It’s no secret the drinking culture is rich here in Chico.

Some enjoy a nice cold Sierra Nevada with their Bear Burger. Some prefer to indulge in the comfort of their home, in a bar or at a house party.And then there are some who see these drinking habits as a problem for college students.

But I don’t think the problem is the drinking, it’s not knowing when to stop.

So how does one know?

It’s easy to get carried away when there are drinks being poured, a friend offers up another shot or there’s a little extra spending money in the bank.

It comes down to everything in moderation. Drinking is a fun, sociable diversion from the everyday work grind and a common pastime in most college towns.

But the fun, sociable part can get lost in the rowdiness of being too drunk. When drinking goes too far it becomes a mess of emotions, memory loss or a night spent on the bathroom floor.

F. Scott Fitzgerald said, “You take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, and then the drink takes you.”

It’s easy to let the craziness of Chico nights in for a few hours, but knowing when to shut the door will always pay off.

Juliana Eveland can be reached at [email protected] or @janeca12 on Twitter.