Attending a 4-year college in Georgia or any other state can be an adventurous, exciting, yet challenging life experience. Perhaps, you are nearing your expected date of graduation or maybe you still have a few years to go to earn your degree. Either way, you can likely relate to the rigors of college life and how being busy, stressed, bored or simply looking for a good time might prompt you to imbibe alcohol.
Binge drinking is rampant on many college campuses in Georgia and elsewhere. If you were to take a survey regarding your reasons for wanting to drink alcohol, what would your answers be? If you are like many of your peers, you might say that alcohol helps you relax. The downside is that many college students get into legal trouble after drinking, such as if a police officer makes a traffic stop that turns into a DUI arrest.
Other reasons college students drink
When you first arrived on campus, you might have gone through a period of adjustment, especially if it was the first time you were ever away from your hometown or family. Making friends, adjusting to various professors’ teaching styles and trying to make the grade can cause anxiety and stress. This is, perhaps, why many college students say they drink to lower their stress.
Others say that alcohol makes them feel less inhibited, especially in social situations. If you are shy or nervous at social gatherings, you might be among those who say that a few drinks helps them feel more confident and less uptight when they socialize.
No one wants a DUI on their college record
Many of the college students who consume alcohol are underage. If this issue pertains to you and you are facing DUI charges, you will have your work cut out to avoid conviction. If you count yourself among others on your campus who have a substance abuse problem, you can take comfort in knowing that there are many support resources available to help you fight addiction.
Even if you are age 21 or older, facing a DUI arrest can have a negative effect on your college life and also your future. If you attend a school where you signed an honor pledge to avoid alcohol and drugs as part of your enrollment process, you might face expulsion because of drunk driving charges. Police would no doubt inform your school administrators about your arrest.
Minimizing negative consequences
Not every college student who drinks alcohol winds up in trouble. It is also a fact that police can make errors in judgement. For instance, if your tires hit the yellow line, a police officer might automatically assume intoxication when, in fact, you are sober. In such situations, it’s helpful to rely on support from someone well-versed in Georgia DUI laws so you know what to expect in court and can build as strong a defense as possible.