Advice Article: Responsible Drinking: A How-To Guide

posted by Cinders

My favorite drink of the moment.

First of all, let me say that alcohol is one of the finer pleasures in life. Hell, I always have a bottle of Bailey's on hand somewhere in my house. But I've been thinking about responsible drinking lately, and how a lot of people, especially younger folks like me, think they know what that means, but... don't, at least, not really.

Now, you may think, "Responsible drinking tips from a nineteen-year-old American?" Well, yeah, I see where that might come off kind of amusing, but I've actually had a lot of experience with alcohol. So really I'm more like a nineteen-year-old Belgian when it comes to drinking (coincidentally, Belgium is where I started drinking, at fourteen).

My experience includes the following, from bad to tame: My uncle's stepson died of alcohol poisoning at a fraternity party. My very good friend had to get his stomach pumped after alcohol poisoning on his eighteenth birthday. I have been black-out drunk, but only once before. I've taken care of drunk people, very often.

It is this last point that made me realize the need to write this. Even friends who grew up in the same environment as I did abused alcohol. In addition to that, when I came to the States, I was surprised at how many people wanted to "go out and get drunk." Whereas, for me, it's "Go out and get drinks." The difference is clear. My freshmen year, my friends fell into two categories: Those who drank to get drunk, and those who didn't drink at all. I ended up spending more time with the friends who didn't drink at all because I really didn't want to end up watching my friends drink beyond their limit.

This year, my friend who had his stomach pumped (we'll call him Charlie) is having the same problem in his freshmen year. He's always the designated driver, and he's always telling folks when they've had enough, and it frustrates him. Because he doesn't want to go with them, but he's afraid if he doesn't, something will go wrong.

So this is a how-to guide about drinking responsibly, targeted especially at the "under-aged" American drinkers (I use the term loosely because I think the age of twenty-one is ridiculously high). As my brother said, there is drinking responsibly, and there is getting drunk responsibly, and I will explain steps for both. Keep in mind that these seem strict, but I always follow them and they really aren't that hard to do.

For going out to drink responsibly:

1) Always drink with at least one friend.
2) Always assign a designated driver, even if no one plans to get drunk.
3) Always know what is in your drink (tequila, whiskey, vodka...). If you're going to a party, and especially if you're a girl, never set your drink down, and make sure you get it yourself, or accept it from a trusted friend.
4) Set a limit for yourself before you have your first drink. If you tend to over-indulge, or get stubborn after a few drinks, I advise you to tell a friend what that limit is so he/she can help you stick to that limit.

For getting drunk responsibly:

1) Know where you are! Don't get drunk in a strange place.
2) Call a cab or a friend to come pick you up at a specific time (whenever you guess you'll be ready to go home) because you'll probably be too trashed to remember to call a cab/friend yourself.
3) Know your limits. There is a difference between drunk and hospitalized.
4) (Once again, this is especially essential for girls) Only get drunk with friends around.
5) In case you miss your cab/ride home, ask a friend who lives nearby before hand if they'd mind if you crashed on their couch/floor.

Especially for "under-aged" drinkers:

1) Do not drink on school or public property.
2) Do not drink in the dorms.
3) Don't drink alcohol you aren't familiar with.
4) Follow all the above rules for responsible drinking.

Listen, I'm not trying to encourage "under-age" drinking, but I know it happens (hell, look at me) and it's important for people to know how to do it safely. Like sex. If your parents don't know you drink (mine do), be nice to them. Come home before curfew, don't mouth off at them, and understand that they don't want you drinking because they're worried about you.

Remember: It's fun to get drunk once in a while, but the real appeal of alcohol is its taste. A fine wine, or an Irish coffee in the morning can really make you savor the moment. Sometimes it's fun just to go for a drink... for the sake of having a drink.

I think that's all. I hope I haven't forgotten anything.

ChiliPepperLuv, I-Luv-L and 30 others like this

pirateroro Totally agree with the two categories, the drinkers to get drunk and the people who stay at home or just don't drink when they're out. Its the same with my friends. Nobody seems to wanna drink a nice glass of red wine and truly enjoy it. Its all about the percentage and how quick it'll get them out of their heads. Great soapbox.

germany123 i like this.. people drink even when they are underage or dont know their limits- and people who give advice say: dont drink! well thats not going to happen. in addition i would say that its a good idea to drink some water between drinks. you dont get wasted so quickly and actually have time to notice the changes in your body- that way you can stop when youve had enough. stick to one drink dont mix wine and beer and shots and cocktails..bad idea. oh and from personal experience: walk around! i was stuck in this crowded place one night, sitting at a bar and- always a bad idea- i knew the bartender. he kept giving me drinks..and when i finally made my way through the crowd to get to the bathroom and my blood started circulating properly- ahhhh! good thing i had a friend to take me home

ThinkPink20 "There is a difference between drunk and hospitalized." Haha, it's scary how many people can't differentiate between the two. Cinders, you've visited so many places. Where were you born? Was it in the States or did you move here?

