The heavy cost of heavy drinking

With aggressive drinking and partying comes a heavy price tag in the shape of a hangover.  Every college student figures out their hangover prevention system by their third or fourth year of college, but I’m about to give all the youngsters out there the secret to bouncing back after an all day bender.  So take out your notepads and pay attention, this will save you a lot of Sundays which would otherwise be lost to recovery.

Key Principle 1: Don’t Crash Before Hydrating

While it may be extremely hard to not simply face-plant into your bed as soon as you get home after a long night of partying, you’re going to have to resist that urge.  The number one cause of hangovers is dehydration (it’s science), so you’ll have to do your best to drink lots of water (or even better, drink something with electrolytes like Gatorade).  If you’re planning to really get after it one night, you might have to just setup the water rehydration plan before you go out. One of my favorite moves is to already have a glass of water or gatorade sitting next to my bed before I go out so I don’t forget to drink it before hitting the bed.

Key Principle 2: Learn to Recognize Your Shrinking Sobriety

The ability to tell when you’ve had too much to drink and then cut yourself off is a skill that can only be obtained through years of training in the most raucous party environments.  You’ll just have to get your reps in during your first couple years of college.  Once you learn to recognize when you’ve had too much, you’ll be able to prevent a lot of bad hangovers and more importantly, prevent bad decisions you may or may not regret (see TextsFromLastNight).

Hangover Prevention Myths:

1) Eating a big late night dinner will prevent the pain. FALSE.  This can actually backfire on you if the food contains a lot of salt which will cause even more dehydration.  Just stick to Key Principle 1 and you’ll wake up on Sunday and feel like running 6 miles.

2) “Sticking to beer will keep you in the clear”. FALSE. Once again, it’s all about hydration, and even though beer has a lot of water in it, it can still dry you out, especially if you’re planning to do some heavy day-drinking.  However, drinking beer can help you work with Key Principle 2, because it’s slower than ripping shots of tequila and trying to figure out if you’ve had too much.

Keeping these principles and myths in mind the next time you go out will save you some serious pain on Sunday morning so you can spend more time doing homework, studying or drinking more on Sunday.  I’m open to more suggestions from readers as well.  Cheers.

Pick a good date. While you may be tempted to just choose a Saturday soon after graduation, it’s better to properly plan your party. Ask your friends when they’re having their parties, and do your best to coordinate so that you can get to at least a few of your close friends’ parties. Even if you’re planning your parties on the same day, you can try to have one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Send invitations. When it comes to sending invitations, there’s only one piece of advice that I can offer: invite a TON of people. Invite your friends, your relatives, your favorite teachers, and anyone else you can think of that might want to show up. The more people you can get to your graduation party, the better. It’s pretty standard to send written invitations via post, but it’s becoming increasingly common to send out email invitations instead. Whichever you decide to do, get a big list of people together and start sending!

Have a good time. When it’s time for your party, enjoy yourself! Talk to everyone that shows up, enjoy the copious amounts of food that are bound to be served, and have fun—this is a party to celebrate your achievement!

Plan your party hopping. Because almost everyone has a graduation party, you have a lot of options for visiting other parties. Running around and going to other graduates’ parties can be just as fun as having your own. Write down when your friends’ parties are, and start making a plan for hitting as many as you can. Graduation parties are in full swing for a few weeks after graduation, so you can plan on having a few full Saturdays of party hopping. Enjoy the summer weather, a whole lot of free food, and hanging out with your friends, free from the worries of school!

Send thank-yous. As much as you may not want to do this, make a point to send thank-you notes to everyone who came to your party, even if they didn’t leave you a card or a gift. It’s a really nice thing to do, and shows your attendees that you appreciate their showing up. It doesn’t need to be a whole lot (everyone understands that you’ll be sending a large number of notes), but it’s really classy to send out a card with a few sentences that express your gratitude.

Graduation parties are one of the best parts of finishing high school. Follow these suggestions and have a great time—you’ve earned it!

If a college advertises itself as having a dry campus, there will be zero tolerance for breaking the rules: if you are in possession of alcohol, you’re going to be in trouble. And it’ll probably be fairly serious trouble. Getting caught on a dry campus is not something that you want to risk. So be smart about it.

“Well then,” you may be asking, “what should I do if I want to drink?” Fortunately for you, it’s not expected that everyone on a dry campus will completely refrain from alcohol, so there’s no way that you can get in trouble for drinking if it’s off-campus. So if you’re over 21, you can go out to a local bar without risking getting caught doing something you shouldn’t (unless you signed a drug-free pledge when you got to school, which a few colleges require). If you live in an off-campus apartment, or have friends that do, you can have a few drinks there whenever you’d like. As long as you’re not on school grounds, you can pretty much do whatever you’d like. I’d caution against getting back on campus if you’re really drunk, however, as there’s a possibility that your public safety officers may not like that very much.

