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Is the drinking party you're attending safe? Let's think about drinking.

​Tomoharu Seguro, 4th year student School of Law, Glee Club Secretary-General
​Sentaro Kato, a third-year student School of Education, is the Secretary-General of the Mass Communication Research Society at Waseda University.
​Kazuhiro Funato, a third-year student School of Commerce, is the deputy secretary-general of the Waseda University Yosakoi dance team, Tokyo Hanabi.​

From left to right: Ms. Seguro, Ms. Kato, and Ms. Funato. At Toyama Campus.

"Lack of awareness" and "the atmosphere of the situation" lead to drunk driving accidents.

—Have you ever seen or heard of any instances of dangerous drinking around you?

Seguro: I've heard stories from friends about how they almost got into trouble by chugging strong alcohol or drinking until they blacked out. I think the root cause of these problems is a lack of awareness of the risks. People don't fully understand the risks of chugging, and those who aren't used to drinking may drink recklessly without knowing their limits or the alcohol content.

Trends in the number of people transported to hospitals due to acute alcohol poisoning over the past five years (from the Tokyo Fire Department website)

Funato-san

Funato: In terms of lax awareness, for example, the feeling that "other people under 20 are drinking, so I'll drink too" is one of the reasons why we can't prevent drunk drinking accidents. Also, the atmosphere that makes it difficult to refuse when offered a drink is a problem that cannot be overlooked. That's why I've heard of cases where people drink strong alcoholic beverages just because they were swept up in the atmosphere, even if no one directly forced them to drink.

Kato: In student club where drinking parties are the main way for members to socialize, there are likely to be many situations where it's difficult to refuse drinking, and the larger student club, the harder it is to keep a watchful eye on things. In fact, earlier this year, I learned about an alcohol-related incident during student club 's training camp through an email from Student Affairs Section.

Staff: As you all have said, I believe that the reasons why drinking rules are disregarded are a "lack of awareness" and the "atmosphere of student club." Regarding the lack of awareness, the old value that "it's normal to drink alcohol once you become a university student" still persists, and there are more cases of students under 20 drinking of their own free will than being forced to drink by seniors.

From the manga "I will never drink alcohol under the age of 20, nor will I let anyone else drink it."​

I also think that student club 's atmosphere, where "being able to drink a lot is impressive" and "being able to hold your liquor is cool," plays a role. When younger members see their seniors drinking large amounts, they are more likely to think, "I should be allowed to drink too."

The consequences of violating drinking rules can affect both the individual and the entire student club.

—What kind of disciplinary action is taken at Waseda University if a student violates the rules regarding alcohol consumption?

Staff: The student who violated the rules may face disciplinary action from their faculty. If suspended, they will not be able to attend classes, and if this coincides with course registration or exam periods, they will not be able to earn credits for that semester, which could result in repeating the year and affecting their job search.

Kato: In subjects where attendance directly impacts grades, even a disciplinary action of about a month could result in insufficient attendance days, significantly increasing the likelihood of failing the course for that semester.

Staff: That's right. Also, if you're receiving Scholarship, you may lose your eligibility or have to repay any amount already disbursed. And most importantly, the disciplinary notice will also be sent to Guardian, so it would be truly regrettable to cause your family such sadness.

On the other hand, student club that violate the rules may face suspension of activities, suspension of facility use, revocation of their official status, and in the worst case, even being ordered to disband. In fact, several student club are suspended each year. If the suspension coincides with the new student recruitment period, new students will not join, and student club 's very existence may be jeopardized. In the past, student club have even been disbanded.

From the manga "I will never drink alcohol under the age of 20, nor will I let anyone else drink it."​

Funato: Our student club 's activities depend on participating in events both inside and outside the university, and using on-campus facilities. If we were to suspend our activities, we would lose those rights, and it would become difficult to continue our activities. Furthermore, if we were unable to participate in planned events, it would affect our relationships with many people involved, such as organizers and accommodation providers, and even after we resume our activities, we might be refused invitations to perform in subsequent years.

