So you’re super excited about going away to college.

It’s the first time that you’ll be away from home and your parents. And the first time that you’ll be living among people your own age. You can just taste the freedom. The power. The alcohol?

College life has definitely earned the reputation of being one big party. We’ve all seen films and TV shows like Old School and Friday Night Lights. But before you bring out the kegger and the mixers, you might want to know the less-glamorized version.

The Today show recently reported that more and more college students are playing a drinking game called “21 for 21.” Basically, it involves drinking 21 shots to mark your 21st birthday. That’s a lot for anyone (especially for someone who technically isn’t supposed to have had a drink before 21 in the first place). But consequences can be a lot more serious than a hangover.  In March of 2008, college student Jesse Drews died on his 21st birthday from a night of this kind of binge drinking.

According to a report published in The New York Times, 24% of women and 34% of men have played “21 for 21” at the University of Missouri. These numbers indicate that binge drinking is becoming more popular, despite the high stakes.
Colleges are trying to crack down on this growing trend of binge and illegal drinking.  Some colleges are becoming dry campuses (which prohibits  drinking on campus) and/or dry dorms (no drinking in rez). A Harvard study states that one in three U.S. college campuses are in fact dry.

A growing number of colleges, including Texas Tech and Ohio University, are deciding to call mom and dad about underage drinking and illegal drug use. Schools are getting support from the U.S. Department of Education, which recently provided new guidance for colleges and universities on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA, the 1974 law that protects the information in a student’s educational record, including grades and disciplinary reports. Now FERPA lets schools share info with parents if there is a “health or safety emergency,” which includes drinking and drug use.

So even though college is all about gaining freedom, you may consider learning how to taste and savor your independence without making yourself sick… or putting your life in danger.