How to Drink Responsibly and Still Enjoy Alcohol

Alcoholic drinks have been around for centuries and the Babylonians worshiped the goddess of wine as early as 2700 B.C. However, just because alcohol has been around for hundreds of years, doesn’t mean that it’s not a dangerous substance. 

Alcohol is one of the most socially accepted drugs in our society; however, it is also one of the most lethal. Its widespread availability in bars, paired with our lenient attitude towards drinking, be it to celebrate or relieve stress, has made this drug one of the deadliest in the world. 

Drinking too much can inherently cause long-term health issues, such as high blood pressure, liver disease, strokes, or even cancer. In the short-term, alcohol dependence can also lead to violence, falls, drowning, or motor vehicle accidents. Did you know that under the dram shop law a bar or restaurant can have legal action taken against them for serving customers who are deemed to be too intoxicated?. Therefore, encouraging a responsible mentality towards drinking is of the essence. There are many ways that you can enjoy alcohol without harming yourself, or those around you, here are just a few.

Know Your Limits 

Everyone is different when it comes to their ability to tolerate alcohol. Gender, genetics, and how much alcohol you consume, all play a part in knowing your limits. If you know that you won’t react well after a certain amount of drinks, make sure you stay below this number. If you do want to carry on drinking, why not opt for a non-alcoholic beer instead?  

You should also make sure that you aren’t drinking on an empty stomach. When your stomach is empty, the amount of alcohol you drink will quickly pass into your small intestine, which is where it starts to be absorbed into your bloodstream. Once the alcohol is in your bloodstream you will begin to feel the side effects of drinking, such as a lack of coordination or slurred speech.  

You should also be mindful to drink a lot of water whilst you are consuming alcohol. Alcoholic beverages can be extremely dehydrating to the body. Try to drink a few glasses of water before you start drinking, during, and after. Drinking alcohol in moderation, and drinking water whilst you do so, are the best ways to avoid a hellish hangover.  

Find a Designated Driver 

Make sure you know how you will be getting home after a few drinks. You should never drive after drinking (even if you’ve only had one or two drinks). The statistics for drunk driving accidents are fairly sobering. Every day at least 29 people die as a result of drink driving in the United States, roughly equating to one death every 50 minutes. 

Don’t let one night’s foolish mistake ruin the rest of your life. You can rotate amongst your group of friends and designate a driver who won’t drink for the night. You can still have fun on a night out and be sober. Just take it in turns and look out for each other.