A recent article that linked between beer pong and oral herpes transmission has been proven to be inaccurate, according to a correction by Los Angeles TV station KNBC.
Arizona State University president Michael Crow claims the story falsely quoted his response to the issue.
The article provided erroneous claims--supposedly provide by the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control--concerning the popular college drinking game, beer pong, and the risks associated with the herpes virus.
The East Valley Tribune reported that Candice Burns, a CDC spokeswoman, said that the link “has never studied, let alone documented.”
The nature of the game involves sharing drinking cups with multiple, and sometimes unknown, players - the underlying source behind the far-fetched theory.
The article’s concerns also were supplemented with Crow’s point-of-view. However, he claims never being contacted by the story’s author.
“We’re aware that we cannot outright prevent (beer pong), so we have provided new red cups available to all students in the dorms” the statement, since proven inaccurate, reads.
The quote was acquired through a college news wire service, and was later reprinted in college publications. The editors, however, were unaware of the inaccuracy of the president’s quote.
KNBC removed the article after receiving several inquiries regarding the mistake from the East Valley Tribune, the Trib said earlier today. The Trib quotes the station’s senior news editor who claims the error was the mistake of an editorial assistant.
Additionally, ASU spokeswoman Terri Shafer told the East Valley Tribune that “President Crow has never heard of this and did not make the statement that is attributed to him in the article.”
The Phoenix New Times emphasizes the issue, “Clearly, this is yet another embarrassing moment in modern journalism. Misinformation on Internet has tendency to persist in the blogosphere.”
Our Take
Although information in the article was proven false about the risk of acquiring herpes through such drinking games, it still reflects a sanitary concern for party-goers and pong-competitors. Not only is sharing beer pong cups a concern, but the consistent re-using of cups night after night is a health issue, regardless of a herpes scare.
During a season peaked with sickness, individuals need to be more conscious about the spread of illnesses. It may not be easy to pass on a classic game of pong, but for the sake of your immunity, and the rest of your weekend, take a second to reconsider your next toss.