It gets a little more complicated if you’re under 21. Dry schools are much more likely to have pretty harsh punishments for underage drinking, especially if it happens on campus. You might get off with a warning the first time (if you’re lucky), but if it happens more than once, you can count on some pretty severe consequences, including—in extreme cases—being expelled. So it’s really not something that you want to mess around with.

But, as a former college student myself, I know that the risks won’t stop everyone. So you have to be smart about it. If you have to go out drinking on the weekends, make sure that you’re going somewhere off-campus. Just like I mentioned before, off-campus apartments and houses are safe (from college authorities, anyway—you still don’t want to get too rowdy and get busted by the cops). And if you’ve been drinking at all, don’t even go near campus. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights have always been the big party nights, and public safety officers will be on the prowl. If you’re showing any signs of having had a drink or two, stay at a friend’s house. Again, it just comes down to being smart about what you’re doing.

1) Beer pong. This is arguably the most popular college drinking game right now, so you can count on playing it quite a few times. To play, an odd number of plastic cups—usually five or seven—are set on a ping-pong table (or any table really) and filled with beer. How full depends on where you play. Each person (or team or two) gets to table tennis balls and attempts to throw them into the opposing player’s cup. If you land it in the cup, the other person has to drink that cup of beer. The balls are then rinsed off and the opposing player gets two shots. The first person to clear the other player’s cups wins. Sounds simple, right? It’s actually more difficult than you’d think. And there are an almost-infinite number of beer pong house rules that can change the game.

2) Flip cup. Flip cup (also known as “flippy cup”) requires less space (and concentration) than beer pong. This game is usually played with teams of at least two players. The first player has to finish a cup of beer as fast as possible and place the cup on the edge of a table. The player then has to flip the cup over so that it lands upside down by flicking the part of the bottom of the cup that’s hanging over the edge (check out this video to see a good example).

3) Quarters. There are many variations of Quarters, and it sometimes seems like no two people play by exactly the same rules. However, the game is always based around bouncing a quarter off of a table and into a shot glass or beer cup and forcing another player to drink the contents of the cup. The game can be played one-on-one, on teams, or in groups. You can pretty much make up your own rules to this one.

There are countless other drinking games, including some that use cards or dice. You can find the rules for all of these games (as well as house rules and videos of the games being played) on various websites. If you go to a lot of parties, you’ll probably be able to write your encyclopedia of drinking games!

College students are a group of perpetually broke people. Paying for tuition, housing, food, gas, books, and a social life takes a pretty high toll on the average student’s finances. Because of this, many students find themselves in credit card debt; the average college student owes over $2,500! Once you’ve put yourself in debt, it can be a difficult and overwhelming process fighting your way back out. It is possible, though, and can be achieved with a careful strategy for battling your credit card debt.

Before anything else, you need to assess your debt. You’ll need to figure out exactly how much debt you’re in, how much interest you’re paying on that debt, and how much you’ll owe in the near future if you don’t start paying it off. Once you’ve established an accurate picture of your debt, you’re ready to start getting rid of it.

Planning is a very important part of paying off your debt, and establishing a plan is a key component of being prepared to start battling credit card debt. College students, because of their fixed, low income, may find it difficult at first to start paying off their credit card debts. And it is difficult; you’ll definitely need to make some sacrifices. But once you realize how quickly your $2,500 of debt can turn into $5,000, or even $10,000, you’ll understand how important it is to start taking action immediately.

Once you’ve completed your assessment and established a plan, it’s time to start your attack. In order to get rid of your debt, you’ll need to aggressively pay off your creditors. High-interest credit cards should be paid first, as they can end up costing you thousands of dollars more than you actually spent. Don’t just pay the minimum payment – this won’t cover much more than the interest that you’re being charged, and will result in a longer repayment process, costing you more money. Set aside a specific amount of money from every paycheck that will go directly to paying off your credit card debt.

Once you’ve begun to make a sizable dent in your credit card debt, it’s important to start saving money. This will help prevent you from falling back into debt should an extenuating circumstance arise, such as a medical emergency or a broken-down car. If you have a cushion to spend from, you won’t have to use your credit card as much, which will go a long way in reducing your debt.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, you’ll need to cut your spending. No matter how many other measures you take, this is probably the one that will be the deal breaker. If you don’t spend money on going to concerts and ordering pizza all the time, you won’t have to use your credit card to pay for things like gas and groceries. Get your spending under control and you’ll get your debt under control.

