re: I finally finished my beer pong table!

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"It's a very likely environment that something could be transmitted from one person to another," said Kathy Saichuk, Wellness Education coordinator, specializing in alcohol and drug abuse.

Saichuk said the most common transferred pathogens are colds and the flu. But other ailments like mono, hepatitis and staph could also be transferred, though it is less likely.

She said intestinal problems could also develop because players may not wash their hands after using the bathroom or the ball may roll through matter tracked from the bathroom.

Saichuk said a party environment increases the risk of catching diseases. She said alcohol impairs the immune system's ability to fight diseases.

College students may already have lowered immune systems because of staying up late, having an improper diet or living in dorms where students are exposed to more illnesses, Saichuk said.

Saichuk said playing in bars adds more risk to the game because of the increased amount of people. She said beer pong in a bar could be the start of an epidemic because of the variety of people visiting the bar. She said it is less of a health risk to play with people you know who are probably exposed to the same pathogens.

Saichuk said to make the game healthier, players should bring their own cups and use an antibacterial spray to sanitize the ball and table.

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