There’s nothing better than sipping an ice-cold lager at the lake while the sun tans your skin and music blares, right?
Day drinking season has officially begun; it’s warm enough to sit on the patio or head to the lake and take your parties outdoors. We start adding fruit and tiny umbrellas to our drinks and worrying less about time because we have all day.
If you’re planning some awesome day drinking excursions with your pals this spring and summer, keep in mind that accidents, alcohol poisoning, and bad decisions can still occur when the sun’s out.
To keep yourself safe and healthy this patio season, read the following drinking tips.
1. Plan Your Rides :
Maybe you’re meeting your friends at a cool rooftop patio or just hitting a backyard pool party.
Regardless of where your day drinking occurs, plan your transportation.
Don’t drive to the event if you know you’ll be drinking and unable to drive home. Take public transit, order an Uber or Lyft, or arrange for a reliable friend to be the designated driver (DD).
Even if people are coming to your house for the daytime party, you should hide your car keys so that you aren’t tempted to do a fast food run later when your inhibitions are lowered and decision-making affected.
2. Choose Your Drink Wisely :
To prevent nausea and vomiting, try not to mix alcohols. Stick with beer or wine or whatever liquor you’re mixing today. Combining different alcohols is a recipe for disaster.
You should also avoid shots when possible. Jello shots are part of day drinking parties all over the country, but they’re also dangerous because they taste good and are high in alcohol. It can be tempting to overdo it.
Some college-aged kids make the mistake of trying to “drink their age” at birthday parties, sometimes up to 21 shots, resulting in alcohol poisoning and blacking out. This is not smart and will cause sickness.
It’s easy to get distracted by being outside and enjoying the sun, but you need to pay attention to what you’re drinking.
Drink Tips :
In addition to avoiding shots, there are some other tips for choosing your drink.
First, add ice to your white wine drinks to dilute the alcohol and also slow down your sips.
Choose diet soda over regular soda for your mixed drinks because alcohol is absorbed into your system faster when mixed with regular soda.
Lastly, alternate each alcoholic drink with a non-alcoholic one.
3. Stay Hydrated :
Alcohol is guilty of dehydrating your body which causes faster and more intense intoxication. To avoid blackouts and getting sick, ensure you drink enough water before, during, and after your party.
As mentioned above, try alternating every alcoholic drink with water to maintain hydration. This is especially important when day drinking because excess sun exposure can also lead to heat stroke and dehydration.
Plus, when you’re hydrated, you tend to drink slower. Your body isn’t desperate for fluid so you aren’t chugging your beers.
When your body is well hydrated you can enjoy your drinks more and worry less about intoxication causing poor decision-making.
4. Eat :
An empty stomach will absorb alcohol faster than one full of food. The science behind it is real, and this tip should be taken seriously.
Some people who encourage excessive drinking will say, “eating is cheating” because you don’t get as drunk as you could on an empty stomach. Ignore these people; your safety and health are more important than following a stupid made-up rule.
Anyways, drinking tends to make you hungry.
Alcohol stimulates the hypothalamus in the brain which controls your appetite. When planning your day drinking party, make sure you have lots of healthy snacks on hand to prevent ordering unhealthy food.
5. Stay with Friends :
You should never go to a party alone if you don’t know anyone there enough to trust them.
Alcohol lowers your inhibitions which allows you to trust strangers more easily and pay less attention to safety concerns around you. If you always have a reliable friend nearby, you’re less likely to get into a bad situation.
Whether you’re day drinking or partying at night, never accept a drink from a stranger. Watch the bartender prepare your drink. Don’t leave your drink unattended. Leave with your friends, not a stranger.
When day drinking, have an end-game plan made with your friends. By knowing what time you want to stop drinking and move onto other activities (or just relax at home after a fun day), you have a reason to halt your intoxication.
Abstinence from Drinking :
If you are someone who chooses not to drink but still enjoys the atmosphere of day drinking, you must learn to ignore peer pressure.
Going to a bar and not drinking can make people who are drinking feel insecure or guilty for being intoxicated around someone who’s sober. But, that’s their problem, not yours.
Being the DD for your friends allows you to ensure they’re all transported home safely. You also enjoy multiple health benefits from abstaining from alcohol.
You can still have fun being the sober one.
When Day Drinking Does Go Wrong :
No matter how many times you’re told drinking safety tips, accidents and poor decision-making occur.
Some unfortunate results of getting over-intoxicated are choosing to drink and drive, sleeping with someone without contraceptives or knowing if they’re STI-free, and blacking out. When you aren’t aware of your actions, committing criminal acts is more likely to happen.
Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is a serious offense that could lead to consequences that affect the rest of your life. DWI laws in NC can result in up to 3 years in prison plus a whole slew of other repercussions.
It’s best to know your alcohol limit, stay within it, and never get behind the wheel while drinking.
Want More Tips?
Staying safe while drinking alcohol is the key to having an awesome day drinking event. By following the tips above, you can enjoy the day with your friends while making good decisions regarding your health and safety.
For more tips on having a fun and healthy lifestyle, check out our blog.
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