Shaquille O’Neal (Shaq) and The Century Council are partnering to fight binge drinking on college campuses! Shaq, who recently attended film director’s school, will work alongside college students to bring the voice of the students to life by producing student-created videos addressing the serious issue of binge drinking on campus. The effort launched on National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week 2011 (October 16-22), with a new video message a day from Shaq addressing binge drinking, and will continue throughout 2014.
Shaq Announces Partnership to Fight Binge Drinking
The initiative with Shaq will continue the momentum generated by our sponsorship of the National Student Advertising Competition in 2009 which revealed hundreds of student-generated campaigns with the goal of tackling binge drinking on campus. Since the competition, we have given grants to six colleges and universities to implement their student-led campaigns on campus, three of which are complete and three more are currently in progress.
“This dangerous binge drinking on college campuses has got to stop,” says Shaq. “The best way to change this culture is to have the students address the issue face to face. I’m psyched to work on this project and firmly believe we can make a difference.”
Shaq's Video-a-Day Messages on Binge Drinking
Senseless Tragedies Directing Student-Generated Films
Advice to Students
If you are Shaq’s size, 3 or 4 drinks might not push you over the limit. However, if that’s not the case, having that number of drinks can get you in a lot of trouble. Be informed and avoid unpleasant surprises. Sometimes it takes “Less Than U Think” for a good night to turn into a bad one! There are many factors that affect how the body processes alcohol: gender, weight, type of drink, frequency, etc. Visit b4udrink.org to learn more about how alcohol can affect an individual’s BAC. Be smart!
Being a Responsible Friend
Remember: A designated driver is a person who WON’T drink ANY alcoholic beverages during a night out. If you’re in a large group, several designated drivers may be needed. Plan before you go out! Figure out how you and your friends will get home safely. Find out if there is a safe ride program in your area. Most importantly, keep an eye out on your friends. If you know your friend has had one too many drinks, be there for them. They will need a trusted friend around who cares.
The Amount You Drink
It is never a good idea to drink more than your body can handle. Visit b4udrink.org to learn how drinking can affect your individual blood alcohol concentration (BAC). How much is too much? If you're under 21, even one drink! It might not seem like much, but it can take only One Drink to go from being the life of the party to becoming the stupid clown at the party. Here are some safety tips for you to remember. Also, if your friend has had too much to drink, look out for these symptoms of alcohol poisoning.
Body Weight and Consumption
Different people have different drinking limits. But heavy drinking is always ill advised regardless of your size. Alcohol can have several physical effects on your body even when you haven’t had too much to drink and it can lead to “The Other Hangover”, you know those unwanted and sometimes fatal, consequences. Want to get an idea on how alcohol can affect an individuals’ BAC, visit b4udrink.org.
Be Safe and Be Smart
Shaq’s right, you need to be a leader not a follower. Remember, if you're under 21 not drinking is the safe and smart choice! If you’re planning on a night out with friends for celebrations or just for fun, keep these safety tips in mind. Be safe, smart and responsible. Alcohol can lead to embarrassing moments that you will regret later on. Don’t fall victim to “The Other Hangover”. Remember, it can take “LessThanUThink” to turn a celebratory occasion into an embarrassing moment.
The Second Mistake
It’s always a bad idea to drink to excess. It will almost always lead to a series of unfortunate events. So in order to avoid embarrassing moments such as a bad sexual encounter, drunk-texting, vomiting on your carpet, or fighting with a friend; don’t overdo it. Don’t wake up the next morning having to deal with “The Other Hangover”. And if you’re driving, you shouldn’t be drinking at all. It’s the responsible and adult thing to do.
Behind the Scenes at the Video Shoot
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