Students at Boston University go to great lengths to keep from getting the flu with rigorous hand washing, flu immunization shots and coughing into their sleeves.
But popular college drinking games, such as beer pong, may be undoing preventative measures and helping the spread of H1N1, some higher education officials said.’
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Student Health Center Medical Director Leslie Lawrence sent out an email to students Oct. 9 warning against playing drinking games due to the easy spread of swine flu.’
‘Unfortunately, some of our current cases were apparently contracted during a weekend drinking game,’ Lawrence said in the email. ‘Do not share drinks. Alcohol does not kill the virus or prevent its spread from person to person.’
When students go to RPI’s Student Health Center with flu symptoms, the staff seeks to find a relation between cases so they have a better chance of preventing future cases, Lawrence said. After seven cases were linked to drinking games held at an RPI fraternity house, Lawrence sent the email to students.’
Lawrence warned students that influenza can also spread at parties and bars due to the lack of personal space.’ ‘
‘When you get close to someone and speak loud, guess what happens? Respiratory droplets spread,’ he said. ‘It’s not just drinking games, it’s parties in general. If you’re not going to maintain personal space, that can put you at risk for the flu.’
This is not the first year that drinking games have spread illnesses, he said in an interview.’
‘We see an outbreak of mono cases in the fall after new students come,’ Lawrence said. ‘They’re not all kissing each other, so how are they getting it? Sharing cups, sharing bottles and drinking games.’
Boston University Student Health Services Director David McBride declined to comment on the link between swine flu and beer pong.’
Instead, he said many universities have discouraged students from playing binge-drinking games because it causes students to reach a higher level of intoxication, citing several statistics.
‘Women tend to drink more at parties with themes that include drinking games,’ he said in an email.
Intoxication has more dangerous risks than contracting the flu, McBride said. About 1,700 college students between the ages of 18 and 24 die each year from alcohol-related unintentional injuries, including motor vehicle crashes, McBride said.’
‘These risks are far greater than the risk of getting swine flu as a result of playing beer pong,’ he said.’
BU discourages risky behavior, including binge drinking, BU spokesman Colin Riley said in an email. Practicing good hygiene, such as refraining from sharing cups, can help prevent illness.
‘The consequences associated with binge or excessive drinking may be far more serious than coming down with the flu,’ he said.
Although Kathleen MacKinnon, a Metropolitan College first-year graduate student, said she has not played beer pong in two years, she said she would not let the threat of catching the flu stop her from having fun.’ ‘
‘I think the swine flu can be spread through everything, really,’ she said. ‘I think limiting yourself from doing things due to being scared of getting swine flu is sort of ridiculous. You might as well just quarantine yourself.’
Drinking socially can lead to students sharing cups even without the pressure from binge drinking games, MacKinnon said.’
‘If people are willing to make out with perfect strangers while they’re more intoxicated, they’re definitely going to be more willing to share cups,’ she said.’