Culture

Sex and health : No worries, just blame it on the alcohol

It’s Friday night and you’re groomed and ready to go out. You look hot — and for good reason. That person you’ve had your eye on is going to be there. You want to strike up a conversation but just walking up to say hi is intimidating.

How about a little thing called liquid courage?

Your roommate breaks out the Barton’s and you take a few shots.

You roll into the party, grab another drink and spot your hottie. Your eyes lock. You’ve got a good buzz going and you’re ready to make your move.

After some small talk and chitchat, you casually mention your crush. The alcohol settles in, washing away any anxiety you might have had before. You’re feeling liberated, invigorated and horny.



You want to fool around, but don’t want to come off as a slut. But wait, you’re drunk. It doesn’t matter. Like many college-aged students these days, you can use alcohol as a scapegoat for inappropriate or embarrassing statements and promiscuity. Even if they don’t bite the bait, you always have that excuse.

Soon, you’re dancing. And touching. All of a sudden you’re kissing.

It’s time to go in for the kill.

‘Maybe we should finish this at my place?’ you suggest. Your crush agrees, of course.  You walk hand in hand back to your place. As you walk through the door, you slur that you don’t usually do this.

‘If you have sex, you’re a slut, and if you don’t, you’re a prude — but drinking allows you to do both,’ said Laina Bay-Cheng, an associate professor of social work at the University at Buffalo-State University of New York to USA Today. ‘You can go out, get drunk, have sex and the next day say, ‘I’m still a good girl.”

But is this excuse a good one? Is it OK to use alcohol as a scapegoat for promiscuity? It seems like drunk sex is almost guilt-free.

Sugar-free, fat-free frozen yogurt can be guilt-free, too. But after a whole gallon, the calories add up and the guilt sets in. All of a sudden you don’t feel so good about yourself. Is this how it is with drunk sex?

Joseph Fratelli, professor of CFS 388: ‘Human Sexuality’ at Syracuse University, said research has shown that 65 percent of undergraduates have had sex without a condom after drinking. One in five has had sex they regretted and one in 10 can’t even remember if they had sex.

‘When I’ve asked students to identify the sexual choice they most regret, the most frequent response is, ‘I got drunk and had unprotected sex,” Fratelli said.

Regret might not be the only consequence. Fratelli also said 60 percent of young women who have an STD contracted it while they were drunk.

Everyone enjoys a drunken romp in the hay, but no one enjoys a sexually transmitted disease. Next time you’re thinking of using alcohol as your excuse, remember that gonorrhea doesn’t discriminate between drunk and sober people.

It’s fun to fool around, but you should always be safe. Don’t like condoms? Well, I bet you won’t like herpes more. There are a lot worse things than going home alone for one night.

 

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