„Safe drinking“ is somewhat of an oxymoron: alcohol is never safe or healthy. The only fully „safe“ amount of alcohol to consume is none at all. If you want to completely avoid any potential alcohol-related risks and consequences, then we gotta talk about never drinking at all - but that would also mean inevitably leaving people out of the conversation, leaving them without information that could help them reduce their risk.
The reality is that many people do drink alcohol and, for various reasons, are currently not willing or able to stop altogether. So, let’s talk about harm reduction: not making it completely safe but making it safer.
A main goal is to avoid alcohol poisoning, a state where there’s so much alcohol in your bloodstream that basic functions begin to shut down (such as breathing, temperature control or consciousness). Symptoms can include:
slow or irregular breathing
trouble staying awake/conscious
skin that looks pale, grey or blue
(Note that not all of these symptoms need to be present for it to be serious!)
Alcohol poisoning can be deadly. Even in non-deadly cases, it can leave you with permanent brain damage. Luckily, the safety measures are rather simple: Don’t drink too much and don’t drink too fast.
More specifically, this means setting rules for yourself like:
I’ll sip my drinks slowly
I’ll alternate between alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic drinks (water, soda, mocktails etc)
I‘ll eat before and while I drink (food, especially meals with protein and fat, slows alcohol absorption), and never drink on an empty stomach
I’ll avoid participating in party games that encourage rapid drinking
I’ll set a limit on how many drinks I’ll get and stick to it
I’ll not mix alcohol and drugs (some combos can greatly increase overdose risks)
Another thing you’ll want to consider is reducing your risk of accidents, injuries or assaults:
I’ll never drink and drive
I’ll plan a safe way home before I even start drinking
I‘ll avoid getting drunk when I’m out alone (or home alone)
I’ll avoid getting drunk on first dates or hook-ups
I’ll keep my drink with me and get a new one if it ever left my sight (spiking a drink with a date rape drug can happen within seconds!)
I’ll not accept drinks from strangers unless I watched it being poured
Harm reduction can also extend to your friends:
I’ll check up on my friends while out
I’ll not leave drunk friends behind (in a bar or at a party etc), I’ll make sure they get home safe
I’ll warn my friends if I believe their drink may have been tampered with
I’ll accept a „no“ and never convince my friends to have „just one (more) drink“
If my friend vomits, and they’re awake, I’ll try to keep them sitting upright. If they’re unconscious or very sleepy, I’ll place them on their side (the recovery position) to help reduce the risk of choking.
I’ll immediately call emergency services if I suspect alcohol poisoning, even if others tell me that I’m being dramatic or that the person will „sleep it off“
Lastly, it can also include simply learning the facts, so you or your friends don’t fall victim to (potentially dangerous) myths:
a cold shower, coffee, pickle juice, a cheeseburger or whatever else can not „sober you up“. Only time lowers blood alcohol concentration.
Alcohol does not keep you warm. It can actually heighten the risk of hypothermia.
Different beverages contain different amounts of alcohol! It can be easy to underestimate how drunk you can get off just one or two cocktails if they’re strong.
Date rape drugs will not reliably make the drink look cloudy, taste salty, smell off or whatever else. They’re often undetectable by the senses! Don’t assume you would just notice if a drink was spiked.
Medical professionals aren’t cops. Their priority is treating you, not getting you into legal trouble. It’s better to not lie to them, even if you or your friends were drinking underage or consuming drugs etc. Be honest about how much or what you (or your friend) drank/consumed.
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