3 deaths prompt fresher warning

Suzannah Robin, Sales and Training Manager at AlcoDigital, the UK’s leading supplier of breathalysers, said it’s a particularly vulnerable period for first time undergraduates, posing new risks to their personal safety with alcohol abuse being one of the leading causes of accidents.

She said: “Alcohol can affect people in different ways, and at different rates, but even a small amount of alcohol can make you more prone to accidents.

“Some of these might be minor, like tripping over your own feet or spilling wine down your front, but it can also cause more serious accidents.

“Alcohol affects our judgement, ability to respond and makes us more likely to take risks.

“The more you drink and the higher the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level, the more likely it is you will have an accident.

“Freshers should avoid excessive or binge drinking, drinking on an empty stomach and steer clear of drinking games, which encourage large quantities of alcohol to be consumed in a very short period of time.”

There are a number of things undergraduates can do to safeguard themselves from unnecessary harm including pre-ordering a registered taxi to take them home at a certain time after a night out, always informing housemates of their whereabouts and never leaving their drinks unattended.

Suzannah continues: “It’s unrealistic to expect young adults to avoid drinking altogether so instead we would urge them to drink responsibly, be aware of their surroundings and understand their own limitations when consuming alcohol.”