{"id":177,"date":"2023-08-04T14:39:55","date_gmt":"2023-08-04T14:39:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wellbeing.jhu.edu\/HealthPromotion\/?page_id=177"},"modified":"2026-02-04T19:28:41","modified_gmt":"2026-02-04T19:28:41","slug":"alcohol","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wellbeing.jhu.edu\/HealthPromotion\/alcohol\/","title":{"rendered":"Alcohol"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ethanol, ethyl alcohol, or just alcohol, is a substance that has a depressant effect on the body. It slows down communication between brain cells and communication between the brain and the rest of the body. It is consumed as beer, wine, or hard liquor. Alcohol is the most commonly used substance, but 1\/3 of the US population and 35% of Hopkins undergrads1<\/a><\/sup> choose to not drink alcohol regularly or at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blue Jays in the Blue Zone<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People choose to drink alcohol for the initial positive effects, or \u201cthe buzz.\u201d This is when people can feel more social, less anxious, and more energetic. We also call this state “The Blue Zone,” which is around a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.055.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond this point, the positive effects of alcohol peak and the negative effects begin, known as the point of diminishing returns. A BAC of 0.055 or higher can cause issues with balance, speaking, judgement, and coordination, along with blackouts, nausea, and vomiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BAC<\/strong><\/td>Typical Effects<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
0.00<\/td>Sober<\/td><\/tr>
0.01-0.055 (The Blue Zone<\/mark>)<\/td>Peak buzz, point of diminishing returns<\/td><\/tr>
0.06<\/td>Slight impairment of judgement, balance, and coordination<\/td><\/tr>
0.08<\/td>Maryland legal driving limit for people 21 and over<\/td><\/tr>
0.10<\/td>Significant impairment of judgment and coordination. Speech, balance, and reflexes are impaired.<\/td><\/tr>
0.13<\/td>An overall feeling of being unwell<\/td><\/tr>
0.16<\/td>Nausea<\/td><\/tr>
0.20<\/td>Needs help walking. Blackout possible<\/td><\/tr>
0.25<\/td>Unconsciousness<\/td><\/tr>
0.40<\/td>Possible coma, risk of death<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n
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Image source: Alcohol Overdose: The Dangers of Drinking Too Much<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

First-year students (and other incoming undergraduates) go more in-depth on this topic during the Blue Jays in the Blue Zone Training during New Student Orientation. The Office of Health Promotion and Well-Being<\/a> uses a harm reduction approach, where we provide information about alcohol and ways to minimize the risk when using it. Maryland law, federal law, and the university code of conduct prohibit the underage use, possession, or distribution of alcohol by students under 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standard Drink Sizes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The body can process or metabolize about 1 standard drink per hour. A standard drink is a way to measure the same amount of pure ethyl alcohol across a variety of alcoholic drinks, or how strong the drink is. This strength is represented as “proof” or as “alcohol by volume” (ABV), which is half of the proof and represented as a percentage. Beers and wines usually list ABV, while liquors list proof, but both proof and ABV might appear on the label.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beer: 12 oz (355 ml) at 5% ABV<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wine: 5 oz (148 ml) at 12% ABV<\/p>\n\n\n\n

80 Proof Liquor: 1.5 oz (44 ml) at 40% ABV<\/p>\n\n\n\n

100 Proof Liquor: 1 oz (30 ml) at 50% ABV<\/p>\n\n\n\n

*Note that as the proof or ABV goes up, the fluid ounce or milliliters of the type of drink goes down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also other types of alcohol outside the norms of a standard drink. Craft beers can be 12% ABV or higher and come in 16oz cans, and fortified wines can be as strong as 20% ABV. If you\u2019re unsure, you can use the Alcohol Drink Size Calculator<\/a> to calculate the true number of standard drinks you\u2019re consuming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Harm Reduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Harm reduction is a set of principles that aim to reduce the risk that comes with drinking. Some of these risks are blackouts and memory problems, increased risk of being assaulted and\/or committing assault, and damage to the structure and function of the body<\/a>. There is always a risk that comes with drinking. The only way to avoid the risk is to not drink. If you do choose to drink, you can reduce the risk by incorporating these harm reduction techniques:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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