???Binge drinking and the consequences that come with it is a hot topic for college researchers, UB's own Research Institute on Addictions finding that 18 and 19-year-olds are more susceptible to aggression from others while intoxicated.
???And while it appears to be an obvious statistic, there is no easy solution.
???Though it seems simple that staying close to friends when drinking is enough to avoid sexual assault, nearly two-thirds of rapes are committed by someone the victim knows, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).
???This is where responsibility comes in. Unfortunately binge drinking in many collegiate social circles, is the norm. And peer pressure is always present; no one wants to be a "loser." The recent college president-backed Amethyst Initiative cited the significant increase of binge drinking since the drinking age was upped to 21.
???As long as the drinking age is where it is, binge drinking will not go away, which means women need to know their limit. If you are going to binge drink, binge drink responsibly.
???If a woman is forced to pound vodka before going to a club because she cannot buy a drink at the club, she must know how many shots, how many screwdrivers, or how many cranberry vodkas she can consume before she can't rely on her own decision making, not relying on her "friends," who most likely have also been binge drinking too.
???But then all of these solutions come with many wildcards. What if you didn't eat anything before going out? What if a friend makes you a stronger drink than expected?
???The most direct solution to lowering the rate of college-aged female assault is to lower the amount of binge drinking, and the most direct way to lower that is bringing the drinking age back down to 18.
???Unfortunately, in this country getting a law changed is, similar to a 19-year-old woman's current options, extremely difficult to execute.
???But whether or not you're drinking at 19 or 29, the responsibility lies in your hands.
???While perhaps nothing can stop binge drinking, students should keep in mind that they'll always be at risk if they choose to party irresponsibly.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