Mr. Seguro

Seguro: So, the achievements and trust that our seniors have built up over many years student club can be lost in just one mistake. Our glee club has the opportunity to perform at official university ceremonies such as Entrance Ceremony and Graduation Ceremony If we lose trust due to a drunk driving incident, not only will we lose these opportunities, but it will also lead to a decline in the brand image of the entire university, as people will know that "there is a group that causes drunk driving incidents."​

Staff: I believe you all understand that drinking alcohol under the age of 20 is illegal, but I want all students to be strongly aware that drinking large quantities of alcohol, including underage drinking, can be dangerous and endanger their health and even their lives. You may think that alcohol-related accidents can't happen, but they do happen, even more so than what we've notified all students about via email, and there have been cases in the past where people have actually lost their lives. Don't think of it as someone else's problem; recognize that it can happen very close to you.

How can you prevent drunk driving accidents, and what can you do if someone is passed out from drinking?

—Could you tell us about the initiatives each student club is taking to prevent drinking-related problems?

Kato

Kato: We have an unwritten rule of "avoiding places where alcohol is served as much as possible." Even during cherry blossom season, we chose Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, where bringing in alcohol is prohibited, as the venue, and thoroughly created an environment that physically excluded alcohol.

Nevertheless, we are able to communicate sufficiently with club members by holding dinner parties as the "Waseda cuisine Exploration Club" to enjoy local cuisine around the university ("Waseda Waseda cuisine") student club and by arranging opportunities to eat together at family restaurants or other non-alcoholic establishments after our activities.

Funato: At our large drinking parties, which are held about twice a year, we completely separate the area for those under 20 and those who are not, and we also have tables where drinking is not permitted. Participation is not mandatory.

Staff: Having people wear wristbands or name tags so we can identify who is under 20 while interacting with them is a good idea.

From the manga "I will never drink alcohol under the age of 20, nor will I let anyone else drink it."​

Also, I sometimes see this in izakayas (Japanese pubs), but putting a straw in soft drinks for people who can't drink alcohol or are trying to limit their alcohol intake makes it clear to those around them that it's not alcohol, so it might be a good idea to try it.

Kato: This could be useful for training camps too. Using different types of cups, such as clear cups for alcoholic beverages and paper cups for soft drinks, would make it easier for others to tell what's what.

Kuro: In the Glee Club, as the club president, I make sure to remind everyone about proper drinking rules through communication tools and in person. Also, at the freshman orientation camp, everyone, including upperclassmen, abstains from alcohol, and we decide to start by enjoying soft drinks and snacks. We are trying to prevent new students who are unaware of the dangers of alcohol from mistakenly trying it.

— Are there any effective ways to avoid being pressured to drink or to skillfully avoid drinking?

Back Black: When someone with no ill intentions tries to pressure you into drinking, just clearly say, "I have a low tolerance for alcohol." If you stick to the fact that you're not good at drinking, they're unlikely to press you any further.

Funato: I think it's also an effective approach to admit, "Unfortunately, I'm not feeling well today."​

Kato: I think it's important to avoid creating an environment where people who aren't used to drinking are pressured to drink. It's really important to separate the tables into "drinkers" and "non-drinkers" from the start.

Staff: Even if the tables aren't separated, you can protect yourself by staying away from people who drink a lot. Most importantly, if we create an environment within student club where "choosing not to drink" is naturally accepted, alcohol-related accidents will become less likely.

—What should you do if you find yourself in front of someone who's passed out drunk?

Staff: If you observe symptoms such as being unable to stand or walk, repeatedly vomiting, being unresponsive to calls, snoring loudly, having a pale face, or experiencing seizures, suspect acute alcohol poisoning and call 119 without hesitation. It is important to act quickly and without hesitation, as it could be life-threatening.

From the manga "I will never drink alcohol under the age of 20, nor will I let anyone else drink it."​

While waiting for the ambulance, position the person in the recovery position with their face turned to the side to prevent vomit from getting stuck in their throat, and cover them with a jacket or something similar to keep their body temperature from dropping. Do not force them to drink water, as this could cause them to choke. Also, even if they appear to be just sleeping, they may be in a serious condition, so it is essential to keep a close eye on them and never leave them alone.

For information on the recovery position, please refer to the Tokyo Fire Department website.

Besides welcome parties for new members, training camps are another place where alcohol-related accidents are particularly likely to occur. Training camps are an unusual experience where people tend to be more excited, and because there are no time restrictions, they often end up drinking more than usual. Also, since these camps are often held in suburban areas rather than urban areas, the risk is further increased in such environments where it may take time to transport people to a hospital. Act with a greater sense of caution than usual.