Rethinking Your Drink at the Big Game

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:

• No beer funnels or other rapid-alcohol consumption devices
• No drinking games (e.g., beer pong, flip cup)
• No alcohol use in tailgating areas after kick-off/event start
• No underage drinking
• No amplified sound
• No glass

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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