Many Yuba College students use spring break to get their noises out of the books and let their minds relax, while others turn the break into a time to party and consume alcohol. Those who choose the route of the party animal are more likely to get in trouble due to intoxication. That is where “know the code 0, 1, 2, 3, party with a plan” comes in.
This plan is an alternative to old fashioned safe drinking plans such as “just say no,” and is catching on all over the country. This groundbreaking plan allows the college student to drink, but the catch is they must do it responsibly.
“Know the code 0-1-2-3 party with a plan” is broken up into two steps. The first step is making sure you know the code and knowing when to use the code numbers. The code is 0-1-2-3. Zero means you should have zero drinks when your instinct tells you that drinking is not the best choice for that particular day or evening. For example, you should not drink if you have to drive, if you haven’t eaten, if you are sick, or if you are on medication.
Next is the number one. This number refers to how many drinks you should have per hour. One drink does not consist of a 40 ounce bottle of King Cobra either. One drink is equivalent to 12 ounce of beer, 4 ounce of wine, or a one ounce shot.
Two is the next number in the code. The number two refers to how many times a student can go out drinking within a week. The website partywithaplan.org states that “high risk drinkers consume alcohol three or more times per week.”
The final number in the code is three. This number refers to how many drinks you should have in a 24-hour period.
Partywithaplan.org says that there is a difference with someone who “drinks” and someone who “gets dunk,” and continues by saying that those who consume four or more drinks per night are at a higher risk for alcohol-related problems.
Dan Biggs, a student at Yuba College, thinks this is a smart plan for students who drink. “This is better than ‘just say no.’ With a plan like ‘just say no,’ you don’t know no,” said Biggs. “I mean, you don’t know how much you can drink and be ok. This new plan sounds very informative.”
The second half to “know the code 0-1-2-3, party with a plan” is partying with a plan. Knowing your “who, what, when, where, why, and how’s” is a major part of responsible drinking. Make sure you know who you are going out with and who you are meeting later on. Plan what you are going to do that night.
Know where you are going. Let others know where you are in case they need to reach you. When you plan on drinking, make sure you know your limit. Understand why you are drinking. Knowing why you are drinking can help you avoid trouble. Finally, make sure you know how you are getting home.
If your driver is planning to drink, make alternate arrangements.
Yuba College student Kimberly Cross knows from experience that knowing how you are getting home is important. “Last year I was in a car crash because I left a club with someone who was drinking,” she said. “I wasn’t hurt that bad, but if I had someone else to drive me home, I wouldn’t have put my self at risk.”
To learn more about safe and responsible drinking, go to www.partywithaplan.com.
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