Getting drunk is “fun.” At least that’s what I hear from a large number of my classmates, both through their words and their actions. Really, what’s not to love about it? There’s the loss of inhibitions, the inability to control yourself, the absolutely wonderful feeling you have the next day and let’s not forget good ‘ole alcohol poisoning. Boy, some have an interesting definition of fun.

Last week I discussed the fact that there is a problem on this campus and others with underage drinking, and that this problem is facilitated by a lack of consistency in leadership’s steps against it. Today, however, I wish to challenge my classmates about the choices many of them are making, whether it involves binge drinking to get drunk, or casual drinking.

More than half of those who binge drink are generally underage, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Office of Applied Studies’ Web site, www.oas.samhsa.gov. It is also by far the most destructive to health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site, www.cdc.gov. The health risks are enormous, including alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal. Alcohol, in this situation, is also the leading risk factor in death among youth, according to www.cdc.gov.

When it comes down to it, binge drinking is just irresponsible and immature, whether you are underage or not. It shows a lack of concern for your health and poses risks to those around you through uninhibited actions you may take while intoxicated. Also, especially on a college campus, it shows a lack of concern and respect for the community in which you are a temporary member of. Through observation of the Northern Star and other news sources, I have seen a great number of vandalism incidents where alcohol plays a key role.

It also reflects poorly upon the community when you see people stumbling home from Greek Row every weekend. As students in DeKalb, we have a responsibility to the community. We’re only a few years away from having careers and families, so perhaps we should start acting like it.

I realize that there are some students who engage in underage drinking, but not to the extent to where they become drunk. I am thankful for their awareness to potential dangers, but I must still challenge them as to the legality of their actions. Is drinking that beer worth breaking the law? Is it worth having it on your record if you get caught? Is it worth losing your license? If you are willing to break the law, you should be willing to accept consequences. There is, of course, always the option that you can wait a few more years, which I am sure would not hurt anyone.

Classmates, I can’t make decisions for you. But I encourage you to weigh the risks of these types of drinking with the supposed fun you may have engaging in them. I assure you, it is just as easy to act like an idiot when not drunk as it is under the influence. The difference is, that without alcohol, you can stop when you want to, and you don’t feel like your head is going to explode the next morning. That’s always a plus.

Matt Wier is an opinion columnist for the Northern Star.