Not being aware of your surroundings while intoxicated can lead to harsh consequences. Some of the consequences include injuries to yourself or others, accidents and even long-term health problems. There are many ways you can drink alcohol safely while still having a great time by yourself or with your friends. Here are a few ideas to help guide you towards being cautious while drinking.
Know Your Limits
Understanding how alcohol can affect your body is crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes drinking every now and then. One way to sustain healthy drinking habits is to establish your limits of alcohol consumption. Everyone has a different ceiling because of various factors like sex, weight and drinking speed. Drinking more than what you can handle, may increase the chance of you getting into an accident or feeling hungover the next day. If you do this regularly, it is more likely for you to experience severe long-term effects like, brain damage, heart disease or mental illness. So, know your limits and monitor that amount of alcohol you intake and how often you are consuming it.
Eat Food and Drink Non-Alcoholic Beverages While Drinking
Drinking with a full stomach will not only help limit the amount of drinks you consume, but will also suppress the strong effects that alcohol has on your body. Your stomach and small intestine are where alcohol enters your system. If you drink on an empty stomach, the alcohol will reach your bloodstream more rapidly, leading to a higher blood alcohol level and an increased chance of experiencing stomach pains and other negative effects. Some important things to remember when eating and drinking are to consume lots of water, avoid sugary drinks and refrain from eating salty snacks.
Track How Much You Drink and Your Habits
A drinking diary can help you understand your drinking patterns and how you can control them. The more thorough your diaries are, the better you will understand your drinking habits. For instance, your diaries may include how many drinks you drank, where you were drinking and who you were drinking with during that session. You can also include how you act after a certain amount of drinks, so in the future, you will be able to avoid any negative situations that arose from you being intoxicated.
Plan a Way Home Beforehand
Drinking and driving is against the law; you are putting not only yourself in danger, but also the people around you. When going out to drink, it is best to assign a designated driver who is responsible for bringing everybody home safely. Other alternatives include calling an uber or taxi, taking the public transit home or ordering after hours alcohol delivery, so you wouldn’t have to leave your home or party to get more drinks.
Do Not Give Into Peer Pressure
Be careful of who you surround yourself with while drinking alcohol. If the people around you are encouraging you to drink more than your limit, it’s best to move away and avoid them because you will likely end up more intoxicated than you would’ve been with people who respect your boundaries. Distancing yourself from these people would not only steer you away from danger during that drinking session, but it would also reinforce healthy drinking habits. Common situations that encourage over-drinking are drinking games and competitions. Instead of participating in these kinds of activities, you can play pool, darts or even dance while still being able to spend time with your friends.
Drinking is a common pastime for lots of people, it’s fun and even calming at times. But, it is important to always be cautious while drinking to prevent you from harming yourself and others. Come up with a plan ahead of time; know what your intentions are for transportation, who you are going with and most importantly, how much alcohol you can consume. Enjoying your time while drinking is key, but staying safe is what really matters.