A cautionary note for would-be Bacchanalians

The legal drinking age in Italy is 16. For most Italians, drinking is not such a big thing. Public drunkenness and drunken behavior in general are frowned upon in the Italian culture. For many American students traveling abroad for the first time it might seem like you're a kid in a candy store. Alas, inexperience with drinking alcohol and being in a foreign country do not combine for a memorable (literally) experience. In a study-abroad program in which I was recently involved, three students suffered from alcohol poisoning to the extent that they had to be admitted to a hospital. Do not be like those students! Make sure you eat plenty of food if you're going to drink alcohol, pace yourselves to one drink an hour, drink plenty of water, and travel with at least one other person. Too many times we don't say or do anything before it's too late. Not on this trip - don't be the dude under the goat...