1) President (also known as Asshole, Capitalism, Presidents & Assholes, Rich Man Poor Man, and others). This game is almost always played as a drinking game, and involves any number of players trying to get rid of the cards in their hand and become the “President.” The rules are fairly simple, but few students play without adding a house rule or two that can drastically change how the game is played. This is a good game to learn, as many students know and enjoy it.

2) Poker is a game that is certainly not limited to college students, but many of them have taken a liking to it (this is more true with guys than girls, but it is played by both). Because it’s easy to play for any amount of money, betting on poker is pretty common—though it’s not usually for very much, as college students can’t afford to be tossing a lot of money at each other. Both draw and stud are played.

3) Bullshit (also known as Cheat) is one of the easiest and most fun college card games. Because it is so simple and can be played quickly, you’ll find that this is a favorite of many students. Most people have played this game at some point or another, but if you’ve never played, you’ll find it quite to learn.

4) Spoons is one the few card games that actually involves physical activity, and this results in much hilarity. Because N people will be battling over N-1 spoons, the game can very competitive (especially if there’s any drinking involved). If you’re looking for even more competition, you can place the spoons in another room; just be sure that there’s nothing breakable even remotely close to the spoons or the path from the table to the other room. It could get a little crazy. Note: one of my favorite ways to win in this game is to fake the other players out; just reach really quickly for the spoons, but don’t touch one. You can also bang your fist on the table. This will only work a couple times, but it’s hilarious when it does!

There are hundreds of college card games that you might encounter on your campus, but these four are probably the most popular ones. If you know how to play these four games, you should have no problem being included in any card-playing extravaganza!

First, the obvious—you’ll need as many green decorations as you can find. Get shamrock cutouts, green streamers, a cardboard leprechaun (or several), St. Patrick’s Day balloons, green confetti, and some sort of rainbow and a pot of gold (not green, but still required). If it’s green and can be hung on your wall, draped on your furniture, set on your countertops, or tossed on your floor, get it and use it. There’s only one exception: money. Don’t use money as a decoration.

Many types of green clothing will also be of great benefit to your party, especially if it’s something cheap that you can buy in large quantities and pass out to your guests. Things like those little green plastic hats are perfect. Green leis or Mardi Gras-like beads, although they aren’t specifically St. Patrick’s Day-themed, work great and add a little flare to your guests’ party wear.

Once you have your decorations and clothes, you’re ready to start making your party a little more unique. One of my favorite ways to add more green to your party is to get tablecloths, napkins, paper or plastic plates and cups, and plastic tableware that are green. While this isn’t terribly uncommon, it’s a good place to start. It’s especially entertaining once people’s depth perception is getting a little off and they start having difficulty picking out their green cups against the green tablecloths.

If you’re looking to literally make your party greener, you can buy green light bulbs and stick them in some of your lamps and ceiling fixtures. Putting one in the light over your front door is a fun way to make the outside of your house or apartment a little more festive. Don’t go overboard with this, though, as it’ll get pretty hard to see anything. Just use enough light bulbs to add some color to your party. Green Christmas lights are another way to add some green to your party.

Everybody will be serving green food on St. Patrick’s Day, but if you really want the greenest St. Patrick’s Day party on the block, you’ll have to find a way to out do everyone else. Try to think of foods that no one else will be serving—how about pickle rolls with green cream cheese? Or green tortilla chips with guacamole? Getting as many green drinks as possible is also a necessity—green beer and green Jello shots are a necessity; but will many other people have green rum to mix with Coke? And who will be expecting green martinis (with green olives, of course)? A little green food dye will go a long way.

This short guide should get you started—go nuts! There are very few things in your house that cannot be dyed, painted, or covered in green. There’s no such thing as going overboard on green on St. Patrick’s Day!

Foul #1 – Spilling a Drink

This has got to be the most common party foul. You drink a little too much, your balance and coordination go out the window, and pretty soon you find yourself holding an empty can of beer while the girl (or guy) next to you is making a terrible facial expression in your direction. Ouch. Just don’t do it.

Foul #2 – Being Ridiculously Loud

Yes, parties are going to get a little rowdy, and it’s going to get loud. But if when the neighbors call the cops, they specifically mention you, and not the party, you’ve committed the second of the party fouls. Keep it to a reasonable level and at least the cops won’t be coming specifically for you.

Foul #3 – Vomiting

Does this really need to be explained?  Don’t do it.

Foul #4 – Starting a Fight

Do you get belligerent when you start drinking? Then make sure that one of your friends stays with you throughout the night to make sure that you don’t start a fight. It’s extremely uncool, and will probably get you banned from future parties. You may also get your ass kicked, which is no fun either. And then not only will you be banned from future college parties, you’ll look like a fool.

