The old adage goes that you don’t need alcohol to have fun, but who are we kidding? Alcohol is often a central component of social get-togethers, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Drinking can be a lot of fun… but it can also lead to some pretty bad hangovers when you wake up in the morning. And you certainly wouldn’t want your friends to flood their Facebook and Instagram stories with your embarrassing videos from the night before.
Of course, if you’re enjoying a party full of dancing, good music and lots of alcohol around you, it’s hard to control your drinking habits. That being said, you can still enjoy your party and have a fun night out by limiting your drinking. Here’s how to drink responsibly and still make the most of your party.
Drink With Friends Who Don’t Encourage Binge Drinking
Whether you’re at a party or at a bar, if you want to drink responsibly, it’s best if you hang out with your trustworthy friends. At a party or a get together, the atmosphere can be such that you might find yourself in a situation wherein your peers are forcing you to drink.
During such times, it’s natural to feel that you’ll be judged for not drinking. That’s why always hang out with a group of friends who respect your drinking capacity and don’t encourage binge drinking. When you’re around familiar and trustworthy people, you know that in times of trouble, they’re going to be looking out for you.
Set A Limit For Yourself
One of the most common reasons for irresponsible drinking is losing a count of how many drinks you’ve had. The atmosphere around you may convince you to have another glass of alcohol, but you need to be mindful of your drinking capacity. That’s why it’s best to drink with friends as it keeps you from being socially overwhelmed. At the same time, it also helps you set a limit for yourself. You can ask your friends to keep a track of your drinking so that you don’t go overboard with it. Otherwise, the best thing to do is maintain a steady pace so that you are mindful of your alcohol tolerance.
Avoid Drinking On An Empty Stomach
They may say ‘Eating is cheating!’. But if you keep drinking on an empty stomach, you’re not only going to get drunk easily but the hangover next morning can also be serious. So, it’s advisable to eat something before you leave the house for a party. That will help your body to absorb the alcohol better and you can enjoy the party to the fullest.
If you think eating before drinking will keep you from having fun, you’re probably mistaken. That’s because it will not just reduce the effects of alcohol but also help you stick to your limits. So, next time you’re going to your favorite bar to savor some drinks, don’t forget to order some food first. And to avoid getting dehydrated while drinking, it’s good to drink water in-between while consuming alcohol. That’ll also help in minimizing the effects of alcohol on your body and help you drink responsibly.
Know What You’re Drinking
A fancy party or a bar hopping experience might encourage you to try an alcohol you’ve never had before. It surely sounds like an adventurous and fun experience, but only if you don’t go overboard with your drinks. That’s why it’s important to know what you’re drinking.
So, if you’re trying a new whiskey or vodka you’ve never tried before, make sure that you are aware of its alcohol content. And if you’re one of those people who find it difficult to gulp down shots or strong cocktails, you can always sip on some fruity mixed cocktails. You can enjoy something like a Classic Mojito or a Chocolate Martini and still have a fun and delicious drinking experience.
Pace Yourself
There’s a misconception about drinking alcohol that gulping it down faster makes it more enjoyable. Although it may give you a thrill at the beginning, taking down drinks one after the other is just going to make you end up throwing up the rest of the time. That would be such a mood-killer right? So, if you pace yourself, you’ll be mindful of your limits and will give your body some time to take the effect of the alcohol. As mentioned earlier, along with pacing yourself, nibbling on some food while enjoying your drinks is going to help you be a responsible drinker.
Be Mindful Of Drinking Games
A happening party can only be more fun if you indulge in some drinks along with some fun games with your friends. After all, an ice-breaker is much-needed at a party for people to get comfortable and get to know each other. But something to keep in mind when you’re drinking and playing games is that you can get carried away with your drinks. And if you’re playing games like Flip the Cup, Never Have I Ever, or King’s Cup, your buddies may encourage you to binge drink which can get you really drunk.
If you’re going to play drinking games, see to it that you’ve not had a lot of alcohol before. Don’t forget to keep a track of how many drinks you’ve had; if you think you’ve had enough, you can withdraw from the game or pass your drink to a friend who hasn’t drunk much.
Avoid Mixing Medications With Alcohol
If you’ve been taking some cold or flu medications prescribed by your doctor, you should know that these medications can react negatively with alcohol. So, when it comes to over-the-counter or prescribed medications, you need to refrain from mixing them with alcohol. That can be very dangerous for your health. So, to drink responsibly, avoid mixing any drugs, medications, or energy drinks with your alcohol.
Plan How You’ll Get Home
Are you going to take a taxi to go back home? Or do you have your own car with your driver? You need to plan how you’ll get home after a drinking party. That’ll save you the trouble of any last-minute problems of arranging a vehicle to get you home safely. If you’re driving your own vehicle, just DON’T. It’s best if you arrange for a driver beforehand if you’re planning to drink. Else, you can turn to your designated driver to get you home safe!
Summing Up
If you’re concerned about drinking responsibly, stay away from binge drinking with your friends. Of course, it can be hard to set a limit for yourself and keep a track of how many drinks you’ve had at a party. You can always stick to your squad of friends who’ll stop you from going overboard.
FAQs On How To Drink Responsibly
How Can I Train Myself To Drink Responsibly?
You can train yourself to drink responsibly by doing the following:
- Eating before sipping on drinks
- Keeping yourself hydrated after drinking
- Knowing your limits
- Sticking to your squad of friends
- Being mindful of drinking games
- Having a plan for your safety
- Pacing yourself when drinking
How Can I Drink And Not Get Drunk?
Here’s how you can drink and not get drunk:
- Set a limit of how many drinks you want to have and stick to it
- Avoid hard drinks like cocktails, gin, and strong whiskeys
- Know your drinking capacity
- Tag along with peers who don’t binge drink
- Always munch on some snack and drink water
Is Drinking Occasionally OK?
Drinking occasionally is not going to have any harmful effects on your health. But that’s possible if you control your drinking habits and pace yourself.