dazl As a girl coming from a culture were drinking and the pub are central to socialising, I wholeheartedly spport this soapbox. Well done Cinders. I drink, as anyone who reads my comments knows. I don't mind not having a drink if I'm out. I have no problem with non drinkers. But please, watch yourselves. Germany123 makes good points, they really work. Make sure you eat a decent meal before you start drinking, because it lines your stomach. Don't EVER drink when on antibiotics, my friends have done it, one of who spent most of the night in the bathrooms of the club, evacuating her stomach. Another reason to be responsible when drinking is that you can lose precious memories of special nights. For example, I remember flashes of my 19th birthday, and thats it. Another guy I went to school with ended up in hospital after drinking himself unconscious at my graduation ball. A last story: My Biology teacher had to go to a funeral last year. His friends son had drank an entire bottle of whiskey, passed out, and never woke up.

Cinders Yes. Daz and Germany123 raised excellent points. I knew I'd forget some things. Also, to ThinkPink: I have never lived in the US until my freshman year of college. My folks are from the area (Seattle) and I have visited every summer to see family, so I'm familiar with the States, but I grew up overseas because of my parents' jobs. I was born in Manila, Philippines.

dazl By he way, if you enjoy Baileys, Cinders, try their other flavours. Or a Baby Guinness. You will love them.

Cinders I love Bailey's mint chocolate-- it's the bottle I have right now. And I'll try a Baby Guinness. I like Guinness beer... I just looked it up, it sounds good. :o)

germany123 i had a friend (we werent that close) who got drunk one night, went to bed and suffocated on his own vomit while sleeping. if he hadnt been that wasted he would have probably woken up... thats why its good to know your limit!

dazl You like Guinness? Oh you poor soul. Murphy's is better! Germany, I know what you mean. My former workmate overindulged at the Christmas party a few years ago, threw up and passed out in his own vomit. If other friends hadn't been there to help him, he'd be dead right now.

germany123 its really tragic somehow cause its so avoidable... isnt guinness the dark beer!? ive never tried it- it looks so scary!

dazl Guinness is stout, and yeah, you can call it dark beer, and it tastes disgusting. Nah, its an acquired taste...that many people don't acquire.

germany123 lol..i might give it a try just to see if i would ;)

ztara stout is delicious, tastes like darkness.cinders as a 17 year old from england who has been drinking since he was...*thinks* 13 probablly (god that sounds bad, well i suppose it kind of is!) i recognise that most of the stuff your saying is right and very well put may i add, but part of the point of drinking when your under age is to loose control. I think you can understand that. You can't afford the stuff that tastes good or has been hand made by monks, (saddly 'cos id drink that in a heartbeat) you by the £2 bottle of 7.5% cider because its all you can afford. I mean i don't like to get wasted because i don't like the dizzy feeling, people drink to forget, maybee just for one night but its true, not in a perticually depressing way but more in a 'i want a good night' way you know. People just don't know there limits or drink Alcopops *spits* which taste like cola and have as much alcohol in them as a pint.These are the people that end up forgeting the night. I love to drink, its one of my favorate pass times and its not all about the getting trollyed, but part of it is.

Cinders It's for this point, ztara, that I added the "getting drunk responsibly" section of this soapbox.

harold Did the black-out lead to your rules? I, too. had a roommate in college who liked to drink to excess (fact is, most of the people I knew did). We'd set up our beds in an odd, perpendicular bunk bed arrangement (college guys love to move furniture around, after all). He came back drunk one night, climbed up into his bunk and passed out. I awoke some time later to the sound of his vomit dripping onto my pillow. I leaped up and woke him (with considerable difficulty) so he didn't choke to death. It's important to know how to drink. It's a good article, particularly with the addition of germany123 and dazl's addenda. My parents encouraged me to drink, having me sample wines, beers, distilled spirits and various liqueurs from a very young age. As a result, I impressed my classmates no end in high school with my bartending knowledge. Unfortunately, all alcohol still tastes as vile to me as it ever did, so I only drink occasionally to be sociable (and it's usually a mixed drink that masks that alcohol tang with sugar or other beverage, like a 7&7, a chocolatini, or a Hurricane). Since you mentioned Bailey's, I have to write a soapbox article now about different drunk experiences. Well, it'll get added onto the list... I've always assumed that the drinking age in the US (well, California, at any rate - I can't speak for every state in the union) has to do with biology, and the fact that during your growing years, the toxins in alcohol are going to have a proportionally greater deleterious effect on brain function/development than in later life. We're all growing and dying at the same time. But in the early 20s, people's rate of growth is finally outstripped by cellular degeneration, and you can effectively be said to have "stopped growing". It's a bit earlier for women on average than it is for men, but everybody pretty much has "stopped growing" by 25, and most growth is before one is 20. But I suppose drinking age could have been established for other, less scientific reasons, too. It could have to be more society-based, for example, since 21 coincides with the age when most kids will finish university and enter the workforce (if they attend university). Or it could just be a remnant of Prohibition and the global temperance movement, that someone needs to be saved from the demon Alcohol. In general, I'd say that it's better to have kids have some experience of drinking if it can be done with adult supervision. But of course that's like saying that parents should be involved in their kids' schooling - it's desirable, but for many, many people it's not gonna happen...or at least not in a way beneficial to the kids. In addition, the law is not on my side with this: not only will the kids be breaking the law by drinking underage, but many communities in California have been passing laws in recent years to make the adults liable for their kids' drunkenness: either the owners of any property where underage drinking occurs (regardless of whether they were present or had any knowledge of said drinking) or the parents of the underage drinker...sometimes both. This is, of course, a reaction to the brutal extremes of teenaged drunkenness, resulting in death, mayhem, rape, assault, arson, property damage, and disturbing the peace, but it makes parents who'd like to help their kids develop healthy attitudes and knowledge about alcohol outlaws as well.

