Drinking Game Dangers

Just about anything can be more fun when you make a game out of it, and drinking is no exception. Most anyone who enjoys a drink, has a favorite drinking game. From flip cup to beer bong, drinking games make a competition out of your alcohol. However, as much fun as they can be, they can also be quite dangerous. Many competitors have suffered serious injuries, and even fatalities, due to the following drinking game dangers. Check these out so next time you’re at a party, you can be safe.

Drinking Game Dangers: Avoiding Issue or Injury 

What’s In Your Drink?

One of the biggest drinking game dangers comes from not knowing what’s in your cup. When you start to play a game, someone normally provides you with a drink to play. Since you didn’t pour it, you don’t really know what’s in it. For instance, they could have poured more alcohol than you intended to drink. When you don’t know how much alcohol is in your drink, you may become far more intoxicated than you planned. In addition, drugged drinks are more prevalent in an atmosphere such as this. For these reasons, it’s best to always pour your own drink. Even when playing a drinking game. 

How Much Did You Drink?

The amount of alcohol you consume, and the rate at which you drink, can also contribute to potential dangers. Obviously, drinking games require that you drink. If you play several games, you’ll probably consume a great deal of alcohol in a short time. In addition, when you’re playing, you’re not keeping up with how many drink you’ve had. Therefore, you can end up drinking a large amount of alcohol. Not to mention, you’ll do so in a relatively short amount of time. By drinking too much, too quickly, you won’t allow your body time to process the alcohol. This can lead to serious conditions, such as alcohol poisoning.

Cranky Competition

Last on the list of drinking game dangers, is that you don’t always know who you’re playing with or against. More importantly, you don’t know how they play when they begin drinking. Alcohol can often change people’s moods and some people become angry when drinking. An angry drinker may not take too well to the rules of the game, the competition, or losing. Before you know it, you mind find yourself in a fight.

In short, drinking games can be lots of fun. However, they can also present serious dangers. Not knowing what you’re drinking, how much you’ve had, or how quickly you drink it, can be cause for trouble.

Post-DUI Decisions: Lifestyle Improvement 

After receiving a DUI, you often begin to reevaluate changes that you need to make in your life. Maybe you want to start drinking less, drinking smarter, or taking time to do other things. No matter what changes you feel necessary, you will likely make some post-DUI decisions regarding your lifestyle… 

Post-DUI Decisions: Lifestyle Improvement 

Evaluate the root of your issue

You made a bad decision, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow from it. Start by reconsidering how, and with whom, you spend your time. Maybe your bad decision was entirely your own. Or, maybe your decision came as the result of peer pressured drinking, or something of the like. When considering your habits, consider what leads to you indulging in them. 

Spend more time with your good influences 

If the crowd you spend time with makes you want to drink heavily, or make bad decisions— consider altering that crowd. Spend more time with family, close friends, or sober companions. Spend time with those who uplift you, and encourage you to make the right choices. When it comes to post-DUI decisions, limiting, or even increasing, the people around you can be a really positive change. 

Establish new habits 

When your typical Friday night is driving across town, drinks at the bar, driving back home, or heading out to go dance somewhere— a DUI can be quite jarring. You no longer have a license, meaning maybe you can’t get across town, or to see your friends, quite as easily. Therefore, you might find yourself developing new routines. No matter if it’s by necessity, or by choice— new hobbies can be exciting. Whether you take up yoga, painting, riding, running, or a sport— it can be nice to change your routines every now and then.

While your DUI was not ideal, it can lead to a lot of positive change

We often get so caught in our routines and habits that we don’t consider how positive shaking things up can be. So, take this inherently negative thing, and make the best of it. We wish you luck in your DUI case, and the aftermath of it. Furthermore, extend our condolences, and offer our services, during this difficult time. 

First Thanksgiving Sober: Counting your Blessings 

If this is your first Thanksgiving sober, you have a lot to be thankful for. However, making the adjustment, and avoiding alcohol, can be difficult during celebrations. After all, celebrations, more than any other time, are the setting where we miss alcohol most. However, by making the conscious decision to better yourself early, you have the time to prepare for this occasion. But, how do I go about it? Do I share the news? Should I fake a drink to avoid questions? Ultimately, this is your journey, and you get to decide who is on it with you. So, we’re here to help… 

First Thanksgiving Sober: Counting your Blessings 

Do what makes you comfortable 

Depending on your stage of sobriety, it might be quite difficult for you to be around alcohol in any capacity. If you know that limitation— that’s great! You know your limits at this time. So, decide what you can handle. If you share with your family or friends that you’re working towards sobriety, and cannot be around alcohol— it is very likely that they’ll have a sober Thanksgiving celebration with you. However, if they cannot accommodate— make other plans. At least now you know where you stand in terms of support. 

Avoid stress 

Holidays can be stressful for plenty of reasons. From buying gifts, seeing long lost family members, hosting, cooking, deciding where to go— the holidays sometimes seem more stressful than joyful. But, as you work towards sobriety, those stressors can be a danger to your progress. So, find ways to manage it. Exercise, meditation, writing, alone time… Practice self-care in your own way to avoid getting off track. 

Find a local meeting 

If you travel for the holidays, you might miss your typical AA meetings in your hometown. But, the fantastic news is that most areas have them— especially during the holidays. It’s not uncommon that the holidays will be stressful, and a trigger for people who are working towards sobriety. So, find a local AA chapter, and go to a meeting when you have a chance. Taking the time to check in, remind yourself what you’re doing it for, and release some tension is a fantastic away to survive your first Thanksgiving sober. You’re doing good, you’re working hard— the holidays don’t have to hinder that.