UGA students spend too much money on booze

Parties and booze are pretty popular among students at the University of Georgia, which has once again made it to the “top 10 party schools” list. Athens Downtown might be the place-to-go for college students in the southern United States.

But a degree from UGA earns more than you imagine, and it’s worth a lot more than four years of binge drinking. Gone are the days when students worked and studied the whole week and indulged in some dancing and booze on a Saturday night.

Alcohol consumption has become more of a routine for college kids. And the fact that they’re attending a party school is already motivation to pass out in the restroom of an Athens bar (I’ve seen it).

Is all of this drinking getting in the way of their degree? Some people get offended when a non-drinker like me comments on their drinking habits. But I do feel bad when my roommate sleeps through his alarm and misses class due to his hangover.

A friend recently talked to me about her frequent bar visits – she was so broke, she couldn’t even buy her textbooks. In my opinion, that’s preposterous.

For most of us, it’s our parents who are paying for our tuition. And if booze tops our list of college endeavors, it’s a total disregard for the sacrifices our parents make for us. Trust me, your parents are sponsoring a degree, not a four year vacation in Athens.

A college kid would be much better off if they spent money on books and not on booze. Even if they have a part-time job, the money earned can be saved and spent on more productive tasks, such as playing a sport or pursuing a hobby.

I’m not against getting drunk. It’s good to lose control once in a while, but not at the cost of your degree. I know some law students who are so terrified of their Bar Exam they study for it “one bottle at a time.” A higher BAC gives them confidence, they say.

College kids also drink to release their frustration after a bad test. Essentially, they drink to study well and to celebrate after exams. Maybe you need alcohol to have a good time. But believe me, people do silly things all day anyway.

I feel alcohol is just a thing to be blamed for being stupid.

Peer pressure can be intimidating. But then again, it’s always better to make a mistake when you are sober than being a drunken fool and regretting your actions in the long run.