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AND THE iPOD WINNER IS....

Congratulations to Kasiah, the winner of a 30GB color iPod this semester. The drawing was held Nov. 6, 2006, and the iPod was presented at the Rene Hicks Comedy Performance Nov. 8.

Check back here for our next exciting contest and learn the numbers so you will be ready.

GREAT IDEAS

Here are 26 strategies that won prizes for VCU students in the 2004 competition — strategies that may help you stay safe when you party.

What's your strategy? Tell us your ideas and you could win a $10 gift certificate. (Only VCU students with valid VCU email addresses are eligible to win prizes.) To submit your idea, click here.

First-prize strategies

5th Pocket: Whenever I go to the bars I always keep enough money for a cab in the 5th pocket (smallest pocket) of my jeans. That way I always have money for a cab to take me home.

Creative Cash: Before you consider going to a club or a bar, find out what is charge rate for each alcoholic beverage. Then open up your wallet and take out the money you want to spend. It's easier to stick to what you want if you do the math ahead and leave the rest of the cash at home.

Safer Six Pack: If you want to be you, then BYOB (bring your own bottle). Fill your bottle with your own favorite non-alcoholic drink, and tell friends that it's your own special brew. Your bottle is your choice.

H20 Strategy: At a party when I get a good buzz then start refilling my beer bottle with water. That way I still feel like I'm drinking and I'm not tempted to get drunk by others offering me more drinks.

Runner-up strategies

Dancing and Drink Water: When at a party or a club, I dance until I'm hot. And I look hotter dancing sober than being stumbling drunk. I never even waste time at the bar. I'd rather look for a water fountain.

Rubberbands: When I go out to a party I use colorful rubber wrist bands. I put 5 on my left wrist...since I only intend to have 5 drinks. When I finish a drink, I move a band to my right wrist. When I have no more bands on my left wrist, I know I've had enough. It really pays off when I wake up the next morning with a full memory of the night before and no hangover to keep me from doing the day's work.

Look at Your Inner Self, Then "Do YOU!" The best way to be free from alcohol problems is for every person to be true to themselves. I decided not to drink not by a flyer or a poster. I decided not to do it because I sat with myself and I asked: "Why do I need to do that? Is it really me?

Mix-It Makes It! Mix your own drink. That way you know you exactly what's in your drink, and you know it's not stronger than you want to handle. Mixing it makes it what you want.

Buddy System Strategy: Have a friend or designated driver let you know that this next drink is more than you need.

What Would My Mother Think Strategy: Mothers hope they raised a responsible individual. What would your mother think if she saw you drunk and acting stupid?

Bottled Safety: Whenever my friends and I go out, we each carry a bottle of our favorite beverage (water, soda, juce, etc.). So when we are at a party, we aren't craving to drink something else. It works like a charm!

RESPECT yourself!
R-emember to plan ahead
E-at with alcohol. Never drink on empty.
S-pread out your drinking. Don't chug.
P-rotect yourself. Don't leave your drink alone.
E-verybody is different. Respect your choice.
C-all a friend. Never drink and drive.
T-eam up with friends for safety.

A DUI Will DIM Your Future: If you plan on getting a good job, a DUI gives quite a background to your character. Most jobs nowadays have background checks. Don't limit future. I always just remember I don't want to be an unhappy 35-year-old shopping cart corraler.

Sip Slower (Consume Less): Instead of drinking two beers in an hour, drink one beer every one to two hours. It saves you money, saves you problems and it saves you time standing in line to pee.

Have a Better Passion Strategy: Art is my passion. It lets me think outside the box and come up with my own answer to questions. So when the choice is either to drink or not to drink, I'll opt for my passion. It's the best buzz I know.

The Skip Out: I don't drink much, but when people are drinking too much around me I split the scene. It's not safe to be around heavy drinkers, so I make sure my friends don't drink too much either.

The Cool Guy Way: Put lots of ice in your drink (if drinking), and never consume more than three drinks. That way you are literally cool and in control. The third time is the charm!

Party Accountability Equals Drinking Responsibility: This strategy means whoever parties together as a group are accountable for each others drinking during the night and making sure no one is going overboard. Also the group has to leave together to ensure that no one in the group is at risk of being hurt.

You aren't Alone! Bring friends with you when you party! Even if one person has too much to drink, a group can make sure that everyone is safe! Discuss your wishes to your friends ahead of time, and you can work out a "party plan."

WWJD? What Would Jesus Drink? Sure, Jesus drank wine. Jesus knew when to say when. So, respect your body and your mind — they are a gift. And remember to ask, WWJD?

Don't be a Bore: Drinking too much just makes you a bore. Ever notice how drunk people always begin their statements with "I..." Who wants to talk to a drooling ego-centered drunk? Be brilliant not boring.

Saturday Night Quarter-Back: I keep track of how many drinks I've had by counting the change in my pocket. The change I get back on a drink is a quarter. So when my friends want to buy another round, I simply check the change. If I've got enough to change to buy another drink, I know that I shouldn't.

The Too-Cool-Cooler Strategy: I carry my drinks in my cooler when I go to a party. That way I know where my drinks are, and how much I'm going to drink that night (and they stay cold).

The Post-It Strategy: With a schedule like mine, I don't have time to be hung-over. Before I go out, I remind myself not overdo, I keep a post-it with what's really important to me in my pocket. That way I can still hang out with my friends and get the grade.

Drinking is Out, Fun is In! Even though I'm not a social drinker, I still have good times with very good friends of mine, because besides partying, we do other fun stuff like catching a movie or hanging out at the mall.

Coke, No One Knows the Difference: Hmmmmm, is that a Coke or a Rum & Coke? If you have a cold refreshing soda, no one will know the difference!

       Updated 27-Mar-2007     Unversity Student Health Services     About us      Contact us