**Sugary drinks’ unhealthiness becomes prevalent**
PENN STATE — It’s recommended that everyone drink at least eight glasses of water a day, but many could have a tough time fitting that in amid an array of sugary drinks that are quickly becoming America’s beverages of choice.
More than half of the United States population over the age of two consumes sugary drinks on a daily basis, according to a report released by the National Center for Health Statistics in August 2011. And no age groups are drinking more sugary drinks than college-age young adults and teenagers.
“I’m bad myself,” Penn State student Leah Willochell said. “I always like to buy Kool-Aid mixes to mix with my water.”
Consumption of these sugary drinks -— including sodas, fruit drinks and energy drinks —- has steadily increased over the past 30 years, according to the report. So much so that the average male now takes in 178 calories a day from these beverages and the average female is not far behind with 103 calories.
Because of this, the sugary beverages have been linked to poor diet, weight gain and type 2 diabetes in adults, according to the report.
—The Daily Collegian
By Emily Riden
**Seven-hour wait for new 21-year-olds to drink could be on tap**
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHHOMA — Rep. Cory Williams, D-Stillwater, has introduced House Bill 3100, which would ban the sale of alcohol to 21-year-olds before 7 a.m. on their birthdays.
The amendment is intended to prevent overconsumption of alcohol by 21-year-olds from midnight to 2 a.m. on their birthday, Williams said. Legally requiring people to wait until after 7 a.m. to purchase alcohol would encourage responsible drinking over several hours instead of heavy drinking over just two hours, Williams said.
More than 50,000 cases of alcohol poisoning are reported in the U.S. every year, according to World Health Organization statistics.
Whether the amendment is adopted, it always is dangerous for students to drink heavily in a short period of time, said Maggie Pool, OU Health Services Clinical Services assistant director, in an email.
—The Oklahoma Daily
By Sarah Martin
**‘Smart Grid’ a viable alternative electricity model, officials say**
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS — “Smart grid” generally refers to a class of technology that people are using to delivery electricity through greater advanced systems, according to the Department of Energy website.
“Say you have an entire substation and neighborhood you serve,” said UA Professor Alan Mantooth, whose research involves smart grids. “How do you control power usage to 120 homes? And how do you dynamically reroute power when there is an outage?”
This type of system could adapt to disaster situations, he said.
The current method of generating electricity is inefficient and environmentally destructive, he said.
“The world’s population is growing, and energy demands of this world are increasing,” Mantooth said. “If we do not get ahead of the game and start using our resources wisely, we will be having the same conversation about coal as we’re having about oil.”
—The Arkansas Traveler
By Chven Mitchell
