Alcohol and Young People

Handy hints for staying safe on a night out

Before you go out:

• Make sure your phone is charged and has credit.
• Eat something before you go out to line your stomach.
• Take condoms out with you, just in case.
• Drink water before, during and after a night out, to stay hydrated.
• Plan how you’re getting home, save enough money for a bus or taxi.
   

During your night out:

• Never accept drinks from someone you don’t know, and don’t go back to a drink you’ve left unattended.
• Do not mix alcohol with other drugs, legal or illegal. It is impossible to know the effects.
• Drink water or a soft drink between alcoholic drinks, to stay hydrated.
• Try and eat something if drinking over a period of time.
• Do not walk home on country roads or unlit streets, and do not use coast paths or cliff-tops as short cuts. Alcohol affects your coordination and reaction times.
• Stay with your mates, don’t wander off.
• Look after your mates, don’t let them wander off or leave them behind.
• Be aware that if someone is drunk, they may lack the capacity to consent to sex.
   

After your night out:

• Drink some water before you go to sleep.
• The next day eat healthy foods rich in Vitamin C, to speed up recovery.
• If you’ve over-indulged, try and take the whole week off alcohol to let your body recover.