'ALCOHOL 101' SHOWS LIQUOR'S EFFECTS

STILLWATER -- Walk into a "virtual" bar, or a "virtual" college party
with plenty of liquor.

You get a choice to sip, drink moderately, "slam it" -- or abstain
altogether.

If you do drink, your blood alcohol level will be monitored
continually, and by the end of the evening, you'll know the
consequences of your choices.

Such is the scenario associated with "Alcohol 101," an interactive
CD-ROM being unveiled Saturday at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.

"We want students to make sensible, fact-based decisions about
drinking or not drinking," said Kent Sampson, OSU director of campus
life.

The university is distributing 70 of the Alcohol-101 CD-ROMs to
student groups, including dormitories, fraternities and sororities.

The programs also are being made available to students at the
University of Oklahoma in Norman, the University of Central Oklahoma
in Edmond, Langston University, St. Gregory's University in Shawnee,
and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma in Chickasha.

Depending upon choices, the CD-ROM program can last from 15 minutes to
90 minutes, Sampson explained.

College students interact with the program, providing gender, age,
height and weight before the program starts. The program prompts
students to participate in several multiple-choice games and to learn
about real-life campus tragedies involving alcohol misuse.

It provides personalized information on the effects on the mind and
body of varying amounts of alcohol consumption.

"This is a great educational tool," Sampson said. "We're advocating
responsible choices and that includes not drinking, too."

OSU is trying to curb drunken driving and underage
drinking.

Gov. Frank Keating is scheduled Saturday to help officials introduce
the Alcohol 101 program.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry