Alcohol Use and Abuse
The use and misuse of alcohol and or other drugs can be a controversial area. The purpose of the information contained in these pages is to enable you to make informed choices. It is important to take care of yourself when considering their use and to avoid taking risks that you may regret. If you or a friend has a problem with alcohol, call the Wellness Center at (713) 348-5194.
Are you at risk? Take this quiz!
What is a standard drink?
A standard drink contains less than one ounce of pure alcohol. Just as one box of cookies doesn't represent a single serving, alcoholic beverage containers are not necessarily representative of "one" drink.
A standard drink is:
- One 12-ounce bottle of beer* or wine cooler
- One 5-ounce glass of wine
- 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits
* Different beers have different alcohol content. Malt liquor has a higher alcohol content than most other brewed beverages.
Drinking at Rice University
On university campuses, many consider alcohol use to be synonymous with student life. Underage, as well as high-risk drinking (drinking to get drunk, usually more than 4 drinks per sitting), is a common problem. However, if you are of age and choose to drink moderate amounts of alcohol responsibly, it can contribute to your social experience. As a wet campus, Rice has two pubs for students: Willy's, the undergraduate pub, and Valhalla, the graduate pub. In addition, students are able to apply to hold a public party, with alcohol, at their residential colleges. For more information on drinking at Rice please take a look at the Alcohol Policy, developed by students.
Contrary to popular belief, most Rice students do NOT drink above moderate levels. However, college drinking is often sporadic, closely related to beliefs, rituals and traditions held by the residential colleges. For those who binge drink or drink heavily, they risk their own health and academic potential as well as the physical, mental and emotional well-being of their peers who abstain or drink moderately.
Finding help at Rice
Rice Counseling Center
Lovett Hall (entrance A)
713-348-4867 (24 hr)
Professional psychologists at RCC specialize in alcohol risk reduction
consultation and assessment. Call to make an appointment or receive
over-the-phone advice.
The Wellness Center
Located alongside the Brown Master's House, off entrance 27.
713-348-5194
The Wellness Center has informational brochures and pamphlets available for
students, as well as a lending-library with a section devoted to alcohol
and other drugs. Books and videos may be checked out by students, faculty
and staff at no charge.
You may also schedule
an appointment to talk with a health educator who can help you evaluate your
drinking behaviors and provide you with resources for change.
Are you drinking at risk?
At risk drinking levels:
- Men - more than 4 drinks a day or more than 14 drinks a week
- Women - more than 3 drinks a day or more than 7 drinks a week (NIAA 2003)
Taking notice
How to recognize signs of an alcohol problem:
- Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
- Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
- Have you ever felt bad or guilty about your drinking?
- Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning (as an "eye opener") to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover?
If you answer"yes" to one or more of these questions, your drinking may be problematic. If you'd like to talk to someone about options for moderating or cutting back on your alcohol consumption, call ext. 4867.
Off-campus Resources
- Stepping Stone Recovery: A young adult substance abuse program. Call: 713-528-6720
- Alcoholics Anonymous
- Al-Anon
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: www.samhsa.gov or www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
