As a Bible Belt state, Georgia has stricter alcohol laws than many other areas of America. There are still jurisdictions where people cannot purchase liquor after certain hours or on specific days. What might surprise many non-Georgians is that these are not rural areas. Many of these are part of the metro Atlanta area. In spite of this, Georgia college students in Athens and other college towns still manage to get their hands on alcohol. What is worse is that several of them are underage and students often make the mistake of driving drunk afterward.
The most likely repercussion of partaking in these activities is the possibility of expulsion from some Christian colleges or losing certain sports privileges from even secular universities. According to AJC, the University of Georgia is one college that tends to take substance use and abuse seriously. In fact, campus police officers might not hesitate to arrest students and charge them.
If a UGA athlete gets a DUI, it is considered a Level II violation by the university. This results in an automatic suspension from any upcoming games, which may last for six months. The students may also get placed in alcohol and drug awareness classes and may get tested for drugs. Most students might agree that drugs and alcohol are not worth risking their careers over, but substances do have the added effect of making some people feel invincible or very optimistic.
To combat this, some education programs now include DUI simulators. FOX24 reported that some Georgia colleges host DUI simulator events. The simulator relies on impact videos and machinery to drive its point home to students about the dangers of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence. Visual impairment goggles and mock cocktails are all part of the interactive experience. Text-and-drive simulators are also available.
It is not clear what effects these simulators have on deterring students in the long run. However, it is certainly more effective than merely talking about the issue.