I remember watching movies in high school that glorified college parties. I would watch Legally Blonde and dream about going to costume parties and playing drinking games, and honestly just letting loose. However, as a college freshman going into my second semester, I can truly say that most of the time, these visions did not match reality.

The movies only showed the fun part of parties. Beer pong and flip cup tournaments, kissing cute boys and dancing on tables… none of the after effects. Before college, I was no stranger to the world of alcohol. High school parties were not unfamiliar to me but they did not compare to what I would be faced with in college. In high school, most people could only sneak something from their house or fill a water bottle with some mysterious liquor. Also, my peers thought they could get drunk off one or two beers. Those were the days.

Now I hear girls up and down my hall screaming tonight is the night to “Black out or get out.” Binge drinking is all the rage. Everything is done excessively and drinking in moderation is frowned upon because everyone wants to go all out. While this was somewhat fun the first few months of college, I truly do not see the appeal of blacking out and not remembering a whole entire night. Why does drinking an excess amount have to be the social norm? Who truly enjoys throwing up afterwards and feeling like your head has been hit with a brick for the next 24 hours.

Don’t get me wrong, drinking can be fun in certain situations. Crazy adventures happen and memories are made… when you drink in moderation. I think that the media should strive to portray drinking in its true form. The one episode of Glee where the glee club gets drunk and then becomes suddenly sick on stage during a performance is a true representation. Vomiting in public is embarrassing and uncomfortable. Trust me ladies, that cute boy across the room will not be so interested in you if you are struggling with your words and falling all over the place. Nothing is attractive or “sexy” about drinking yourself to sickness, aka binge drinking under the hope the black out. Society and media need to stop glorifying binge drinking amongst the teen population. A full game of flip cup or beer pong is certainly over the recommended amount to drink and no one realizes it in the moment.

To my fellow college students, drink in moderation. Just because chugging through a funnel or shotgunning beers in the shower is deemed to be “cool”, throwing it up later is not. Go out, have fun, and make memories that you will actually remember the next day. Those twelve shots of tequila won’t last as long or feel as good as a fun and safe night with friends.