Recent studies show that women are becoming more alert when it comes to what they are drinking, especially at parties and bars.
A possible reason for this newfound awareness is the prevalence of date rape drugs, which can cause sedation when mixed with alcohol and leave women prone to sex crimes, according to the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault.
Ann Bradley, press contact for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, said women have been drinking less because they are more aware of the health consequences of drinking.
"We support about 90 percent of alcohol research in this country," Bradley said. "It's definitely true that women drink less."
According to the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault, 1.3 women are raped every minute in the United States, although these assaults are not necessarily alcohol-related.
There are varying degrees of sexual assault that include offenses ranging from groping to rape and attempted rape.
According to the coalition's research, these offenses are an issue on college campuses:
One out of every six female college students have been the victim of attempted rape, one out of every 15 male college students have confessed to attempting sexual assault, and 95 percent of college women have reported being affected by sexual assault.
According to the Task Force on College Drinking, created by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, female freshmen are the most vulnerable to sexual assault and if assulted, it usually occurs within the first few months of the school year.
Alcohol and sexual assault awareness groups say there are several steps young women can take to avoid being the victim of sexual assault when they go out for the night.
The Coalition Educating About Sexual Endangerment and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism both suggest that women should never leave their beverages unattended and never take beverages, especially alcohol, from anyone — even if you trust them.
Courtney Adams, a senior in the College of Communication, said she never leaves her drink on a table.
"I always have it in my hand," Adams said. "I'm definitely very conscious of that."
Jennifer Baker, a College of Health Sciences senior, said she has been a bartender for three years, so she usually keeps her drink with her at all times.
Another way to prevent assault, sexual or not, is to go with friends to bars and parties —- and do not leave alone.
"I just go with friends and we stay together," said Ashley Bergemann, a senior in the College of Business Administration.
This article was published in The Marquette Tribune on September 27, 2005.