Eat a full meal. Eating high protein foods and carbs will slow down the absorption rate so alcohol won’t hit your system all at once.
Make a plan of how you’re getting to the party and how you’re getting home safely.
Set a limit on how many drinks you’ll have. Keep track of your drinks by recording it on your phone, arm, or just remembering it in your head.
Plan on using the buddy system with your friends. By sticking together and leaving together it will help prevent unwanted consequences - unhappy hook ups, citations, injuries, etc.
Think about whether or not you’re drinking for the right reasons. It’s fun to celebrate a birthday or drink casually with friends, but if you’re drinking to reduce stress, get over a breakup, or release anger, remember that alcohol is a depressant and will only amplify the feelings you already have.
DURING THE PARTY
Keep an eye on your drink and your surroundings.
Pace yourself and alternate your drinks with water or any other non-alcoholic beverages. You reach your highest alcohol euphoria (chemicals in your body that increase happiness and contentment) at around .055 BAC.
It takes your liver about 1 hour to process each alcoholic drink, depending on your size, food consumed, and other factors.
Don’t mix your drinks. Stick with one type of alcohol. Alternating different types of alcohol will raise and lower the sugar in your bloodstream.
Be cautious of drinking games. When playing them, it’s hard to judge how much you are drinking and in how long of a time span.
AFTER THE PARTY
Leave with your friends.
Drink a lot of water to counteract the dehydration from the alcohol, which can prevent a hangover the next day.
Make sure you and your friends get home safely.
Don't leave any of your severely intoxicated friends alone. Their BAC (Blood Alcohol Concentration) can still rise even if they’ve stopped drinking. Very drunk people need to be monitored.
Know the signs of alcohol poisoning in case your friend needs help.
