Avoid Drunk Driving, DUI, and Disaster

When you’re sober, it’s easy to consider the fact that drinking and driving is extremely dangerous and risky. However, once alcohol gets into our system, judgment and reasoning have a tendency to go out the window. Therefore, if we don’t take the right steps, any of us could find ourselves getting behind the wheel after having too much to drink. So, what can you do to avoid drunk driving and keep yourself safe from DUI and disaster?

Avoid Drunk Driving: Steps to Take  

Secure a Designated Driver 

One of the most useful ways to avoid drunk driving is by securing a designated driver. Before you head out for the night, you need to form a plan for how you’re getting home. If you ask a friend to drive, make sure it’s someone that you can trust. Not all friends make for great DD’s. For example, many people will agree to drive but not be able to refrain from drinking when they go out. In order to avoid this, make sure your DD is someone you can trust to not drink and to get your home safely.

Give Up Your Keys 

The next step to avoid drunk driving is to give up your keys. Before you begin drinking, it’s best to give your keys to a sober friend. You should do this before, because you may not want to once you have alcohol in your system. At that point, a friend may need to take your keys and you could become defensive. So, in order to avoid any tension, get rid of them before the night really begins. Furthermore, some people may opt for hiding their keys instead of giving them to a friend. However, it’s difficult to hide things from ourselves, which means you may retrieve them after drinking a bit. In addition, it’s also possible to hide them all too well and end up losing them.

Be Careful of Morning After Driving 

Most of us assume we are okay to drive the morning after a night of drinking. However, in many ways driving hungover can have the same effects as driving drunk. For instance, you most likely still have alcohol in your system the morning after. You may feel extremely sluggish, have a harder time focusing, and experience slower reaction time. Therefore, in order to avoid drunk driving, you should really be cautious the morning after drinking as well. 

Social Drinking and Problem Drinking: Key Differences

Drinking alcohol is an activity that most adults take part in on a semi-regular basis. While drinking can either be problematic, or not, it’s making the distinction from social drinking that is truly important. It can sometimes be difficult to diagnose a problem when you’re the one facing it. However, making that decision that your drinking is becoming an issue can go a long way in preventing alcoholism, and stopping the problem before it becomes more serious.

Therefore, we are going to lay out some of the key differences between social drinking and problem drinking. As always, the signs can vary a bit for everyone. You know yourself, and the people you love, better than we do. So, if you see something, or notice something— say something, even if it doesn’t make our list. 

Social Drinking and Problem Drinking: Key Differences 

Before we dive into problem drinking, let’s first understand what it means to be a safe, social drinker. Of course, as an adult, you have the legal right to have a drink from time to time— unless you’re getting behind the wheel. However, it’s making the distinction that’s so important. Social drinking means taking part in low-risk drinking patterns. For example, according to the NIAAA, low-risk drinking for women is having no more than three drinks per sitting, and no more than 7 drinks per week. For men, the statistic is no more than 4 drinks per sitting, and no more than 14 drinks per week. 

While statistics help us put a number on what’s acceptable, it’s also important to understand the concept of social drinking. Social drinking can look like a night out with friends, casually drinking, and then taking a ride sharing service home. We all let loose every now and then with good friends. However, it’s limiting those times, and your intake, that makes all the difference. 

Problem drinking 

Now that you know what safe, social drinking looks like— it’s easier to make the distinction between safe, and problematic, drinking. Problematic drinking is a destructive behavior that is putting you at risk of getting hurt. Take, for example, frequent bing drinking episodes, driving drunk, going into work drunk, or using alcohol as a means of coping with difficult times. Furthermore, if you find that you have to lie to make your habits seem better to others, you have a problem with drinking that needs to be addressed. 

Drinking can be a behavior that we take part in casually, and safely. Or, drinking can be a behavior that is destructive to you, and the people around you. While the difference might seem obvious— to many, the lines can blur easily. So, if you or a loved one are suffering from problem drinking, it’s important to intervene early.

Pregame Rules: Set Yourself Up for Success

In some cases, the best part about a night out with friends is the pregame that happens before you go. In order to save money, many friends will get together for drinks at home and play games before hitting the bars. Not only does this save you money, but pregaming the right way can be the best part of the night. If you’re wanting to make sure your before-party is great, you’ll want to follow these few pregame rules. 

Pregame Rules to Make Your Party the Hit of the Night

Offer Food and Snacks

This is one of the pregame rules everyone will thank you for later. One of the most important aspects of a great pregame is the food. Food and snacks set the stage for the rest of the night. In order to avoid being miserably sick later or majorly hungover the next day, you’ll want have good food early on. So, the pregame is the best place to start. Try to throw in some carb heavy foods. Also, mingling over snacks will give your friends lots to do and talk about. 

Create An Upbeat Playlist

The next step in ensuring a great a pregame is to create a fun playlist. The music will largely determine the mood of the whole group. So, pregame rules say the playlist should be upbeat and fun. Leave the sappy love songs and slow classics for another time. However, feel free to play a popular song from your childhood if you really want to get the party going. 

Know Your Drinking Games

Next on the list of pregame rules, you have to know your drinking games. In order for your before-party to really be a success, you’ll need to have several spaces for games. Whether they are traditional games like ping pong and cards, or drinking games like beer pong, games can be the hit of the party. So, be sure create spaces for games and know the rules of how to play.

Approve of the Night’s Outfits

Last but not least on the list of pregame rules is to do a pregame outfit check. Before getting the party going, it’s important to make sure everyone is dressed for the evening. Before you know it, everyone will begin drinking and it will be time to call the Uber. In that moment, someone will realize they never changed their shirt, re-fixed their hair, or applied deodorant. So, make sure everyone is ready to go prior to beginning to drink.

In short, a pregame is a time to get together, talk, laugh, and of course drink. However, certain factors can really make a before-party the hit of the night. Sticking to pregame rules about food, music, and games can help your gathering be a huge success.