Language and Definitions

At the University of Richmond, we use Prevention Research Institute's PRIME for Life On Campus Program language and terminology in order to convey the most accurate and consistent message in all of our alcohol education/prevention endeavors, such as TIPS Training and the Campus Alcohol Policy.

Words to use:

  • "High-risk drinking" instead of "binge drinking" or "excessive drinking"
  • "Quantity" and "frequency" when discussing how much and how often

Avoid using:

  • Terms such as "responsible drinking," "handling alcohol," "knowing when to say when," "just say no," and other vague terms related to use and abuse
  • Terms such as "heavy," "moderate," and "social" drinker to describe someone's supposed level of drinking behavior

Definitions

Low-risk drinking: An umbrella term covering both abstinence and specific, individualized and research-based quantity/frequency choices not associated with increased risk.

High-risk drinking: Specific, individualized and research-based quantity/frequency choices associated with increased risk for alcoholism.

Alcoholism: A lifestyle-related health problem with a level of biological risk established by genetics. Repeated high-risk quantity/frequency alcohol choices interact with biology to trigger alcoholism.

Trigger level: An individual's level of biological risk for a given health problem, such as alcoholism. It is that point at which an individual's high-risk choices have exceeded his or her level of biological risk and alcoholism is now present.

Tolerance level: A high or low "elastic" measurement of the body's impairment at a particular blood alcohol level. Everyone is born with an initial tolerance level that is genetically established.

Impairment: Any slowing of the mental or physical functions beyond the initial relaxation effects of a drink.

State dependent learning: What is learned or experienced in a drug or non-drug state is best recalled in that same state.

A "drink" equals:

  • 12 ounces of beer at 4% alcohol
  • 4 ounces of wine at 12% alchohol
  • 1 ounce of spirits at 100 proof

Children of alcoholics (COA): Those who have a family history of alcoholism.

Blood alcohol level (BAL): The percent of alcohol found in the blood at any time, expressed in hundredths of one percent of alcohol.