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Drinking at NMC

Risk

Picture your sons and daughters applying for a job after they graduate from college.

With modern social media and easy access to the Internet, one of the first tasks an employer will do is "google" them. If your sons and daughters were arrested or did something "dumb" that was printed in the Omaha World Herald, do you think that employer will still bring them in for an interview?

An arrest record today can impact people in many ways it did not when modern parents were young, ...but that's just one of the risks related to alcohol.

While there are a number of changes that occur during the first year of college, alcohol use is often one of the most challenging to deal with. Students may believe that most of their peers are drinking alcohol and thus feel more pressure to do so as well, which may result in unwanted and/or dangerous consequences.

In 2013, the percentage of underage students at Nebraska post-secondary schools that reported that they abstained from alcohol was 63%.This type of information is important to share with your sons and daughters because it dispels the perception that all of their peers are drinking and drinking excessively. When students realize that they're not alone in either abstaining from alcohol or, at the very least, controlling their drinking, they feel more comfortable declining the invitation to drink at social events.

Although more and more students are choosing to abstain from alcohol use and practice responsible drinking, high-risk drinking is still a concern at NMC. As you visit with your sons and daughters about drinking at college, having accurate information helps initiate the conversation and allows you to speak with confidence and credibility.

The College Drinking Scene

This website features interviews from students and administrators from institutions of higher education in Nebraska. Although this website is intended for the parents of NMC students, it is important to note that young adults in the city of Omaha, enrolled, employed or both, socialize together and often share similar experiences related to their transition to college life.

Summary

As students transition to college life, some will be at greater risk for developing potentially dangerous drinking patterns than others.

Before coming to campus, students and parents should be familiar with NMC's policies relating to alcohol. Here are a few things to remember as you talk to your sons and daughters about drinking at college:

Drinking is not permitted on campus at NMC. For a complete review of NMC's policy, please visit. Students should also be aware of local laws and policies practiced in Omaha which may differ from their home communities. The Omaha Police Department regularly conducts patrols to identify and ticket parties causing disruptions. Omaha police regularly issue tickets for MIP, DUI and procuring alcohol to minors.On August 30, 2015, Nebraska's Good Samaritan law will take effect.

This policy encourages individuals to call 911 for medical help when witnessing or experiencing acute alcohol intoxication without the fear of prosecution for minor in possession. The policy provides limited immunity for both the caller and the acutely intoxicated person. The Good Samaritan law is essential to ensuring that people are able to stay alive and receive help when they are in trouble. Please encourage your son or daughter to become familiar with the new law and take swift action whenever they are concerned about another person's well-being. Not following campus and community policy could result in a campus code of conduct violation and/or legal ramifications. View the code of conduct here.