Let’s follow drinking rules!

　Alcohol consumption by minors is prohibited. Under any circumstances, it is illegal to offer alcohol to anyone under the age of 20. Furthermore, if you are working part time at a convenience store, bar/restaurant, etc., please be fully aware that it is prohibited by law to sell alcohol to minors. And the dangers of bathing/swimming after consuming alcohol go without saying.
　At parties for labs, extracurricular activities, etc., there have been instances of students (including those under 20) dying as a result of reckless drinking, such as downing drinks in one gulp. In other cases, the drinker is saved only after being rushed to hospital in an ambulance. Such incidents are frequent occurrences in Japan. There are also cases of the individuals who forced the deceased to drink or who accompanied them found guilty for the crime of “inflicting bodily injury resulting in death.” You must absolutely never force someone to drink.
　Drinking and driving is also absolutely unforgivable And if you encourage someone to drink while knowing that they are going to be driving, you can be punished under the Road Traffic Act on the grounds that you assisted with the drunk driving. For example, you could have your driver’s license revoked.
　You must strictly refrain from any property damage or other disruptive act while drunk.

〈Pressuring is crime〉

　　Pressuring someone to drink alcohol is a crime. If you are pressured to drink, just stand up for yourself as a full-fledged adult and resolutely refuse. If you’re worried about your relationships with your seniors or friends if you refuse, please come into the Health Service Center for a chat.

〈Chugging and forcing are prohibited〉

　Here are huge differences from person to person in the speed at which alcohol breaks down in the body. Weak drinkers are said to break down five grams per hour, while strong drinkers are said to break down approximately ten grams. One cup of refined sake (or one large bottle of beer or a double whisky with water) apparently contains about 22 grams of alcohol, so for a weak drinker, it will take more than four hours for the alcohol to disappear from the bloodstream.
　The level of drunkenness depends on the concentration of alcohol in the blood. The following chart shows the relationship between blood concentration and drunkenness.

　　Relationship between blood alcohol concentration and drunkenness

	Blood concentration	(Assumes a person weighing 60kg who is able to drink alcohol)	Level of drunkenness
Invigorated	0.02%-0.04%	Japanese sake (1 cup or less) Large bottle of beer (1 or less) Double whisky (1)	Refreshed feeling / skin turns red / become lively / judgement somewhat impaired
Initial Tipsy	0.05%-0.10%	Japanese sake (1-2 cups) Large bottle of beer (1-2) Double whisky (2-3)	Tipsy feeling / hand movements become animated / self-control possible / body temperature rises / pulse quickens
Extreme Tipsy	0.11%-0.15%	Japanese sake (3 cups) Large bottle of beer (3) Double whisky (3-4)	Become over-excited / speak in a loud voice / easily angered / wobbly when standing
Drunk	0.16%-0.30%	Japanese sake (5 cups) Large bottle of beer (5-7) Large bottle of beer (5-7)	Staggering / keep saying the same thing over and over again / breathing quickens / nausea and vomiting
Dead drunk	0.31%-0.40%	Japanese sake (7 cups – 1 bottle) Large bottle of beer (8-10) Double whisky (1 bottle of whisky)	Can’t stand up properly / clouded consciousness / incoherent speech
Comatose	0.41%-0.50%	Japanese sake (more than 1 bottle) Large bottle of beer (more than 10) Double whisky (more than 1 bottle of whisky)	Don’t wake up even when shaken / incontinent to some degree / breathing is slow and deep / death

　Chugging (i.e. downing a drink in one gulp) is the most dangerous way to drink. You mustn’t do it even if you’re being urged to do it.
　And even if you’re drinking slowly, avoid drinking to the point that you begin to feel unwell or nauseous. There are groups that will set up buckets for revelers to vomit into, but such behavior is crazy. Make it a rule not to drink, or make others drink, until you/they throw up.
　Also please be aware that there are people whose physical disposition means that they cannot drink alcohol.
　If they down a drink in one gulp, the alcohol level in their blood will rise sharply before it can be broken down, and their blood alcohol concentration can immediately reach 0.4-0.5%, which can be fatal. And for the same reason, you must not pressure someone to drink if they are weak drinker or if they are already quite drunk.

〈What to do if an emergency arises〉

　If a friend you have been drinking with gets really drunk and falls asleep, they may be suffering acute alcohol intoxication. There’s only a wafer-thin difference between drunken stupor, coma, and death, so please take the following steps immediately:
　First, call their name or pinch them and see if they respond. If they do, get them to lie on their side, cover them in a blanket, and keep an eye on them. Having them sleep on their side is to ensure that even if they vomit, they won’t choke on it. If they don’t respond, put them on their side and keep them warm with a blanket etc., and call an ambulance immediately. A person’s condition can change suddenly, so do not leave them alone. Make sure that there is someone with them.
　Please also call an ambulance as soon as possible in any of the following circumstances:

• Their body temperature has dropped and their whole body is cold.
• Their breathing is abnormally rapid and shallow. Or their breathing is abnormally slow and they only take breaths sporadically.
• They are vomiting large quantities of blood.
• Their body is convulsing in a twitching fashion.
• They had a red face up till now, but their face has suddenly turned blue and they are vomiting.
• They are complaining of a splitting headache.