Joe Cortese

Contributing Writer, Print Journalism

A 20-year-old male from New York said he started drinking at 16, and still continues even during his current sophomore year in college. “Getting alcohol is simple in college for a few reasons — you know older kids to get you it, you know someone with a fake ID or you own a fake,” he said.

When it comes to buying alcohol, the student said, “Money is not a problem.” The student has a wealthy family and spends a majority of his weekly income on alcohol. He said he spends between 70 and 80 dollars on alcohol every week. During the week he drinks about five times and blacks out around three times during that span.

“My parents send me one-hundred dollars a week and then they don’t know my grandparents send me fifty dollars

Photo Illustration by Tim SMith / photo editor

so the money adds up for other things as well,” he said. He said he blacks out twice a week using hard alcohol, including Jack Daniels Whiskey, Sailor Jerry’s Rum and occasionally Bombay Gin. He says, “I can go through a thirty rack of Bud Light if I drink throughout the day and then throughout the night to black out.” Drinking 30 beer cans that are 12 oz., which is over 10 quarts of beer. According to the B.A.C. ( Blood Alcohol Concentration) ZONE green zone card, which is a go-to provider for alcohol risk prevention that contains personalized information on the effects of B.A.C., having this many beers for an 185 pound male in a time period of 12 hours would calculate to a .45 B.A.C. level.

After a .25+ B.A.C. level the green card states, “Severe Impairment in mental, physical & sensory functions. Mental confusion and  loss of consciousness is likely. Risk of serious injury & death is increased. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION!”

The other two days of the week he said he drinks on average a 12 pack each night. When asked why, he simply said the alcohol helps him sleep and relax. He has been heavily drinking for almost three years now and does not plan on stopping anytime soon. He says his life is at an all-time high, and he can’t wait until he’s of age to drink legally. “There are so many more opportunities when I turn 21.”

Finally, he said, “I may have a problem with overuse but these are the best years of my life and I’m going to live it up. Everyone who hates on that should sit down and remember when they were young and how much fun they had.”