"Beer goggles" stun college students

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - College campuses across the country are driving home the dangers of alcohol.

Buffalo State College is continuing its on-going education on the effects of alcohol with mock field sobriety tests to go along with its "Do Your Part" campaign.

"One of the things that we want students to be aware of is the personal responsibility that is involved when you choose to be involved in alcohol, whether it's going to a party with friend or drinking yourself," said Paula Madrigal, Coordinator of Health Education Programs at Buff State.

University Police offered "beer goggles" to students to simulate different alcohol levels. Rafael Garcia used the ones that were just at the legal limit of .08 percent BAC and was asked to hold his leg up and count.

"To be honest with you, I really could not keep my leg up because the simulation was real. It gives you that experience and its foggy and fuzzy inside those goggles and it doesn't give you stability, so it was really hard to keep my leg up and keep counting," Garcia said.

Molly Mitchell used the next set, which simulated a blood alcohol level of .18 percent. She did the heel-to-toe walk with them off and on to experience the difference and believed that with them on, she was still walking in a straight line - but she wasn't even close.

"That was really eye opening. Especially if people are driving, like that is completely outrageous if you can't even walk in a straight line or keep your arms at your side. So people that are driving like that is just unbelievable," said Mitchell.

Rafael said that in the end, it's up to the individual and it's about self control.

"It's not a level where you can tell yourself this is where I stop. Once you start feeling that is the point where you are over the limit. So you have to tell yourself, I will only take two drinks or one drink," said Garcia

They also asked students alcohol-related questions. Students had the most difficulty with knowing how much alcohol they were consuming in each drink.

For more information on a list of events through the week, including a car simulator on Thursday that will show the effects of drinking and driving and texting and driving,  click here.