Whether your choice of drink is a shot of tequila, a fine bottle of wine or some local beer, you should always try to adhere to these five choices that your body, mind, and soul will thank you for in the long run.
1. Know your limit.
One of the most important things you should remember when you're out drinking is knowing your limit and pacing yourself accordingly. First off, every individual's consumption limit is different. The limit typically depends on a range of factors. (i.e. height, sex, weight, etc.) This should be taken into account as well as the duration you will be drinking. Determining your blood alcohol tolerance can prevent you from getting too drunk or even worse, blacking out. Blacking Out is a phenomenon caused by an excessive intake of alcohol which causes an individual to not recall a period of time. Imagine having the best night out with your friends and not being able to remember any of it the next day. How tragic. I'd suggest if you're still trying to figure out what exactly your limit is, to take it one drink at a time.
2. Drink plenty of water.
You should always drink water no matter what! Water is your best friend, okay? Alcohol usually has the effect of depleting water from your body and the chances of being dehydrated are more likely. Drinking water in-between drinks will prevent hangovers, keep you hydrated and will help you from getting way too drunk for your liking. From my understanding, people typically drink to have some fun, socialize, or whatever it may be; but I think we can all fully agree, nobody drinks to feel immensely sick.
3. Don't drink on an empty stomach.
If you love yourself, please don't drink on an empty stomach. Remember to always eat something before you drink. Something is always better than nothing and your body will thank you for it. When you decide to drink on an empty stomach, the alcohol will absorb much quicker throughout your bloodstream and into your vital organs. Sure, you'll become intoxicated faster but the chances of becoming sick also highly increases––almost a guarantee. You could black out, do something incredibly stupid, or even vomit bile. Bile is a fluid that is made in your liver, stored in your gallbladder, and travels through your small intestine for digestion. These are the organs affected most when you're drinking, as well as your brain. Vomiting bile typically happens on an empty stomach and is far worse than vomiting regularly for the reasons that it's far more painful in your abdomen, sour taste in your mouth, and has you feeling nauseous for what seems like forever. I for one can vouch that this is the worst feeling in the entire universe.
4. Always be aware of your surroundings.
This one is for both the guys and gals out there. I'd like to believe the world is a nice place where I can enjoy a night out with my friends, have a drink, and not have a care for the world for once, but that's not always the case. My rule of thumb is to always be aware; whether it's out at a club, house party, or small get together with friends, anything can happen. You should always remember that no one is going to be there for you more than yourself, especially if you've had a few drinks.
5. Don't drink and drive.
I cannot emphasize this enough––please do not drink and drive. Do not drink and drive for your sake or anyone else's. If you're planning on drinking and you know you'll be in a situation where you're incapable of driving home later, plan accordingly. If you even have to question at any point in time if you are capable of driving, just don't do it. There's an abundance of choices who are more than willing to help you if this happens. (i.e. Designated driver, Lyft, Uber, Taxi, etc.) Anything is going to be better than getting behind a wheel when you're intoxicated. You may think that at the time you're capable of driving but the alcohol in your system gradually affects your impairment over time. Sure, your blood alcohol content may read that you're legally able to drive at this time, but as soon as you drive down the road you may be drunker than you were initially. Don't be stupid. Don't become another statistic. Don't become the reason for an accident. Don't risk the chance of injuring yourself or even worse, death.
You should always drink responsibly! Of course, have fun and do your thing, but take the necessary precautions to prevent yourself from doing anything you may regret for the rest of your life.
