Destructive drinking conference at UMass

AMHERST, Mass. (WWLP) - Just two weeks into the school year, many UMass students have already seen plenty of wild nights that started out fun and ended dangerously.      

Wednesday night students learned how to better intervene and respond when someone has had too much to drink.

“It's those four years away, your college experience. Away from your parents, you want to make your own decisions,” said UMass senior Anjulei Aurelio.

And for many students, one of those decisions is experimenting with alcohol. But student leaders at the 'It's Your Call' conference say they've seen too many drinking parties spiral out of control fast.

“A lot of students don't realize how much they're drinking. We do educational moments where we have them pour what they think is a shot in a solo cup. Then we pour it out into different shot glasses and what they think is a shot ends up being maybe four shots,” said Mount Holyoke senior Emily Eshleman.

Ninety percent of the drinking that occurs on college campuses is binge drinking. The Good Samaritan rule at UMass protects students who intervene when someone is in trouble.

“So if you're sick and you're passed out and I'm worried if I call my RA or call an ambulance that I'll be in trouble, that's no longer the case,” said Ashkay Kapeoor.

“There's always somebody who goes a little bit too hard or has a little bit too much fun. It's all about trying to limit those occasions and make sure everyone has as much fun as possible as safe as possible,” said UMass sophomore Michael Grunwald.

The training wasn't the only useful tool students left with. They took home a personal alcohol test to take before they drive and a list of taxi numbers in the area.