Kan. Alcohol consumption is a problem on many high school and college campuses.
Students often choose to drink without knowing the facts about alcoholic beverages.
For example, many students believe that alcohol acts as a stimulant. Alcohol does affect the central nervous system, but it actually is a depressant, said a Kansas State University nutrition educator. Alcohol also affects men and women differently, said Karen Hudson, K-State Research and Extension Family Nutrition Program Coordinator. A male typically has more blood volume, so there is more dilution of the alcohol. Females have lower amounts of alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme that breaks down alcohol in the blood stream.