Choosing when and what to drink is 100% up to you! If you don’t want to drink, remember you don’t have to!

Here are some important tips for you and your friends:

Make a plan for the night for the night with the friends you are hanging with. Your plan should include, how you will be getting to and from where you’re going (uber, lyft, DD, having a friend drop you off and pick you up). Don’t drink and drive! 

Plan to stay with the same group of friends that you trust the entire night, don’t split up or go to different places. Make sure your phone is charged! Eat before and drink water as well (including foods that have fat and protein are great options). Set a limit with how many drinks you will have during the night. Help your friends stay accountable, and vice versa to stick with that limit. Remember, pace yourself, the body processes less than one drink per hour.

Watch your drink, never leave it unattended, avoid mixing alcohol with other drugs, including over-the-counter and prescription medication, avoid high risk drinking behaviors like: drinking games, pre-gaming and binge drinking. Drink plenty of water before and during drinking.

Party SMART

S- Space and Pace

M - Moderate consumption

A - Always designate a sober driver

R - Remember to hydrate

T - Track # of Standard Drinks

Space and Pace: Pacing drinks helps control your BAC. The faster and more frequently you consume, will increase your BAC and could lead to negative social and/or health consequences.

• Try to avoid activities that result in rapid consumption (Looking at you drinking games)

• Try to keep it to one standard drink per hour - It takes your body about an hour to an hour and half to process alcohol. 

• Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.

Moderate Consumption: Moderation is key! Have a game plan of how much you plan to drink. Know your limits, and try to keep track of your BAC and when to stop drinking. 

• Research indicates the probability of negative outcomes increase quickly as BAC rises above .06 and then increase exponentially at blood alcohol levels rise above .10. The only way to estimate your blood alcohol level is to track and calculate standard drinks.

ALWAYS designate a sober, unimpaired driver. Your DD shouldn’t be drinking with you.

• Have a plan to get home safely

• If your DD starts drinking, plan another way home (such as Lyft, Uber, call another friend, etc.).

Remember to Hydrate: Drinking causes dehydration. Dehydration can make you feel tired, reduce energy and even increase the severity of a hangover. 

It’s important to drink water! If you choose to drink, hydrate and drink water BEFORE you start drinking. 

Track # of Standard Drinks: Know your limits and set a limit. Track the # of (standard) drinks that you consume. For example, if you make a “double” that doesn’t count as 1 drink, that’s 2. 

• https://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/tools/calculators/drink-size-calculator.aspx