早稲田大学の学生諸君へ
20歳未満飲酒や危険飲酒による事故をなくすために
5月8日（月）から新型コロナウイルス感染症の感染症法における分類が５類に変更され、皆さんの学生生活にも活気が出てきました。同時に、気を付けていただきたいことが目に付くようになりましたので、苦言を呈させていただきます。サークルやゼミの仲間等との懇親会も数多く開催されるようになってきていますが、先日の20日（土）、ある本学関係者が高田馬場付近を訪れた際に、コンパで酔いつぶれた学生が急性アルコール中毒の症状を見せているにも関わらず、周囲の学生がそれを理解せずに適切な介抱等の対応を取っていない状況を目撃したそうです。幸いにも、その方が救急車を手配する等の救護対応をしてくださいましたが、一歩間違えれば重大な事故になりかねないものでした。
成人年齢は18歳に引き下がっているものの、従来通り20歳未満飲酒は法令違反となる許されない行為です。いかなる理由があっても20歳未満の学生が飲酒すること、また、上級生はもちろん同級生でも周囲の者が20歳未満の者に飲酒を促すことも違法行為と見なされますので、許されません。本学は、20歳未満飲酒が発覚した場合には、法律違反として厳しい処分を下さざるを得ません。
また、20歳以上であっても年齢に関係なく、酒の一気飲みは極めて危険ですから、止めてください。高いアルコール濃度の酒を一気飲みする、あるいは大量に飲む等の行為は、重大な飲酒事故に発展しかねない極めて危険な行為です。場を盛り上げる、「酒の強さ」をアピールする等の些細な理由からの大量飲酒は、命にかかわります。アルコールは体内に摂取されるとすぐに胃や小腸等で吸収され、短時間で血液を通して全身に影響が出ます。血中アルコール濃度が0.4%を超えると2時間以内に死に至ると指摘されています。たとえ飲酒中に嘔吐を繰り返したとしても、血中アルコール濃度は下がりませんので、生命への危険は緩和されません。特に合宿施設や民泊施設等での飲み会では、周囲の目が届かない状況になりやすく、飲酒事故が発生しやすくなります。重大な飲酒事故が起きてしまうと、本人だけでなく、危険な飲酒を周囲で見過ごしてしまった人々にも取り返しのつかない結果を招き、大きな後悔を生むことになってしまいます。
コロナ禍の中、懇親会の機会が3年間なかったことにより、適正な飲み方、飲み会の運営が上級生から下級生に引継がれていない可能性もあります。それだけに、皆さんは細心の注意が必要です。皆さんには危険な飲酒を絶対にやめてもらうとともに、友人が飲みすぎてしまった場合の救護の方法や急性アルコール中毒の見分け方等、飲酒に関連する知識・対応方法を学び、一人ひとりが重大な事故を招かないよう最大限の注意をしていくことを強く望みます。
未来ある皆さんを守るために、本学は20歳未満飲酒や危険飲酒には厳正なる態度で臨みます。
早稲田大学総長
To all Waseda University students
Preventing accidents from underage drinking and high-risk alcohol consumption
Since the reclassification of COVID-19 to Class 5, a vibrant student life has come back to campus. I write today regarding some concerns I have as we readjust to campus life, especially as the start of the new academic year has brought back many social gatherings related to seminars and “circles,” or student clubs. On Saturday, May 20th, a university affiliate visited the Takadanobaba area and found a student with symptoms of acute alcohol intoxication. The student had consumed excessive amounts of alcohol at one such social event. Despite the student’s condition, other students in the group seemed unaware of the situation and were not taking appropriate care of the student. Fortunately, the affiliate took appropriate measures such as calling an ambulance, but the situation could have otherwise resulted in a serious accident.
The legal age of adulthood in Japan has been lowered to 18, but the legal age for drinking remains at 20. Drinking under the age of 20 is still a violation of the law, and alcohol consumption for students under the age of 20 is strictly prohibited. It is also illegal to provide alcohol to individuals under the age of 20, and therefore strictly prohibited for students of any age to provide alcohol to students under the age of 20. Anyone found in violation of the above will be subject to strict disciplinary action.
High-risk alcohol consumption such as binge drinking, or drinking excessive amounts of alcohol (including “ikkinomi” or “chugging” a drink, and consuming hard liquor in the form of shots), is extremely dangerous for everyone regardless of age. Please do not consume alcohol in such ways as they may lead to serious alcohol-related accidents. Excessive consumption of alcohol for trivial reasons such as to enliven the party, or to demonstrate your high alcohol tolerance, may result in serious life-threatening accidents. Alcohol is quickly absorbed into the stomach and small intestines, spreading to the entire body through the bloodstream in a short amount of time. It has also been noted that blood-alcohol content of over 0.4% can lead to death within two hours. Repeated vomiting cannot lower the blood-alcohol content, nor does it mitigate the risk it poses to your life. In addition, serious alcohol-related accidents are more likely to occur at training camps, university-related trips, and off-campus accommodations as it is more likely to put you in a situation where fewer people can see you. A serious alcohol-related accident can be devastating not only to the individual, but also to others who were present, as they may be left with profound regret for the irreversible consequences of having overlooked the dangers of high-risk alcohol consumption.
Given the three-year period where events could not be held, it is possible that underclassmen may not have had a chance to learn from upperclassmen about responsible alcohol consumption, including in settings such as the “nomikai,” or social gatherings with alcoholic beverages. For that reason, it necessary to be aware of these risks and exercise a high level of caution. In addition to not engaging in high-risk alcohol consumption, I strongly urge each of you to learn to recognize the symptoms of alcohol poisoning and learn the procedures for taking care of individuals who have such symptoms, as well as gain basic knowledge about responsible drinking. Please do your part to prevent serious alcohol-related accidents.
To protect your health and future, the University will continue to strictly adhere to its rules regarding underage drinking and high-risk alcohol consumption.
President, Waseda University
