College is often depicted as a time when students stretch their boundaries, form new social groups, and enjoy their newfound freedom as adults. This often means attending parties.
But these depictions of carefree nights out often minimize the risks involved with college partying. If you’re not careful, you can put your physical and mental health in danger when you go out.
To avoid risky situations, consider using the following tips to create safety plans for yourself and your friends before leaving home.
Take Narcan with You
- Contact the Gauchos for Recovery Program (adp.sa.ucsb.edu/gfr)
- It is free and anonymous, taking 3 minutes to be train on how to save someone's life in an emergency situation.
Water Before You Go Out
Take time to eat food and drink lots of water before you go out. This will help mitigate the negative side effects of alcohol if you decide to have some drinks.
Sticking together helps ensure no one is left behind and that everyone has a safe way home. Pair up before you go to avoid confusion later.
Phone Is Charged
Keep your phone fully charged and add the campus safety phone number to your contacts list. If you need to make an emergency call, your phone will be charged and you can quickly call for help.
Drinks Unattended
Many of the drugs used in "Drug Facilitated Assaults" are odorless, colorless, and tasteless. If you leave your drink unattended, someone could slip something into it and you might not be able to tell. The best way to make sure you don’t ingest a foreign substance is to keep your drink close at hand.
Someone You Don’t Trust
Don’t accept a drink from someone you don’t trust — especially if it’s in an open container. Consider bringing a water bottle to the party. Showing that you already have a drink may make it easier to decline an offer from someone you don’t know.
Essentials With You
If you’re going out, make sure to bring your ID, your phone, your keys, and any cash or credit cards that will fit snugly in a pocket. You don’t want to get stuck somewhere without the money needed to get home or a way to contact help.
Make sure you know your limits before you go out. It doesn’t take much to register above the legal limit on a blood alcohol test if you’re driving. And it’s essential to know how many drinks are too many so you can avoid putting yourself in an unsafe situation.
Your Surroundings
If you’re going to an unfamiliar area, take time to check it out before you go. Look for various routes to get to the destination, and make sure you know how to get back home. Many campuses have blue safety lights installed throughout campus, so be mindful of their locations before going out.
to Peer Pressure
A good way to stay safe is to stop and think about what you’re doing or what you’re being asked to do, and make sure that those actions align with your core values. If not, don’t be persuaded by others. Don’t be afraid to firmly say no if something is making you feel uncomfortable.
Yourself After Dark
Avoid placing yourself in compromising positions by sticking close to your trusted friends. If needed while on campus, call the campus' SSP (Student Safety Partners) for an escort (805)893-2000.
Someone You Don’t Trust
It’s a good habit to leave a party with the same people you arrived with — this ensures that no one gets left behind.
to Get Home
If you get separated from your friends and can’t contact them, leave them a message and then call for an Uber or Lyft ride home. This may be safer than accepting a ride from someone you don’t know well.
What are Mocktails?
Mocktails are zero-proof cocktails, or "mocktails," that are non-alcoholic drinks made from a mixture of juices, syrups, mixers, and sometimes zero-proof spirits. Unlike a soda with lime, these drinks are expertly crafted, sophisticated, and flavorful cocktails—just without alcohol. They promote the enjoyment of social activities without the pressure to engage in alcohol consumption. Our drinks are crafted with care and creativity, emphasizing a fun social experience regardless of one's choice to consume alcohol or not.
Build Your Own Mocktails!
Mocktail Ingredients Instructions for
Ingredients (makes 3 gallons)
- 18 cups (4 liters) white grape juice
- 12 cups (3 liters) cranberry juice
- 9 cups (2 liters) sparkling water (lemon-lime)
- 18 cups (4 liters) white grape juice
- 18 cups (4 liters) white grape juice
- 1 1/12 cups blueberries
- 3 granny smith apples
- 3 honey crisp apples
- 3 lemons
- 3 orange
- 3 cups strawberries
Instructions:
- Cut fruits and add to container.
- Add the juices and sparkling water.
- Refrigerate for at least two hours.
- Enjoy!
Notes:
You can add more fruits as desired!
Ingredients 1 glass (50 glasses)
- 3 (150) fresh blackberries
- 4-6 (200 mint Leaves
- 1/4 (13) lime
- 3 cubes (5lb bag) ice
- 1 can (2 liters bottles) ginger Ale
Instructions:
-
Mix/crush together mint leaves and blackberries in a cup.
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Squeeze and add lime to glass. (optional)
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Add ice to the glass.
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Add ginger ale.
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Stir the mocktail and garnish with extra lime or mint.
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Enjoy!
Notes:
Ingredients 1 glass (50 glasses)
- 1oz (50oz) lime juice or limeade
- 1/2 oz (25oz) simple syrup
- 5 925) fresh mint leaves
- 4oz (2 liters) sparkling water
- 3 cubes (5lbs bag) ice
- 1(13) limes Slices
Instructions:
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In a glass, crush the mint, lime juice, and simple syrup.
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Add Ice.
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Top with the sparkling water.
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Enjoy!
Notes:
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If sugar conscious, syrup can be swapped out for Splenda or low-calorie sweetener of choice.
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Honey can be an alternative to simple syrup.
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Ginger ale and club soda can be used for sparkling water.
If possible, shop locally!
The ingredients above can be found at these Isla Vista markets:
Isla Vista Food Co-op
6575 Seville Rd, Isla Vista, CA 93117
(805) 968-1401
Isla Vista Market
939 Embarcadero Del Mar, Goleta, CA 93117
(805) 968-3597
Did you know that there are two types of Mocktails?
Functional Mocktails
Functional Mocktails have health benefits from the added ingredients (nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, stress reduction, etc)
Non-functional Mocktails
Non-functional mocktails are drinks that replace alcoholic beverage choices.