Academics and Drinking
Alcohol has several physiological and psychological effects that can inhibit your performance as a student:
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Cognitive abilities are affected by even small amounts of alcohol and can persist for a substantial period of time after the acute effects of alcohol impairment disappear.
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For example, alcohol impairs memory by inhibiting the transfer and consolidation of information in long-term memory—so alcohol reduces our ability to remember information that we learned prior to going out for drinks.
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Perhaps most importantly, your attention span is shorter for periods up to forty-eight hours after drinking.
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Even in small doses, alcohol inhibits REM sleep. When REM sleep is suppressed we may feel tired when we wake up.
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In addition to cognitive impairments, consumption of alcohol and the resulting recovery period (i.e., hang-over) wastes time that might be better spent studying or having fun. Have you ever tried to study or even watch TV with a hangover?
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The bottom line—good time management, in both the academic and social realm will enhance your chances of success.