Nebraska law states anyone under the age of 21 cannot possess, consume, sell, or dispense alcohol.
Binge drinking is considered 4 or more drinks for women, 5 for men in about a two hour setting. Binge drinking is dangerous as it may lead to overdose and death.
Nebraska stats from the Nebraska Young Adult Alcohol Opinion Survey, 2018.
Alcohol Use and Binge Drinking among 19-25-Year-Olds in Nebraska
- About two-thirds of respondents in 2018 (65.1%) reported using alcohol in the past month.
- Among past-month alcohol users in 2018, slightly over half (51.9%) reported binge drinking in the past 30 days which is significantly less than previous years (64.8% in 2010, 68.3% in 2012, 66.3% in 2013, 56.3% in 2016).
- Among all respondents in 2018 about one in three (33.4%) reported binge drinking in the past month which than previous years (43.8% in 2010, 47.1% in 2012, 44.9% in 2013, 37.4% in 2016).
Impaired Driving among 19-25-Year-Olds in Nebraska
- There have been incremental decreases in past year alcohol-impaired driving in each survey administration. Reported past year driving under the influence of alcohol has decreased from 30.3% in 2010 to 19.8% in 2018.
- Past-month driving after binge drinking has also decreased from 8.4% in 2010 to 4.0% in 2018.
Attitudes and Perceptions Related to Alcohol among 19-25-Year-Olds in Nebraska
- The rate of Nebraska young adults who perceive a moderate or great risk of harm (physically or in other ways) from binge drinking has increased from 71.1% in 2010 to 78.3% in 2018.
- The amount of risk an individual believes binge drinking has significantly impacts their behaviors. In 2018, those who reported no risk from binge drinking had a significantly higher past month binge drinking rate of 56.0%, compared to 21.3% for their peers who reported great risk.
- Underage binge drinking of all forms, whether for those under 18 or those ages 18 to 20, was viewed as wrong or very wrong. Nearly all (92.8%) of Nebraska young adults perceived it is wrong or very wrong for individuals under the age of 18 to get drunk and 76.6% perceived it is wrong or very wrong for individuals ages 18 to 20 to get drunk in 2018.
- Social norms attitudes were more favorable towards legal-age binge drinking, with 28.0% of 2018 survey respondents reported that it is wrong or very wrong for individuals 21 and over to binge drink.
- There was also a strong disapproval of providing alcohol to minors, with 77.9% of young adults perceiving it as wrong or very wrong to provide alcohol to individuals under 21 years old in 2018.
- Young adults believed that half (48.5%) of their peers binge drank alcohol in the past 30 days, which is higher than the percent that actually binge drink (33.4%). In addition, young adults believed that nearly one in three (30.1%) of their peers drove after binge drinking in the past 30 days which is much higher than the percent who reported driving after binge drinking (4.0%).
The Good Samaritan Law encourages minors to call 911 when they suspect an alcohol overdose without fear of receiving an MIP (minor in possession). A revised version of the law, protecting both the intoxicated minor and the caller went into effect .
In order not to receive a MIP, the caller should:
- Make a good faith request for emergency medical assistance
- Remain on the scene until law enforcement and/or medical personnel arrive
- Cooperate with officials.
Signs of alcohol overdose:
- Someone is unconscious, semi-conscious or unresponsive.
- The individual cannot be roused or woken.
- Skin is cold, clammy, pale, bluish, and/or blotchy.
- Breathing is slow – 8 or fewer breaths per minute.
- Lapses in breathing – more than 10 seconds between breaths.
- Exhibits mental confusion, stupor, or coma.
- Has seizures, convulsions or rigid spasms.
- Vomits while asleep or unconscious and does not awaken.
