 Prevention Coalition Reminds UCLA-USC Fans “Drinking is NOT a Game” The BIG GAME is almost upon us. After a two year hiatus from the Rose Bowl, the USC football team returns to the Arroyo Seco for the annual showdown against the UCLA Bruins. For those who will be joining the festivities, the RAD-SGV prevention team would like to encourage you to rethink your drink! Studies have found that "high-profile football game days are among the heaviest for alcohol consumption, comparable to other well-known drinking days such as New Year’s Eve and Halloween." (Neal, D., Fromme, K. “Hook ‘em horns and heavy drinking: Alcohol use and collegiate sports.” Kent State University and University of Texas at Austin.) Game day traditions fuel the misuse of alcohol, including binge and underage drinking, and pose significant risks to individuals and the broader community. For example, binge drinking -- defined as consuming 5 or more drinks in about 2 hours for men, and 4 or more drinks for women -- has serious health implications for individuals, including brain damage, alcohol poisoning, high blood pressure, and increased risk of stroke, injury, and cancer (breast and oral). On a community level, binge drinking is associated with higher violence, crime and injury rates (e.g., alcohol-involved auto collisions). Even more dangerous is Extreme Ritualistic Alcohol Consumption (ERAC) - defined as consuming 10 or more drinks on game day for a male, and 8 or more drinks for a female - by researchers. The consequences of such behavior can be severe, ranging from accidental injury to physical or sexual assault. Given the serious health and safety impacts associated with events where social and cultural norms fuel high rates of binge drinking, the City of Pasadena and Rose Bowl Stadium have the following tailgating rules to promote responsible alcohol use. Specific tailgating policies include:
To help you, friends and family have a great game day experience, RAD has also put together the following tips for a healthier, safer tailgate! 
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Alcohol is the most widely misused drug by youth in our community, with serious, potentially lifelong negative consequences. However, many youth and parents underestimate the dangers of alcohol use. To better inform the community about the risks of underage alcohol use, RAD Coalition members, Day One, Jewish Family Services, Pasadena Public Health Department and Pacific Clinics - Asian Pacific Family Center, in collaboration with Straight Up and other community partners, staged two "reality parties" in September 2014 to give parents an eye-opening opportunity to learn more about the current realities of underage drinking parties and how to help change these dangerous social norms. The South Pasadena party was the subject of a lengthy report by local CBS News affiliate KCal 9. Coverage can still be viewed online by here or on the photo below.  Parents were able to take 30 minute tours through a staged party in a local residence and then participate in a 30 minute debrief discussion and resource fair. Local youth and teen actors depicted drug and alcohol use, as well as dangerous behavior, typically present at a teen party. A few photos of the 9/13/2014 Pasadena event can be viewed below, and photos of the South Pasadena event can be viewed here. "Reality Party" Photos - Pasadena |
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