Going to college parties is a great way to relax after a long week of classes, to meet new people and socialize, and to make connections with different groups and clubs around campus. However, it is important to keep in mind that not everyone going to those parties are there for ethical reasons. Some people are there to take advantage of someone who is intoxicated. If you are planning on having a few alcoholic beverages at a college party, or even if you aren’t drinking alcohol, there are a few crucial reasons to protect your drink at all times. Here are the top three reasons.
Someone Could Put Drugs in your Drink
The most common reason someone would put something in your drink is to drug you so you don’t remember what happened the night before. People who do this use date rape drugs to take advantage of you sexually. There are various date rape drugs that people use, however there are three main ones that you should watch out for. These include Rohypnol, gamma hydroxybutyric acid, and ketamine. These drugs are fast-acting and have serious side effects. They can cause confusion, memory loss, seizures, or even death. People who ingest this drug often pass out, allowing someone to commit sexual assault or rape without the person realizing it.
Keep in mind that it only takes 30 seconds or less for someone to drug your drink without you knowing. Just turning your back from your drink briefly to talk to a friend will give someone the opportunity to quickly drop something in your drink. If you’ve already had a few drinks, you may not taste a difference in your drink after it has been tampered with. The best way to protect yourself is to always keep your drink in your hand and never go to a party alone. Have someone with you who you trust and who can look out for you. If your drink tastes funny at any time, immediately dump it out and get a new drink, and make sure to alert a sober friend that you think your drink may have been tampered with. If you feel uncomfortable, leave the party immediately to get somewhere safe.
Someone Could Refill Your Drink Without You Knowing
In addition to your drink being drugged, there is also a chance that someone could refill your drink without you knowing. Perhaps you wanted to limit how much you drink because you know you have to get up early for an important obligation. If someone wanted to make sure you get more intoxicated than you were planning on or if they wanted to get you intoxicated faster, they may pour a little bit more into your cup while you aren’t looking.
College students tend to engage in more questionable behavior when they are drunk, so someone who wants you to have sex with them or do something risky may try to get you drunk faster this way. If you know from previous experience that you are more easily influenced when you are drunk, it is important that you keep a very close eye on your drink. Sometimes even friends who you trust may slip a little bit more in your cup because they want you to have more fun with them. It may be difficult to remember exactly how much was in your cup at any given time, so make sure to be aware of your surroundings, especially if you put your cup down at any time.
Someone Could Drink Out of Your Cup
Another important reason to always guard your drink at a college party is because someone could easily drink out of your cup without you knowing. At college parties, all of the cups that people drink out of tend to look exactly the same. If you set your cup down near someone else or near their cup, they may mistake your cup for their own and drink out of it. This is an issue if they have a cold or another illness, as drinking out of someone else’s cup is an easy way to catch that illness. It is also a concern if someone has an active cold sore. Drinking out of the same cup as a person with a cold sore could spread the herpes simplex virus, which is the oral form of herpes.
Ways to Protect Your Drink
There are a few easy ways that you can protect your drink at a college party, even if you are planning on drinking a significant amount.
- Have a sober friend attend the party with you to keep an eye on you and your drink.
- Drink out of a bottle if at all possible. This will make it more difficult for someone to add more alcohol to your drink. It will also help you distinguish your drink from other people’s drinks and vice-versa.
- If everyone is drinking out of cans, bring a koozie with you with a unique design that you will recognize. This will help prevent others from drinking out of your can and will help you easily locate your drink at all times. It will also be more comfortable for you to hold for long periods of time.
- Don’t give your drink to anyone else to watch. If you have to go to the bathroom, it is safer to just bring it with you. This is the only way to be certain that no one else has touched your drink.
When deciding to attend a college party, there are a lot of dangers involved when everyone is drinking alcohol. Even if you are drinking juice, soda, or water, there is still the potential of someone putting something in your drink without you knowing it. Regardless of what you are drinking or how much you have been drinking, it is always important to guard your drink at all times. Using a koozie will make it more comfortable for you to hold for longer periods of time so you don’t feel the desire to put it down somewhere. If you do put it down somewhere, make sure it is directly in front of you and that your eyes are on it at all times. Following these important tips can ensure that you do not get drugged, sexually assaulted, or contract an unwanted illness.
