4The Daily Tar Heel Wednesday, August 27, 1986
Eeeff. drankeirs tackle sport wMn guasto, playffel games
By JENNIFER HARLEY
Staff Writer
Beer drinking has become a sport.
Couple UNC students with countless
regional, national and imported
brands of beer available to them, and
the competition begins.
Jay Wardlaw, a sophomore from
Omaha, Neb., says , he plays beer
drinking games "to get away from
it all, have fun and meet people.'
Wardlaw says "quarters" is his
favorite.
The game involves bouncing a
quarter into a glass centered in a
circle of friends. If the player misses,
he must take a drink of the golden
beverage.
But beer games' rules and equip
ment vary tremendously along with
the different levels of creativity and
skill. Many require slight physical
exertion, while others as much
mental adroitness as the players can
muster. Aside from obvious neces
sities such as beer and people, games
can utilize cards, dice, balls, coins,
frisbees, matches, cigarettes, televi
sion shows, music, furniture, grocery
bags and board games.
Though the traditional "Buzz" and
"Quarters" remain popular, several
others are gaining in popularity.
There are also games, "Thumper,"
"Cardinal Puff," "Bowling for Beers"
and "Smurf."
In "Bowling for Beers," each
dropped pin earns the player an
ounce of beer while gutter balls merit
a chug. "Smurf" is unique because
it is played early in the morning when
the Smurf cartoon is aired on
television. Players take a gulp of their
beer each time the word "smurf," or
any word derived from it, is spoken.
"Buzz" players sit in a circle and
carefully count, substituting the
word "buzz" for all multiples of
seven, numbers that have seven in
them and double numbers.
According to the authors of "Beer
Games II," " 'Bite the Bag is the
quintessential beer game, combining
physical and mental dexterity with
copious kegling capacity." The
object of the game is to successfully
lift an empty grocery bag up off the
floor using only one's teeth. Hands
may not be used and only feet may
touch the floor. Before each round,
players take the required swallows
of beer. The tricky part is that after
each round, a referee tears a strip
off the top of the bag, making it
progressively smaller. Finally only a
scrap of paper remains for players
to retrieve, after having consumed
necessary swallows.
Eager businesses are profiting
from the new trend, marketing board
games like "Pass Out" and "Chug
a Lug." Books like "Beer Games,"
volumes I and II, written by four
game enthusiasts from Yale Univer
sity, are also available.
Perhaps the greatest attraction to
beer games, though, is that they are
inherently flexible. Essentially any
thing goes depending on the mood,
imagination and degree of sanity of
the players.
"I play to loosen up before I go
downtown," says Erich Tailey, a
sophomore from Burlington.
Doug Dusenberry, also from
Burlington, has alterior motives
when he plays beer-drinking games.
The sophomore says "It's easier to
meet girls downtown that way."
Remember family
or friends with
Special Occasion,
Get Well or
Memorial cards.
WERE FIGHTING FOR
OURUFE
American Heart
Association
AIDS . . . For your own
and others' protection and
peace of mind, you need to
know about this deadly
disease. It has no proven
cure so far and has killed
more than half of the per
sons diagnosed as having it.
What is AIDS?
AIDS stands for acquired (not in
herited) immune deficiency
(breakdown of the body's defense
system) syndrome (group of condi
tions that together characterize a con
dition or disease). The reason that it is
so dangerous is that the body of a per
son who has it cannot protect itself
from even simple infections. The body
becomes extremely vulnerable to
severe infections and rare cancers that
cannot be stopped.
Since AIDS was first reported in the
United States in 1981, more than
20,000 persons have been identified as
having it. But it is not known how
many more persons are infected with
the virus and are silent carriers of the
disease.
The largest group of people infected
with AIDS virus is not presently ill.
Since they have no symptoms, they
can be identified only by a blood test.
This test can confirm that the virus is
present, but it cannot predict whether
a person will develop AIDS or ARC
AIDS-related complex. Less than
one-fifth of ARC cases develop AIDS.
All persons with a positive blood test
should regard themselves as carriers of
the virus because even if they have
no symptoms, they could be con
tagious and transmit the infection.
What are the
symptoms?
persisting, excessive tiredness, for
no reason
recurring fevers, chills or night
sweats
unexplained weight loss of 10 or
more pounds
persistent enlargement of lymph
glands (in neck and under arms)
sore throat or white spots or pat
ches in mouth that don't go
away
a new, persistent cough
easy bruising or unexplained
bleeding, any place on body
persistent diarrhea
pink or purple bumps or blot
ches on the skin
If any of these symptoms last for a
couple of weeks, get in touch with
your doctor, immediately. You can call
one of the numbers listed at the end of
this article and get information
without giving your name. Your con
fidentiality, in any case, will be pro
tected. These AIDS-related symptoms
are a lot like those with other diseases,
ranging from flu to other blood
diseases and cancer. If you have these
symptoms, see your doctor for your
own protection.
If you suspect that you have been
exposed to AIDS, call your doctor. A
blood test can show if you have the
virus. Because even if you have no
symptoms or never get AIDS, you can
be a silent carrier someone who can
pass AIDS on to others. So if you
think you have been exposed to AIDS,
you should act to protect yourself and
others.
How is AIDS
transmitted?
