8 Ways To Enjoy And Drink Alcohol Responsibly

Last updated on : November 11 2021

For centuries, drinking has been a part of many social gatherings and celebrations, often as an ancient ritual. It is an everyday social activity that brings people together. Even in ancient times, humans have considered drinking as a part of evolution. Men and women often came to feast and drink for various occasions. 

In the modern age, people seek the help of alcohol to loosen them up and aid the flow of conversation. Many others see drinking as some reprieve after an exhausting day at work, allowing them to de-stress. 

However, any level of drinking can harm your health, not to mention other factors that can put you in danger. These include accidents, injuries, and long-term health problems.

These considerations bring us to the question: is it possible to enjoy drinking while limiting the risk to your wellbeing? 

The short answer is yes; there are ways to drink with less risk. 

But be aware that even if you drink responsibly, you are still likely putting yourself in harm's way - because even moderate drinking might be dangerous to your health.  

Here are some tips to help you.

Know Your Limit

You must understand how much alcohol your body can handle. Your alcohol limit usually depends on your age, weight, and gender. 

The CDC advises that healthy adults drink no more than two drinks or less in a day for men or one drink or less for women when alcohol is consumed.

Exceeding your alcohol limit can increase your risk of injury, accident, and hangover. It can also negatively affect your health, especially in long-term chronic conditions, like liver disease, cancer, heart disease, and mental illness.

You can try to assess your alcohol intake by keeping a drinking diary. This way, you will be able to record how much you drink each day. Tracking your drinking habit will help you understand your drinking patterns and how you can control your alcohol intake. 

Eat Before Your Drink

Never drink on an empty stomach. Alcohol enters your bloodstream through your stomach and small intestine, which means that when you drink without eating anything, the process will be quicker, and it will be easier for you to get drunk. 

Eating before drinking will allow you to absorb the alcohol in a way that slows down its effects. 

You can try eating before and while you drink. 

It is also best to drink plenty of water when you drink. Drinking water keeps you hydrated and counteracts the effects of alcohol. The best practice is to drink one glass of water after each intake of alcoholic beverage.

You might also want to make sure not to mix alcohol and sugary drinks and avoid salty snacks. Doing so will make you less thirsty, reducing your need to drink more.

Make Sure To Count Your Drinks

It's easy to get carried away when drinking if you don't watch yourself. 

Depending on the strength of the alcohol, you might need to make sure you are strictly keeping within your limit by counting the number of glasses or bottles you are having during a particular drinking session.

You can calculate your safe limit by using a standard drink calculator, and you should stick to it no matter what. Counting your drinks will help you stay on track.

Learn How to Pace Yourself 

Knowing your alcohol limit and counting your drinks can help you pace yourself, especially when drinking with a group. 

The amount of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in your blood can influence alcohol's effect on you. The faster you drink, the higher your BAC becomes. That is why you need to keep your pace at a minimum, say one drink every hour.

One way to set the pace is to drink water or other nonalcoholic drinks in between alcohol intakes. 

You can quench your thirst with water before taking another shot. Or you might want to opt for a low-alcohol drink to minimize its impact. 

Another way to keep your pace at a manageable level is to sip rather than gulp down your drink. Keeping it slow reduces your chance of getting drunk.

Avoid Drinking Games

When drinking with a large group of people, games, and shots are often part of the fun. But these types of gimmicks can get you drunk fast, encouraging you to binge drink (drinking more than four drinks in one session). 

Try other activities that can help you pass the time and slow down your alcohol intake instead. 

You can dance, play pool, or start a conversation with your friends or other partygoers. 

You may join the fun, but you can opt not to keep up with your friends if they indulge in too much alcohol. Aside from getting intoxicated, you'll also be prone to injury or untoward accidents.

Resist Peer Pressure 

It can be easy to drink more than you can handle with friends egging you on at a party or gathering. But if you know your limit, you should be able to resist peer pressure. 

It would help if you kept in mind that you can always say no. Choose the safest options for yourself. 

It's still possible to have fun without exceeding your drinking limit. Your friends will understand if you have enough. 

Otherwise, you can try to cut down on time you spend with your drinking friends and hang out with those who drink less instead. Or you can invite them to do other activities, such as drinking coffee, hiking, and cycling tours. 

Never Drink and Drive 

One of the main dangers of drinking too much alcohol is getting intoxicated. Once you know you have consumed a little more than usual, you should have the presence of mind to avoid getting into your car and driving.

It can be a recipe for disaster. Not only is it against the law to drive while drunk, but it can also be a cause of accidents. You are putting yourself and others on the road in danger.

Plan How You Get Home 

Before you drink outside, you should have a plan about getting home. 

This plan can involve leaving your car behind and taking public transportation instead, especially if you plan to drink. 

You can also plan it out with your friends by choosing a designated driver who will not drink. That way, you can enjoy the drinking session without worrying about driving home. 

You can book a ride home through ride-sharing services, too.

Focus On Having Fun Instead Of Getting Drunk

Try enhancing your experience of getting together with friends and relaxing after a hard grind at work without emphasizing alcohol. 

Some of the ways you can enjoy alcohol without over-indulging include the following: 

Get delicious food that can go with your favorite drinks. 

Make the occasion about food and not about drinking. Try new recipes that excite or restaurants with a difference.   

When you eat while drinking, you lessen the chances of getting drunk. You also slow down the pace of chugging down alcohol because you are eating. You mustn't be drinking on an empty stomach, after all.

Organize a fun game without hastening alcohol intake. 

If you are with a large group and want to do something more fun to perk up the atmosphere, organize a game but avoid involving alcohol as this can get you drunk quicker. 

Instead, find something fun that will need everyone's participation. Consider trivia games, traditional truth or dare, and others.

Plan virtual drinking sessions instead.

If you don't feel like going out but want to have a drink or two with the company of friends, the best course is a virtual event. 

A virtual event is perfect for long-distance friends who still want to celebrate special milestones together. You can invite your closest friends on a virtual catch-up and get them a gift for the occasion to make it more memorable. 

It can be a food delivery from their fave restaurant or a curated beer gift basket that they can enjoy.

Start meaningful conversations. 

Alcohol is known to keep your mood light and allow you to relax. You can enjoy conversations with your friends while keeping your slow drinking pace.

Focus on remaining clever rather than funny, as this approach will keep you sober and concentrating. 

Conclusion

It is hard to swear off alcohol altogether. Drinking, after all, has become a part of social gatherings, whether with family, friends, or coworkers. The involvement of alcohol keeps things interesting. It is almost a ritual to have some during get-togethers, celebrations, and parties. 

However, it is crucial to keep in mind the responsible drinking habits that will keep you safe.

Not only does responsible drinking minimize your risk of getting into accidents, acquiring injuries, or developing health problems, but it can also keep you from having an alcohol problem. 

Most alcoholic drinks can be addictive. You would not want to depend on alcohol to function day after day. 

It will be good to keep in mind that you can still have fun and drink alcohol, but be responsible while you are at it. These tips will help you enjoy a drink or two without getting into trouble.

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