Cinders You raise excellent points, Harold! I understand the development reasoning, and it makes sense, but people are more likely to abuse alcohol when they are drinking it illegally, which makes it sort of a moot point. Additionally, Europeans like the Belgians (with whom I have had the most experience with) typically tend to be more responsible teenage drinkers, and also tend to have higher brain function than underage American drunks. I also agree with you 100% that parents should be involved in their child's first experiences with alcohol. It's how my parents raised my brother and I, and it's how I plan to raise my children. Though my parents' attitude towards drinking tended to reflect the country they were in. When we were in Belgium, for example, and my brother was sixteen, they knew he would have legal access to alcohol and were very fine with it. Their rules for him were that: 1) He have his first drink in Belgium with them, which he did, at dinner our first night there. 2) He did not come home totally wasted (this was sort of a "If we don't see it, it's OK" policy as he would come home trashed a lot, but he would never bother them about it.) 3) Don't drink their liquor. 4) If he needed to call an adult because a friend was sick with alcohol, he should feel comfortable calling them. The third rule was broken once when we went out of town and left my brother to house sit. When we came back, everything seemed fine until my Dad, who just happened to want a nice drink after he got home, yelled up at my brother, "Steve, why is the vodka bottle filled with water?!?!" (My brother had shared with his friends and hadn't had time to run out and get a new bottle. He thought my folks wouldn't notice, as they rarely drink, and that he would be able to replace it before they found out.) When we moved to Egypt, and I was a teenager, their attitude shifted. Because Egypt is a far sketchier place to be drinking, their rules were I could only drink at home with them. Of course, like any teenager, this wasn't always the case and the one time I came home blackout drunk, I woke up the next morning to my father, cheerfully telling me good morning and that he made me oatmeal and I better damn well eat it. He didn't yell at me or punish me, or even mention that he knew I'd been drunk when I came home, but he made my hangover a living hell, and that was deterrent enough to make me never go back to that place. I guess what I'm saying is, it is a good thing for parents to know what their kids are doing. But I know that a lot of parents have the "No tolerance" policy on drinking so... I have to go to class. Again, great comment, I loved it.

dazl Excellent points. My parents let me try alcohol at an early age, and as a result, I developed a healthy attitude towards drinking, whereas my friend, whose parents are strictly zero-tolerance, is now notorious for going out and getting langers on a regular basis.

SG1-090 Cinders you always have such helpful and constructive things to say =D totally agree with the points you made! Me and my friends started drinking regularly at about 14. It's sort of scary how extreme it got though, one of my friends ended up in hospital with a head injury(they were being carried home by another drunk person because they couldn't walk and was dropped)! Another caught hypothermia because they didn't realise how cold they where because they where too drunk -(they were outside in the rain - no jacket.) Some - not so close friends - have thrown up blood more than often because of drinking and a few have had their stomachs pumped a couple of times. It's getting crazy a group of my friends drank EVERY day of the summer holidays!! And unfortunately almost none of them follow any of your rules for "getting drunk responsibly" D=

hekissedmyhand this point made me LOL : "It's fun to get drunk once in a while, but the real appeal of alcohol is its taste" simply because I dont like the taste of Alchohol. (but it's true)

Sappp One point: I'm not saying that drinking while on antibiotics is a great idea, but I take antibiotics EVERY day. I have done since I was four and will probably do for the rest of my life. I have severe kidney damage and actually had a transplant just four months ago. So alcohol is not a very good idea. But I do drink. Very responsible, I have never been drunk. I'll just echo Cinders point: drink responsible, BUT especially if you have other limitations. When I was 13 my doctor asked if I went out and if I drank. I honestly said yes. He told me to be carefull, to watch it, something everybody should do, but me especially. To not drink when I was feeling very tired (one of the symptons of my decease). He did not forbid me to drink: he knew that would not work. He was very honest and open and very trusting: in return I never abused that trust. If you think it is nesessary, discuss this with your doctor! He knows the most about it and knows what best to advice in your particular situation. I drink about one drink a week. Whiskey most of the time. A good whiskey of 15 - 20 years old. I drink it slowly, I savour the taste, I really enjoy the moment. That's my limit, and I get everything from that moment I can :).

chris2010_2010 cool!

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