Of the class of 2014’s suggested “114 Things to Do before We Graduate,” there are plenty of bizarre and exhilarating traditions. There is one fourth-year tradition that does not make the list: the fourth-year fifth.
Completion of the fourth-year fifth is no simple task; students who choose to participate attempt to drink an entire “fifth” (750ml) of hard liquor on the day of the final home football game of the season.
Although students can select their own brand of liquor, they must finish the entire amount before the game begins. Though a highly visible activity, the fourth-year fifth is not as common as many students believe, said Susan Brice, director of the Gordie Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.
“At no time has a large percentage of fourth-years engaged in this practice,” she said. “This is a practice among a minority of students.”
In 2012, the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team similarly reported that only 17 percent of fourth-years actually participated in the fourth-year fifth, with fewer actually completing it.
In addition, a representative from the Barracks Road Shopping Center ABC Liquors store reported they do not observe a significant increase in the sale of fifths before the last football game of the season.
Raising awareness about health concerns:
The potential health effects of participating in the fourth-year fifth may explain the gap between the tradition’s notoriety and its practice.
In a letter to students last year, University President Teresa Sullivan cautioned against participating in the tradition, saying that the 17 shots in a fifth — if spaced evenly throughout six hours — would still results in dangerously high blood alcohol concentrations. For a 160-pound man, that level of consumption would lead to a BAC of 0.32. For a 130-pound woman, it would lead to a 0.42 BAC.
“Most people lose consciousness and other bodily functions start to shut down at a BAC of more than 0.30,” Sullivan said in the email. “And a BAC of 0.40 or more is generally lethal.”
To raise awareness of the dangers of the fourth-year fifth, ADAPT has encouraged fourth-years to sign the “I’ll Remember the Game” pledge, promising those who sign a free stadium cup and sunglasses.
Other events intended to raise awareness include the Fourth Year Bagel Breakfast, the Susan Grossman Memorial Event, the Hoos In Recovery Panel, and the Fourth Year 5K, along with a short informational video promoting healthy behavior to be posted on YouTube.
Fourth-year College student Lacie Nixson, a member of ADAPT who sponsored the Fourth Year Bagel Breakfast, said the awareness events are necessary and often effective.
“As I am told, about 189 pledges were signed yesterday to not participate in the fourth-year fifth,” she said. “ADAPT works extremely hard to increase awareness about alcohol, reduce the number of students participating in the event, and also advertise the large amount of students who do not participate in the event.”
A tradition continues:
Despite these measures, many fourth-years continue to carry out the feat, though perhaps not always sticking to the true letter of the event.
“My fourth-year fifth experience was fun, but did not exceed my ‘normal’ weekend of drinking,” 2012 College graduate Zach Starsia said. “I was more inclined to split a fifth of alcohol with a friend of mine as opposed to drinking one to myself. This allowed me to have a good time, yet able to function and stay in control during the football game.”
Even for more strict adherents to the tradition, the practice seems to be more about camaraderie than pushing health or alcohol limits.
“It is something that people have done for years and I don’t think you necessarily need to finish the fifth; it’s more just to say you participated in a tradition,” fourth-year College student Sarah Carroll said. “I don’t have the intention of chugging a fifth of liquor in record time, but most of my friends and I are going to at least attempt to do it over the course of the day.”
But for some students, even tradition and camaraderie aren’t sufficient.
“Having a tradition to consume an unhealthy amount of alcohol is just stupid,” said fourth-year College student Rachel Alexander.
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