ask for help.
- Look out for each other. If a friend isn’t okay to drive, let them sleep on your couch. If someone looks too intoxicated to consent, intervene. Slugs keep Slugs safe. Learn more at How to help a friend.
How do I recognize a problem with alcohol?
Some people can drink occasionally without becoming addicted. An alcohol addiction may look like:
- Needing a drink to get your day started.
- Not being able to stop, despite multiple attempts to quit.
- Experiencing symptoms of withdrawal when you try to quit.
- Needing alcohol to feel “normal” or using in times of stress.
- Spending a lot of time acquiring alcohol and using alcohol.
What if I am worried about my drinking?
If you have any worries about how much you are drinking, you can book a 1:1 Wellness Coaching session with SHOP to discuss your concerns and explore options for cutting back or quitting, if that is what you want. You can also visit The Cove, UCSC’s recovery community, or CAPS to discuss your use. At SHOP, we don’t report any substance use, so whatever you say about your drinking (or other drug use for that matter) stays confidential.