Green beer was served as early as 7 a.m., and still there were fewer arrests this St. Patrick's Day than on an average football Saturday.
And a low arrest record is something we should strive for again.
Obviously MSU students like green year-round, but the Irish holiday gave Spartan fans another reason to tote green, from their clothing to their tongues.
East Lansing streets were swarming with clover-clad bar-hoppers long before noon, and a slow day for police around campus means the majority of participants celebrated responsibly.
If students can drink and party responsibly for St. Patrick's Day — an unofficial drinking holiday — then they can definitely do it on any holiday or celebration.
Finding reasons to drink isn't hard for most students, but there are specific steps drinkers can take in order to be careful and ensure safety.
Prior to guzzling beer or sipping cocktails, transportation should be discussed. Assigning a designated driver, walking or taking the bus are all viable options for arriving home safely at the end of the night. Never drink and drive.
Having beer pong partners who double as trustworthy friends is also a good idea. Being surrounded with dependable people while drinking is important so you can all look out for one another and keep each other in check.
Although some people use their memory and others opt to tally the number of consumed drinks on their hand, it's valuable to your health and safety to keep track of how many drinks you've downed. Green beer looks a lot better going down than it does coming back up.
Waking up for class can be hard — sometimes impossible — but waking up for St. Patrick's Day didn't appear quite as difficult. And perhaps the early bar hours contributed to the low amount of arrests, since heavy drinkers were passed out and dreaming of leprechauns before the sun went down.
But in reality, it probably had more to do with police, business owners and drinkers all planning ahead and being safe.
Whether it's St. Patrick's Day, a birthday or a big game that you're celebrating, any time you raise a toast, it's probably in your best interest — as well as the interests of others — to consider taking drinking precautions.
This year, St. Patrick's Day appeared as it should: wholesome, fun and a relatively tame and safe debauchery. Abstaining from drinking isn't necessary if responsible drinking behaviors are repeated, even after the green kegs are gone.
