Partying is a great way to meet new people and catch up with old friends, most popular with teenagers. This may include clubbing, attending a concert or festival, having a party at home or going to a party at a friend’s house. If you follow these few simple suggestions you can have a good time while staying safe.
General Tips
- You don’t have to use alcohol or abuse drugs in order to have a good time.
- Don’t leave drinks unattended, or accept drinks from a stranger.
- If you are planning on drinking alcohol, eat well before you go to the party. A full stomach will slow the absorption of alcohol.
- Drink in moderation and don’t let others top up your drinks in order to help you keep track of how much you’re drinking.
- When drinking try to go for the low alcohol option wherever possible.
- The best way to avoid drug related problem is to stay away and not try them. But if you do, make sure you know what you’re taking beforehand, and never mix drugs with alcohol.
- Trust your own judgement. If you think you’ve had too much to drink don’t let those around you tell you otherwise.
- Stay close to the friends you trust.
- Your judgement may be impaired if you’ve been drinking or taking drugs, so don’t take any type of risk. Such as diving into deep water. Whenever near water while drinking it is recommended to wear a life jacket.
Alcohol At Parties
can help you relax and feel more confident. But this can lead to poor decisions. It also slows your nervous system so you become uncoordinated, have slow reflexes, and have trouble thinking clearly.
So, how can you drink while staying safe?
- Drink water or soft drinks between alcoholic drinks. And think about drinking low alcohol drinks, and avoiding big glasses or bottles.
- Eat before and while drinking, your body will take longer to absorb the alcohol.
- Watch that no-one tops up your drink without you realising, you may end up drinking more than you had intended.
- If you are feeling drunk or tipsy, switch to non-alcoholic drinks to give your body some time to process the alcohol you have drunk.
Plan
When going out it is advised to plan ahead. These suggestions include:
- Know where you’re going and how to get there safely.
- Plan how to get home. If you know you will be drinking, make sure a designated driver has been assigned before hand or book a taxi.
- Stay together as a group and look out for each other.
- Decide on an alcohol limit and stick to it. Occupy your hands with soft drink or water once you’ve reached your limit, so you’re not tempted to keep buying alcohol drinks.
- Remember it is illegal to drink alcohol on the street.
It is important to have fun at parties but your safety is paramount. Use the buttons below to get more tips on alcohol use and how to stay safe.
