Lucky 21: What College Kids Should Know About Drinking

Drinking has always been a big part of college campuses and the young adult college experience. No one expects that to go away, but college students need to know that drinking has consequences that can be quite serious. Jail or even death can await those who fail to treat alcohol with the respect it deserves. The following guide will help you use alcohol safely and avoid ruining your first year being legal.

Eat First

It is important to always eat a good meal before a night of drinking. Having some food to soak up the alcohol helps to keep you from getting too intoxicated, too quickly. When your stomach has food in it, the rate of alcohol consumption is slowed down considerably.

Drink Water

No one wants to wake up with a massive hangover, and one of the chief causes of hangovers is dehydration. To prevent that nasty feeling next day, you should follow the golden rule for drinking safely. The golden rule is to always drink a full glass of water after every alcoholic beverage. Having a glass of water between drinks ensures you stay hydrated and slows down your drinking pace.

Pace Yourself

Pacing yourself is one of the most crucial skills for drinking safely. The body can only process about one drink per hour. If you drink more than this, you will become intoxicated quickly. Try to limit yourself to one drink per hour, if at all possible. You can even download an app on your phone that helps you pace yourself by telling you when it is safe to order another drink.

Think About Safety

Alcohol damages your critical-thinking skills, which can lead to serious consequences. You should never drive when you are drinking to avoid accident or the need for a lawyer later on. Always bring condoms with you since alcohol lowers your sexual inhibitions. You also should always drink with friends so you can keep an eye on each other. This is especially important for women who have to worry about the additional threat of sexual assault if they do not have friends to look out for them. Never leave your drink alone, and don’t continue drinking if you notice a strange taste.

You can definitely have fun drinking after you turn 21, but make sure you do it the safe way. Avoid binge drinking as much as possible. Always follow safety precautions when you drink to avoid becoming too drunk. When you consume alcohol responsibly, you can enjoy the positive benefits without suffering the negative health and legal consequences that can come along with excessive drinking.