Dangers of Hazing with Alcohol

Joining university Greek life has many advertised benefits including a large network of alumni, access to fun social activities, and an opportunity to make lifelong friends. But often, those benefits are only unlocked once a student makes it through the not-so-secret hazing and initiation. In many cases, the rituals include drinking a lot of alcohol.

April is Alcohol Awareness Month and it provides the perfect opportunity to discuss the very present dangers of hazing and alcohol.

What is Hazing?

According to the State of Florida, hazing is “any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for purposes, including, but not limited to, the purpose of initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution.^1”

Fraternities and sororities may come to mind first when you think of hazing, but this behavior can also occur in other college organizations including sports teams and other clubs. Hazing behaviors include but are not limited to:²

• Coercing a student into breaking state or federal laws.
• Physical brutality like branding, whipping and beating.
• Forced consumption of food, alcohol, drugs, or other substances.
• Deprivation of food or sleep.
• Personal servitude.
• Kidnapping or abandonment.
• Exclusion from social contact.
• Wearing inappropriate attire.
• Other activities with the intention of causing humiliation, embarrassment, or degradation.

Although hazing is a criminal offense, it is still very common in colleges and can often lead to dangerous consequences.

Hazing with Alcohol

It is common during pledge events, where the new members are becoming part of the fraternity, to include alcohol as part of the initiation. Not only are a lot of the new members underage but also may be unaware of the effects of heavy drinking. Often, the older members of the fraternity pressure the new members to prove themselves by showing how much liquor they can consume. Sadly, these rituals have deadly consequences.  At least one college student per year has died in connection to fraternity hazing in the past two decades.³

In 2017, a 20-year-old pledge died from alcohol poisoning after attending a fraternity event at Florida State University. Reports say he was forced to drink an entire bottle of whiskey. His blood-alcohol level was more than five times the legal limit. His story is not an uncommon one. He was one of 4 fraternity hazing deaths that occurred in 2017.

Dangers of Binge Drinking

Binge drinking is defined by the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism as a pattern of consuming alcohol that brings an individual’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 or higher grams of alcohol per deciliter. This commonly occurs when a male consumes 5 or more drinks in about two hours, or a female consumes 4 or more drinks in about two hours.⁴

During hazing and other initiation rituals, pledges are often compelled to participate in binge drinking behavior and consume large quantities of alcohol in a short amount of time. Because alcohol typically takes 30 to 60 minutes to fully absorb, pledges can drink more than their body can handle without realizing it, increasing the risk of harm to themselves and those around them. Additionally, binge drinking increases the risk of acute harm like blackouts and overdose as well as risky behaviors like unsafe sex, domestic violence, unplanned pregnancy, and car accidents.⁵

Binge drinking does not just affect college students. The behavior is most common in adults between the ages of 18 and 34 and it’s estimated that 2,300 people die each year from alcohol poisoning.⁶ Over time, repeated binge drinking can also contribute to chronic diseases like liver disease and several types of cancer.⁶ Binge drinking behavior has also been found to increase the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder. ⁶

How to Treat Alcohol Use Disorder

Binge drinking is not the same as alcohol use disorder, (AUD) but the behavior can increase the risk of developing the disorder.⁶

Signs of an AUD may include: ⁷

• Drinking large amounts of alcohol or over a longer period than intended.
• Unsuccessful efforts to control or cut down alcohol use.
• Strong desires or cravings to consume alcohol.
• The need to consume increasingly larger amounts of alcohol to feel intoxicated.
• Experiencing acute physical withdrawal symptoms after reducing or stopping alcohol use.

River Oaks Treatment Center, located in Florida, treats alcohol and other substance use disorders.

If binge drinking is a part of a patient’s alcohol use disorder, it can be addressed during treatment. River Oaks also offers on-site and off-site recovery groups including 12-step meetings for Alcoholics Anonymous

If you or a loved one is suffering from alcohol addiction, reach out to one of American Addiction Centers’ admission navigators today to learn more about the programs offered at River Oaks Treatment Center .