Are you ready to join in on the excitement while supporting a great cause? Get ready for Beckett Bingo, a student-run charity event aimed at raising funds for TCD, a fitness and well-being charity in West Yorkshire. Set to be a night of interactive entertainment and camaraderie, Beckett Bingo promises multiple rounds of bingo with fantastic prizes and other engaging activities, all while contributing to the sustainability of a vital local charity.
Beckett Bingo isn’t just about having a good time; it’s about making a meaningful impact on the community. By raising money for TCD, we’re helping to ensure that essential fitness and well-being services remain accessible to those who need them most. But that’s not all – we’re also empowering the local community by coming together for a common cause.
In collaboration with No Regrets, Beckett Bingo is not only raising awareness for sober events but also aligning with the shared objectives of empowering the community. Thanks to Bold Events, attendees will have the opportunity to sample alcohol-free products, encouraging a healthier approach to socialising whilst still optimising the fun.
Beckett Bingo isn’t just about the here and now – it’s about leaving a lasting legacy for future generations of Leeds students. By supporting TCD, Leeds Beckett University, and No Regrets, we’re not only giving you the opportunity to engage and create new connections in your own lives but also ensuring that these organizations continue to thrive for years to come.
Mark your calendars for April 19th and get ready to experience Beckett Bingo. Whether you’re a bingo enthusiast or simply looking for a fun night out with friends, this event promises something for everyone. Not only will you have the chance to win exciting prizes, but you’ll also be contributing to a worthy cause and making a positive difference in the community.
So, gather your friends, grab your bingo cards, and join us for a night of laughter, fun, and philanthropy at Beckett Bingo. Together, let’s make a difference in the lives of others while creating cherished memories that will last a lifetime. We can’t wait to see you there!
We’ve all had those nights out that turn into unforgettable adventures, but what about the not-so-glamorous moments? Picture this: you’re out with your loved one, enjoying the ambiance of a cosy restaurant or dancing the night away at a Valentine’s party. Suddenly, you realize you’ve had a bit too much to drink. Your friends or partner are nowhere to be found, and you’re left scrambling to figure out how to get home safely, whilst trying to trace your lost items.
It’s moments like these that make you wish you’d paced yourself. While a few drinks may go along with a great night, going overboard can lead to a whole host of unwanted consequences. From pricey taxi rides to waking up in a stranger’s house with a throbbing headache, the aftermath of excessive drinking is far from romantic and far from ideal.
Getting caught in a drunken stupor could put a serious damper on the Valentine’s Day spirit. This Valentine’s Day let’s make a toast to love, and vow to take it steady.
Whether you’re enjoying a candlelit dinner with your other half or painting the town red with your friends, remember to pace yourself and plan the day ahead. After all, nothing ruins a romantic evening faster than waking up with a hangover or throwing up in front of your potential crush and friends.
Here are precisely the questions you could ask yourself right now (if ‘drinking less’ was your motto for last year):
And lastly…
Well, if ‘Yes’ was the answer to most of these questions, you should be celebrating yourself for staying committed throughout the last 365 days, and continue to keep your head in the game.
However, if ‘drinker’s remorse’, foggy night-outs, and uninvited hangovers kept occurring time and again – no matter how hard you tried to avoid them, then you’d definitely like to have a look at our list of tips and hacks that are guaranteed to help.
Before that, a quick fun fact: 80% of New Year’s resolutions are forgotten by February, while 46% of adults still stick to their resolutions after 6 months.
If you’d like to stick to yours, take a quick glance at the new habits you can pick up in the new year.
Rather than making vague or exaggerated goals like “It’s final, I’m cutting down forever!”, set specific goals like limiting your alcohol consumption to one drink at pres. Remember, it takes a while to build good habits.
Check out our social pages and find our reels of alcohol-free mocktail recipes which we swear you’ll love. They can be made at home, in just under 15 minutes, and with minimal ingredients. But if you’re not the crafty one, worry not – there are plenty of alcohol-free alternatives you can order online or buy from your nearest store – come on, give it a try or (five)!
Take some time and understand its impact on your health. Spot your triggers. Get aware. And then, implement the ways to stay in control.
One of the best things you can do is share your resolution with your friends and family who will support your decision to cut down. Doing that will help you to stay on track, especially during moments of temptation.
Let’s admit it – at times we do feel like we’re being pressured into drinking. Try to remember that friend, aunt, or colleague, who says no to things without worrying what others might think. Use this tactic to keep away from any regrets.
With simple tactics like these, you can confidently stride into a year filled with positive choices and a healthier, more fulfilling lifestyle. And as you embark on this new journey, remember we are with you every step of the way.
Let’s welcome a balanced 2024 together!
Throughout November we’ve been asking for some of your embarrassing drunk Christmas stories. We’ve compiled some of the most cringe-worthy so you know what to avoid.
Imagine this: You’re having a great time at the club, laughing and dancing with your pals, and suddenly you realize you’ve had a bit too much to drink. Your friends are nowhere to be seen, and to add to the chaos, you can’t even find your train ticket on your phone. How do you get home now? That’s not the situation you want to find yourself in, right?
Ah, the joys of missing the last train home after a night out. You end up shelling out a whopping £50 just to get home. Imagine what you could have done with that money instead of spending it on a ride because you stayed for one too many.
Have you ever woken up on a bench at the train station, wondering how you got there? It might sound like something out of a movie, but it happens more often than you think. Picture this: takeaway in hand, train ticket now expired, being shaken awake by the police so you don’t get your phone stolen… It’s not the most glamorous wake-up call, is it?
Now, here’s a scenario that none of us want to experience. You had a bit too much to drink, and in a moment of recklessness, you pushed through the barriers and got yourself arrested for being drunk and disorderly. Now you’re facing a hefty £100 fine. That’s some serious money that you could have used for something far more enjoyable.
