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Eat before you go out, or early in the evening to reduce the effects of your drinking
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Try not to drink before you go out – home measures tend to be much larger than pub measures and soon you will not realise how much you have had to drink
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At the beginning of an evening plan how you intend to get home. Book a taxi early,
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Make sure you have enough money to get home, or decide who will drive and will not drink
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If you are on medication seek medical advice before drinking or taking drugs
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Try to drink lighter drinks – those with less ABV
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Try to avoid caffeinated mixer drinks as these can speed up alcohol absorption
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Don’t mix alcohol with drugs, especially cocaine or ecstasy as the results may be deadly
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Don’t try to keep up with your friends and try not to drink in rounds – the effect that alcohol has you will be different to them
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Pace yourself with soft drinks to make sure the alcohol doesn’t affect you suddenly
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Take a break if you feel that the alcohol is affecting you too quickly
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Don’t accept drinks from strangers
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Don’t leave your drink unattended
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Don’t get into a strangers car or an unlicensed taxi
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Don’t allow your friends to go off with strangers
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Avoid aggressive people when out at night. Just walk away if someone appears too rowdy
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Drink water regularly and before you go to bed to limit the chances of dehydration
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Carry a condom – if you do have sex the make sure it’s safe
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Don’t get into a car with someone who you know has been drinking or taking drugs
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Avoid walking home on your own through dark or unsafe areas late at night, whether you have been drinking or not
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Four or five single vodkas in one evening can give you a sense of happiness and lack of inhibitions but will take you over your daily limit and could damage your health if it happens regularly
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Driving within the legal limit of alcohol in your blood after a drink still means that you are twice more likely to have an accident than if you had not been drinking at all
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Think about how much you are drinking if you have to drive the next day. It takes approximately 1 hour for 1 unit of alcohol to leave your system. 5 pints of beer, lager or cider is equal to over 11 units
