Nonalchoholic beer introduced at Health Fair

By David A. Nowakowski
Collegian Reporter
April 26, 2006

Almost 400 students and other members of the local community turned out for the annual Health Fair on Wednesday, April 19. They received information on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the two and a half hour event.

Students were encouraged to stop by the Ballroom during free period or for lunch. With a wide variety of tables, there was something for everyone to learn.

There were 31 different tables, including vendors, volunteer organizations, support groups and also many La Salle services, such as the Alcohol & Other Drug Program and Food Services. Three different versions of massage therapy, La Salle Cheerleaders, Dance Team, Step Team, and L.A.T.I.N.S. were all part of the event.

Across the hallway in the Music Room, the La Salle nursing staff from Health Services offered free blood pressure and blood sugar testing with the signing of a waiver. The nursing staff was very helpful and informative, giving tips on how to lower blood pressure and live a healthy lifestyle.

This year the Health Fair offered something different to students—a taste testing of nonalcholic beer. The results of the beer testing showed just how interested college kids were.

The Alcohol & Other Drug Program conducted a taste test to let students know that there are around 21 nonalcoholic beers available in the Philadelphia area. The purpose was also to make students aware of the fact that just replacing one or two beers with nonalcoholic beers can lower the peak Blood Alcohol level.

Senior nursing major Rochelle Cantiveros enjoyed the beer tasting. “It was very interesting. Out of the three beers, the one tasted like light beer, the other tasted like a dark beer and the last didn’t taste like beer at all,” she said.

The three choices were O’Douls, Miller Sharps and St. Paulie Girl. Students were given a sample of each beer and asked to fill out a short survey rating each beer on color, flavor, body, carbonation, closeness to real beer and an overall rating. For the results of the survey, 80 percent of participants were students. The favorite was Odoul’s, follwed by St. Paulie Girl. Miller Sharps came in last.

When asked about the cost of non-alcoholic beers, the coordinator of the Alcohol & Other Drug Program, Robert Chapman , said, “It may not be as cheap as Natty Light, but not as expensive as a hundred dollar fine for drinking underage on campus.”

Chapman hopes that through exposing students to three popular types of non-alcoholic beer, students can find a way to enjoy themselves socially without putting themselves in danger of alcohol poisoning or getting into trouble at school.

nowakowskid1@lasalle.edu