Alcohol, drugs and partying abroad
*Some of the following information is adapted from the UC Berkeley, UC Davis and Northwestern University study abroad sites.
ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE
The legal drinking age in Chile, Peru and Argentina is 18. Many establishments do not "card" people, though students should have identification with them at all times that shows birthdate (do not carry your actual passports with you - a copy is fine in most cases as is a motor vehicle license or other official ID).
Students who choose to drink should do so responsibly and not to excess. Unfortunately, the excitement of being in a new place can lessen inhibitions and causes students to forget that good judgment and common sense are universal best practices - a recent study found that students abroad are more likely to drink more than they would at home.
The tendency to binge drink and any usage of a controlled substance can carry serious health, legal and cultural consequences:
Health and safety: UC Davis notes that alcohol abuse and intoxication are a leading cause of injury and disruption on study abroad programs. The abuse of alcohol is often tied to becoming a victim of a violent crime or accident. If you choose to drink, doing so responsibly and refraining from drug use lowers these risks.
Legal: In Chile, it is both illegal to drink in public and be publicly intoxicated. If found doing so, a person can be fined and/or reprimanded; police will take the person to a station for paperwork and in some cases, s/he will be held there to sober up or be taken to a hospital. Chile has strict penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs (this includes marijuana).
MISTI prohibits undergraduate interns from driving and strongly discourages graduate students from doing so. Different roads and driving practices can pose many problems; Chile also has strict drunk driving laws and harsh penalties for drunk drivers who cause accidents. A person with a blood alcohol level from .03-.08 is considered legally "under the influence"; at .08 and above a person is legally "inebriated." A person can be fined at the very least starting at .03 - even one alcoholic drink puts many people over the limit.
Cultural: Excessive/binge drinking and public intoxication is inappropriate at best and can reinforce negative stereotypes about the "ugly American" (Pro-tip: if you are from the United States, you are an estadounidense. Chilenos, peruanos y argentinos are also "americanos." It is offensive to many when people from the US refer to themselves as an americano/a.)
This stereotype crosses borders (check out this NPR story) and depicts tourists, students, etc. from the US as loud, boorish and ignorant types who drink to get drunk and could care less about cultural sensitivity/respect and global perspective. When you use good judgment, your behavior not only mitigates risks of injury, opportunistic crime and "disruption" (e.g. missing work due to a hangover), but challenges this stereotype that persists abroad.
STAYING SAFE IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS (from MISTI's Health and Safety Guidelines)
ALCOHOL AND DRUG USE
The legal drinking age in Chile, Peru and Argentina is 18. Many establishments do not "card" people, though students should have identification with them at all times that shows birthdate (do not carry your actual passports with you - a copy is fine in most cases as is a motor vehicle license or other official ID).
Students who choose to drink should do so responsibly and not to excess. Unfortunately, the excitement of being in a new place can lessen inhibitions and causes students to forget that good judgment and common sense are universal best practices - a recent study found that students abroad are more likely to drink more than they would at home.
The tendency to binge drink and any usage of a controlled substance can carry serious health, legal and cultural consequences:
Health and safety: UC Davis notes that alcohol abuse and intoxication are a leading cause of injury and disruption on study abroad programs. The abuse of alcohol is often tied to becoming a victim of a violent crime or accident. If you choose to drink, doing so responsibly and refraining from drug use lowers these risks.
Legal: In Chile, it is both illegal to drink in public and be publicly intoxicated. If found doing so, a person can be fined and/or reprimanded; police will take the person to a station for paperwork and in some cases, s/he will be held there to sober up or be taken to a hospital. Chile has strict penalties for possession, use or trafficking of illegal drugs (this includes marijuana).
MISTI prohibits undergraduate interns from driving and strongly discourages graduate students from doing so. Different roads and driving practices can pose many problems; Chile also has strict drunk driving laws and harsh penalties for drunk drivers who cause accidents. A person with a blood alcohol level from .03-.08 is considered legally "under the influence"; at .08 and above a person is legally "inebriated." A person can be fined at the very least starting at .03 - even one alcoholic drink puts many people over the limit.
Cultural: Excessive/binge drinking and public intoxication is inappropriate at best and can reinforce negative stereotypes about the "ugly American" (Pro-tip: if you are from the United States, you are an estadounidense. Chilenos, peruanos y argentinos are also "americanos." It is offensive to many when people from the US refer to themselves as an americano/a.)
This stereotype crosses borders (check out this NPR story) and depicts tourists, students, etc. from the US as loud, boorish and ignorant types who drink to get drunk and could care less about cultural sensitivity/respect and global perspective. When you use good judgment, your behavior not only mitigates risks of injury, opportunistic crime and "disruption" (e.g. missing work due to a hangover), but challenges this stereotype that persists abroad.
STAYING SAFE IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS (from MISTI's Health and Safety Guidelines)
- When you go to a social gathering, go with a group of friends. Arrive together, check in with each other throughout the evening and leave together. Knowing where you are and who is around you may help you to find a way out of a bad situation.
- Do not leave your drink (alcoholic or otherwise) unattended while talking, dancing, using the restroom or making a phone call. If you’ve left your drink alone, discard it and get a new one.
- Do not accept drinks from people you don't know or trust. If you choose to accept a drink, go with the person to the bar to order it, watch it being poured and carry it yourself. At parties, do not drink from the punch bowls or other large, common open containers.
- Watch out for your friends, and vice versa. If a friend seems disoriented, is too intoxicated, or is acting out of character, get him or her to a safe place immediately.
- If you suspect you or a friend has been drugged, contact law enforcement immediately (if recommended by your Program Manager).