Another holiday approaches, one centered not on gifts, family or a break from school. For a large amount of college students, St. Patrick’s Day generally means one thing: Drinking. As the green beer flows and Irish music fills the bars with festive sounds, it’s easy to get caught up in the celebrating and blinded by the flurry of green T-shirts, hats, bows and body paint.

Although the holiday falls on a Sunday this year, students will undoubtedly still flock to bars and parties throughout the weekend to down Irish Car Bombs and emerald-colored shots. It isn’t every day that a bar opens at 5 a.m., and with spring break just around the corner and mid-semester stresses hitting us hard, we feel we deserve a day to let loose and have fun.

Unfortunately, as with any event involving alcohol and large crowds of people, things can go from fun to chaos within minutes. The effects of those shots you pounded one by one can hit you all at once, and you may not feel in control of yourself. Instead of becoming one of many names that appear in the police blotter, we feel it’s important to keep your safety in mind amidst the celebrations.

If you feel you’ve had too much to drink, don’t pick up the keys and drive home. Kent has an abundance of taxi services, and if you can’t afford that, ask a friend to walk you back. Although public intoxication is a charge you risk, it’s much safer to head home on foot than attempt to drive while inebriated. Besides, no one wants to be the person who gets a DUI at 6 a.m. on a Sunday.

While a frosty glass of green beer won’t kill you, consuming a lot of alcohol early in the day and continuing until nighttime can be risky and detrimental to your health. We aren’t saying you shouldn’t have fun, get decked out in green and enjoy the celebrations downtown. We just suggest that if you choose to drink, be mindful of how much you are consuming and consider the very real consequences alcohol can have on your health and wellbeing.

The above editorial is the consensus opinion of the Daily Kent Stater editorial board.