Foul #5 – Taking Somebody else’s Drink

This is one that usually happens by accident. If you’re at a house party, offer to grab the person another drink. If you’re at a bar, buy them another one. If it’s not an accident, and the drink does not belong to your best friend or significant other, 1) you’re an asshole, and 2) someday you’re going to take your college’s star linebacker’s drink . . . and you’ll deserve what you get.

Foul #6 – Driving Home

This one should go unsaid, but there are quite a few people that won’t think twice about drinking and driving home. Don’t be stupid. Get someone else to drive or spend the night (many college parties end with a dozen or so people sleeping on various pieces of furniture—try to get the couch before anyone else does!).

While this list is certainly not exhaustive, it should give you an idea of what not to do at college parties. If you commit a small party foul, it’s not a big deal; but if you make a habit of it, you may find yourself without invitations to a lot of parties. And no one wants that. So think about what you’re doing, act your age (or at least somewhat close to it), and don’t commit any major college party fouls.

Things You’ll See at College Parties

Drinking.

Yes, a lot of drinking can go on at college parties. This is certainly not always the case, however. There are many parties where there is very little or no alcohol served. And the majority of people stay within their limits and maintain control of themselves.

Games.

Whether it’s board games, card games, darts, pool, video games, foosball, or something else, a lot of people like to play games at parties. This is a great social opportunity, as you can get to know people that you may not have talked to otherwise (if you can get a cute guy or girl to play on your team, you’ve now created a great reason to introduce yourself and get to know each other—take advantage!).

Dancing. The combination of loud music, open space, and alcohol often results in dancing. While there are very few actual “dance parties,” many people like to dance whenever they get the chance. Either get in and show your stuff or sit back and relax—there’s no pressure.

A lot of people.

While there won’t be any busting down of walls, you may find that some parties can get awfully crowded rather quickly. Especially parties in houses, where there are fewer noise restrictions than in dorms or apartments.

Things You Won’t See at College Parties

Animal House-like antics.

Some parties get pretty crazy, but National Lampoon took it to the extreme. You may see a few toga parties, though!

Drugs.

Let’s be honest—many people wonder about college students doing a lot of drugs. And yes, some do. But the vast majority of people (and parties) are drug-free. This largely depends on your group of friends; but like dancing, there is no pressure to be part of this scene.

Girls Gone Wild.

If you’re hoping that you’ll be seeing a bunch of naked people running around and hooking up with each other in hot tubs, you’ll be disappointed. The most that you’ll probably see is a couple making out in a corner. And that usually doesn’t last long, because they quickly realize that everyone’s watching them . . . and that’s just weird!

Really, college parties are like any other parties. A bunch of people get together to relax and socialize. There’s no need to be stressed out about fitting in at parties or being the only one that’s not drinking. Just go out and have fun!

Guitar Hero

Everyone knows Guitar Hero—even if you haven’t played it, you certainly understand the concept (and if you’ve been living under a rock, go to http://www.guitarhero.com/ and check it out). Take a plastic guitar and start ripping out chords to popular songs. Just press the colored buttons on the guitar as they come up on the screen and you’ll be jamming. Sounds easy, right? Wrong—be prepared for one of the most challenging tests of hand-eye coordination that you’ve ever had. Fortunately, the game provides four levels of difficulty so that you can hone your skills before trying to show up the greatest guitar players of all time on songs from Avenged Sevenfold, Nirvana, Slayer, Pearl Jam, Fall of Troy, Guns N’ Roses, Senses Fail, Van Halen, and many others. . A group of friends, a big TV and stereo, and some beer will make for a Guitar Hero battle for the ages!

Mario Kart

This is a classic party game that has been around for a long time. And why not? What could be better than racing at ridiculous speeds around brightly-colored animated tracks and blasting the hell out of each other as cute cartoon characters like Mario, Bowser, Peach, Donkey Kong, and Yoshi? Mario Kart is tough to top for sheer fun factor. Playing on the Wii adds a new dimension to the game, as you can now use a wheel to direct your kart instead of the directional pad on a traditional controller. Don’t be fooled by the whimsical environment of this game—it can get very competitive very quickly and lead to some pretty serious rivalries!

Golden Eye

This may not appeal to as many people as Guitar Hero or Mario Kart, but it cannot be left off of a list of the best party video games. N64’s GoldenEye was a pioneer of the multiplayer shooter game, paving the way for games like Halo, Gears of War, and Call of Duty. Instructions are simple: choose your character, then stay alive as long as possible while taking out your opponents. You can choose a variety of levels and weapons. As it’s a very easy game to become familiar with, all you need to do is fire it up and start shooting!

These are only a few of the popular party video games; as you spend more time at parties, you’re likely to see more games. A great way to get a lot of people together is to have an old-school video game party: play games like Duck Hunt, Sonic, and Mario Brothers. It’s like going back in time for a few hours!