The Counseling Center’s Alcohol and Other Drugs program hosted an event to encourage and educate students on good drinking habits.
The event took place outside of the library at the Borchuck Plaza on Oct. 26. The main goal of the event was to show that alcohol is not necessary to have fun but that students should also be aware of the safety measures if they wish to drink.
“Booze Boo specifically aims to keep students aware of setting limits and drinking responsibly as the upcoming holidays, such as Halloween, approach,” said Sarah Simonian, AOD graduate assistant.
Public safety, along with Pepper, appeared at the event with drunk goggles and cones to give students a glimpse of an intoxicated state.
“Students could put on goggles and attempt activities such as walking in a straight line, staying within the cones or getting Pepper to get a feel for how their judgment and awareness are impaired,” said Simonian.
During the event, students were given handouts, fidget toys, journals, candy and even mocktails, which are cocktails without the liquor.
“The point of the mocktails was to show students that you can have a delicious and easy drink without the alcohol; and the best part–you can make well thought out decisions and drive safely and legally,” said Simonian.
The mocktails were very popular among the students, and the AOD gives information on how to make a new mocktail for each weekend.
“Every Friday, the AOD Instagram posts new mocktail recipes for the weekend,” said Simonian. “Some of these recipes were printed out for the Booze Boo event so students could take it with them.”
Simonian stated that she hopes that students choose good drinking habits and remember how mocktail recipes are delicious and much safer than drinking alcohol.
There are also ways to relieve alcohol peer pressure.
“Another tip is that you can put a fun mocktail in a solo cup, and nobody would ever know you’re not drinking alcohol,” said Simonian. “So if students are drinking for social or pressured purposes, then that relieves that pressure.”
For more information on Booze Boo or the Alcohol and Other Drugs program, contact aod@etsu.edu.
