'Tis the season to stay safe.
Never drink on an empty stomach
If you drink on an empty stomach you will absorb the alcohol faster than if you drink after eating something. Ideally eat something that's high in protein, even if it's just a piece of cheese.
Don't drink when you're thirsty
Drinking when you're thirsty works against you in two ways:
- You're dehydrated, so you have a lower percentage of water in your body, and the alcohol you do consume therefore represents a larger ratio within your system
- You're dehydrated, and feeling thirsty, so you drink faster and consume more in order to try and satisfy your thirst
Pace Yourself
Ideally just have one drink an hour. Or at least, drink one non-alcoholic drink before your next alcoholic one. This will raise your body water percentage as well as halving the amount of alcohol you would have drunk.
Know Your Limit and Stick With it
Be aware of how much you can safely drink, set yourself a limit, and stick with it.
Never Drink and Drive
Different countries have different drink-driving laws, and a great many of them have zero tolerance. Drinking alcohol results in loss of coordination and impaired judgment. This makes for a perilous mix when driving, and has been found to be a cause of serious accidents which endanger not only the drivers' lives, but also the lives of others.
If it's absolutely necessary to drive, then choosing a designated driver is a good solution. This role can rotate within a group, with the designated driver committing to not drinking at all for the entire evening, and being responsible for getting the group home.
Beware the Morning After
Not only might you have a terrible hangover, you may still be over the legal limit. You need to take into account the amount of time that has elapsed since you stopped drinking. The liver can only process one unit of alcohol per hour, and although you may think you've slept it all off, you could still be under the influence and unfit to drive.
