The Health and Wellness Centre of the University of the Free State hosted an alcohol awareness project for students the week prior to intervarsity with North West University.

The aim of the project was to create awareness on the effects of alcohol on a person's reaction time and judgement.

The Health and Wellness Centre together with UFS Protection Services, Mangaung Traffic Department, Arrive Alive, ER 24, Optometry Department and Path Care made the event a success.

The UFS is considered a 'dry campus' meaning that no alcohol is allowed on campus. To demonstrate the effects of alcohol, students were invited to wear spectacles that blurred their vision in a number of ways. Wearing the spectacles students had to navigate a golf cart through an obstacle course. The students had fun competing against each other and the Dean of Students, Rudi Buys. Other games included playing ‘swing ball’ and walking on an elevated balancing beam ‘under the influence of alcohol’.

The Centre for Counselling and Development also added to the day by exhibiting on the effects of alcohol abuse. The HIV and AIDS Office’s Transformers (peer educators) made students aware of the consequences of alcohol abuse by illustrating two different scenarios. The winners of the obstacle course and games were awarded prizes sponsored by Medi Clinic, ER 24 and Path Care.

The campaign was concluded with a demonstration of a rescue attempt at a staged accident scene by ER 24, Mangaung Fire and Traffic Departments and UFS Protection Services. The audience stood in awe at the use of the ‘jaws of life’ used to rescue the ‘injured’.

The feedback from the students regarding the day was positive and many felt that the spectacles effectively mirrored the effects of alcohol. It is planned for the event to take place annually.