AIDS is not easy to get. There is no
real evidence that you can get it from
casual contact. It is transmitted by in
timate sexual contact and by exposure
to contaminated blood. The risk of
kissing is uncertain, but it is best to
avoid deep or rough kissing that
damages tissue.
AIDS and ARC are believed to be
caused by a virus called HTLV-III in
the United States and LAV in Europe.
It is a very fragile virus that dos not
live outside human body fluids (blood,
semen and saliva) of infected people.
Who gets AIDS?
Some 70-75 percent of the persons
with AIDS are homosexual or bisexual
men; 17 percent have been intrave
nous drug abusers. Others at risk are
those who receive blood transfusions,
including hemophiliacs. (Currently, a
test for the virus is reducing the
number of cases transmitted by a
transfusion of blood or blood
derivatives).
You don't have to belong to any of
these groups to get AIDS. Some in
fected people have been sexual part
ners of those in one of the risk groups.
AIDS can be transmitted sexually be
tween men and women. The possibili
ty of infection from a prostitute is
quite high. Women can be infected
through vaginal intercourse with a
male carrier, and the male sexual part
ners of female carriers also are at risk.
What is the 'AIDS
Test'?
The HTLV-III antibody test is not a
test for AIDS or ARC. It may tell
whether a person has been exposed to
the virus but not whether the person
has or will develop the disease.
Anyone with a positive test probably
is infectious and should take care to
protect others. Talk to a health profes
sional to understand the limitations of
the test. A person in a high-risk group
who chooses not to be tested should
behave as if he or she tested positively
and should protect others in making
decisions about sexual partners.
How can the risk be
reduced?
The Center for Disease Control ad
vises the following to protect yourself
from AIDS and other disease:
Do not share needles, razors,
toothbrushes, tweezers or
anything else that might be con
taminated by someone with a
blood disease.
Avoid the use of "recreational"
drugs. They may weaken the im
mune system.
Do not mix alcohol or drugs
with sexual encounters. Your
judgment to protect yourself and
others may be faulty.
Know your sexual partners well.
Talk about AIDS and your sex
ual history.
Limit the number of sexual
partners.
Avoid the exchange of body
fluids. Proper use of condoms
reduces the risk but may not
eliminate it.
Avoid any injury to body tissue
during sex.
Can I get AIDS from just being
around someone with AIDS?
There is not a proven case in which
AIDS has been transmitted by casual
contact of any kind. People with
AIDS, ARC or a positive test present
no danger to those with whom they
go to class, share bathrooms, eat or
work. But remember to be cautious
about objects that may have been in- ;
volved with blood. (Household bleach
is a useful disinfectant).
You need not be concerned about
the safety of swimming pools,
whirlpools, saunas or telephones.
AIDS cannot be transmitted by
coughing or sneezing.
If you live with someone who has
AIDS, ARC or a positive blood test
and are cautious, you are at no extra
risk unless you are sexual partners or
sharing needles.
How should I act around someone
with AIDS?
Don't shun them. They need friend
ship and caring. They're already
frightened and may be alone. You
should make sure you know what to
do to protect yourself, but help them,
as much as you can just as you
would help anyone who had a
frightening and serious disease.
Should I be careful if I use needles in
my job, for transfusions or other
purposes?
Yes, make sure needles and other
equipment are sterile. Make sure any
needle that sticks you has not been
used before. Drug users take unneces
sary risks with soiled, shared needles.
In the workplace, observe the
special guidelines provided in your
department.
Can I get AIDS by donating blood?
No. Nor can you get it by receiving
hepatitis B vaccine or gamma
globulin.
How much at risk am I if I am a gay
or bisexual male or a person who was
described as susceptible?
All gays are not necessarily going to
be exposed. Those in stable relation
ships with one partner generally are
not as likely to be exposed as
those with a lot of casual contacts.
But everyone should be alert that anal
intercourse and oral-genital intercourse
seem the most likely ways of contract
ing AIDS or passing it on to others.
The key is knowing the sexual history
of your partner.
Whom do I call
about AIDS?
Call one of the numbers listed
below if you have any questions at
all. Be sure to call a clinic or your
own doctor if you have any suspicion
that you have been exposed to or have
AIDS. Unless you need to see some
one, your identity won't have to be
known. Even if you do have to go for
a blood test or for diagnosis and treat
ment, your right to privacy will be
protected.
Don't be afraid to seek answers
no question is too silly to ask. Your
confidentiality will be respected.
Remember that a lot of people care
and want to help you if you fear that
you have been exposed to or if you
need to be treated for AIDS.
You can get information about
AIDS from any of the following
places, but you may want to call the
area specially equipped to answer
your questions.
Students the UNC Student
Health Service at 966-2281.
University faculty or staff
members your personal physi
cian or the Orange County
Health Department at 942-4168.
The Employee Relations Division
in the Personnel Office also can
provide information and counsel
ing about employment problems
at 962-3894.
N.C. Memorial Hospital
employees Health Service,
966-4480. This is for employees
in any job (doctors, nurses,
aides, dietary workers or laun
dry workers).
Other resources available:
Lesbian and Gay Health Project,
1-683-2182.
Mental Health Section, Student
Health Service, 966-3658
Orange-Person-Chatham Mental
Health Center, 929-0471
UNC-CH AIDS Task Force
Dr. Michelle A. Ibrahim
Chairman
Dean, School of Public Health
t