The Center for Wellness Promotion (CWP) will host its annual OctSober Fest from 4 to 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 15, in the Student Health Center Multipurpose Room.
OctSober Fest, in its seventh year, is a carnival-style program that educates students on the risks and realities of alcohol consumption. The event kick offs National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week (NCAAW); UNC Charlotte’s Center for Wellness Promotion joins 1,000-plus colleges and universities in alcohol prevention efforts on campuses nationwide.
Students who participate will be able to enjoy an evening of alcohol-free activities with their peers. This year’s OctSober Fest lineup includes:
- Drunken driving simulation
- Sober corn hole
- Mock sobriety testing
- Three-lane bungee run
- Hoop- it-up
- 16-foot ocean wave slide
- Danger zone
- Giveaways
DJ Mydnite will provide music, and there will be free “mocktails,” food and more.
Shawnte’ Elbert, health education specialist in alcohol, tobacco and other drugs at the Center for Wellness Promotion, said the event should “enlighten students of myths they commonly associate with alcohol usage, such as taking a cold shower helps to sober up.”
Research has shown that the first few months of the academic year are critical times for colleges and universities to convey information about alcohol use/abuse on campus to students and create a campus culture that encourages healthy, safe lifestyles.
NCAAW is the foundation to building a comprehensive program that keeps alcohol abuse prevention at the forefront and assists students in finding support for alcohol-related issues. Elbert said the event’s primary purpose is to “inform the campus community that alcohol abuse prevention is not a one-week activity; promoting responsible alcohol consumption is a year round effort.”
More information is on the Center for Wellness Promotion website. Note location change from previously published article.