I spend $20 a month on alcohol. Typically, alcohol does not impact me into making
impulse purchases such as food or anything else and transportation is never an issue since I
usually drink at home. I don’t think the spending effects my life and does not put me in financial
Jeopardy since I work. If I did not spend this money on alcohol I could use the money on a
dinner or two or just save it and have it in my pocket. I consume 4-5 standard drinks a week and
I learned that that is considered above average since a lot of college kids do not drink according
to studies. I do not see it as that many especially if a party is taking place having a couple beers
over the course of multiple hours is not worrisome. I have a high tolerance level and also a high
level of risk. This means to me that I need to pace drinks and know my limit so I do not get out
of hand due to my tolerance making me feel less intoxicated than I actually am. My family risk
level is high and means to me that I know there is a history of alcohol abuse in my family but I
know better than to abuse it after seeing the effects it has had on my family and I. I believe the
actions I take benefit my social values like friends and family. It helps make memories and such
with them that I look back on fondly. When it comes to my education it neither helps or hurts
my goals. I have always been a high scoring student and that has not changed and do not see it
changing based off alcohol. I do not let it get in the way of my studies and keep any drinking I
do to the weekend once all my work is finished. Alcohol to me is something I use when being
social and as a reward for the week of school work along as the job I work. Three things I
learned from the class is how to calculate how much one drink actually is. Depending on the
percentage one can or glass of something could be 2 or maybe even 3 drinks. I need to use this
information to watch the amount of drinks I truly have and not count tabs or cans. I learned
also that it is best to eat foods that are high in proteins and not carbs before you drink. They
absorb the alcohol the best out of any food. Growing up I heard carbs were the best for
absorbing alcohol like bread, pasta, etc. The third thing I learned in the in-person class is that
people with high tolerance, just because they do not feel drunk at the time, their BAC could be
over the legal limit which makes it easy to get into legal trouble. I have experienced this where
it feels like I am fine and keep drinking and pay for it later as the tolerance effect takes place
and it all hits in a wave it feels like. My desire to make a change in my decisions would be a 1. I
have never put myself at risk or anyone else for that matter. I keep myself safe and was the
night of the incident I was caught drinking. My grades are good and I keep a balanced social life
in which I feel that alcohol has not been holding me back in any way. The only change I would
make is to make sure if any music is on it is quieter cause that is why it happened in the first
place. I would not make any changes to my alcohol usage other than remember the diminishing
returns of alcohol the more you drink. I will have to judge where I am at in regards to the
benefits of alcohol and be realistic if I am getting into the negatives of drinking for the night.
This especially due to my high tolerance I may have to stop before I really start to feel anything
since it is going to hit me later in the night. I learned also not to go out to parties but to have
them myself at home. This makes it easier to watch others and have control over the night and
the drinking that takes place. My roommates and I have been doing this and have had no
issues.