Picture this: You can’t remember the way home, and in your alcohol-induced haze, you decide to walk along the train tracks. It might seem like a bold adventure at the time, but think about the potential dangers. Luckily, there were no trains that night, but it could have ended very differently.
Let’s face it – you’re at university for an education, and maintaining a healthy level of alcohol consumption is crucial for academic success. Excessive drinking can lead to poor decision-making, impaired cognitive function, and a lack of focus. By drinking less, you can stay on top of your studies and perform better in your classes.
Drinking too much can take a toll on your mental and physical health. Drinking in moderation, or not at all, can help you keep a clearer mind, better physical health, and improved overall well-being. It’s also the best way to avoid the dreaded hangover.
University is a time to forge friendships that last a lifetime. Drinking less can actually enhance your social life. You’ll be more present and engaged in conversations and activities, and you’ll be remembered for you, not your drunk mistakes
Be clear about how much alcohol you’re comfortable with and stick to it. Setting boundaries can help you avoid peer pressure and make responsible decisions.
Opt for non-alcoholic bevs. There are plenty of delicious mocktails and alcohol-free options available that let you enjoy the social without the alcohol. You could even be the designated driver who ensures everyone gets home safely.
Get involved in clubs and activities that don’t revolve around drinking. Many universities offer a wide range of clubs and organizations focused on various interests, from sports and fitness to art and culture. These provide an excellent opportunity to meet like-minded people without the pressure to drink.
Choose your friends wisely. Surround yourself with people who respect your decision to drink less and support your goals. True friends will encourage you to stay on track.
Being mindful of your alcohol consumption can make a significant difference. Pay attention to how much you’re drinking, how it makes you feel, and how it affects your behavior. Reflect on these experiences and use them as motivation to continue drinking less.
Playing rugby will burn calories but that’s only half of the story. Alcohol contains around seven calories a gram and interferes with metabolism. If you were wondering why your weight wasn’t shifting despite the healthy diet and regular rugby training – your alcohol intake could be holding you back.
Keeping hydrated is key to a top performance and quick recovery. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol leaves the body dehydrated and reduces energy levels. Drinking more water will help to flush out waste, keep blood flowing and give the body the nutrients it needs.
Avoid restless nights. If you drink less, your sleep quality will be improved and enable that important recovery time for your muscles and mind.
You don’t want to be tackling a hangover, headache and anxiety when you’re trying to focus on your game. By decreasing your alcohol consumption, you can maintain motivation, fuel your focus, relax and perform to your best ability.
We’re in the peak of the summer and loving it. Some of our highlights have been the great selection of gigs in Millenium square, Hyde Park Picture House reopening its doors and soaking up the sun in some of the Headingley beer gardens. We can’t wait for the best part of the year – Leeds Fest! Tickets first went on sale in December and we’ve been patiently waiting for the festival to roll around.
We want to make sure that you get the most out of the festival so our team are sharing our festival fails, festival favourites and top tips to get you through.
“I don’t remember how, but I got separated from my mates then lost my phone. I had to walk alone for two hours in the dark until I could find our tent.”
“I had to watch my drunk friends throw up and was solely responsible for looking after them”
“I lost my phone and keys somewhere in the field and spent far too much money. I never got them back.”
“I tried to use a she-wee whilst drunk and it did NOT go well”
“I dropped my phone in the portaloo, safe to say I had to fork out for a new one after the festival”
“I was coming off an illness so decided not to drink. It was so nice to be able to catch all the acts I wanted to see and remember every moment of it.”
“I remember every single detail so clearly and found a sober like-minded group to share the fun with”
“I made good memories and actually remembered the night.”
“I woke up without a hangover and was ready to see more bands”
“I saw the lead singer of my favourite band in the crowd for another singer and managed to hold a conversation with them and get a photo”
SCOOP SEEDS FROM 1 PASSIONFRUIT INTO SHAKER. ADD LIME JUICE, SUGAR SYRUP AND VANILLA ESSENCE AND SHAKE. POUR INTO GLASS, TOP UP WITH NON-ALCOHOLIC WINE AND ADD HALF PASSIONFRUIT TO GARNISH
ADD TO JUG, STIR AND SERVE WITH CINAMON STICK
ADD ALL INGREDIENTS TO GLASS WITH ICE. STIR AND ENJOY!
ADD ALL OF THE INGREDIENTS INTO A BLENDER WITH ICE. BLEND!
ADD ALL OF THE INGREDIENTS TO A COCKTAIL SHAKER. SHAKE AND SERVE!
ADD ALL OF THE INGREDIENTS INTO A JUG. STIR AND SERVE!
Whether you’re a professional athlete, a member of a local sports club or just go for a leisurely jog at the weekend, it is important to be aware of the effect alcohol can have on your body and mind. Sporting legends (Andy Murray, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Harry Kane, just to name a few) stay away from drinking alcohol to prioritise their sporting success – so can they be on to something?
Drinking alcohol can negatively impact your sports performance. Drinking alcohol-free drinks with teammates or picking up new hobbies to unwind and relax after a competition is a good way to keep fit and focussed without missing out on the social side of sport.
Staying hydrated and drinking water is important for both recovery and optimal performance during exercise. Having alcohol in your system means you are more likely to sweat more, leaving you dehydrated. Drinking plenty of water helps to flush out waste, keep your blood flowing normally and deliver all the nutrients that your body needs to function properly.
Your muscles need rest and recovery time to rebuild themselves after a workout. But, according to the Sleep Foundation, even moderate amounts of alcohol can reduce sleep quality by 24%. Your body will thank you for getting a good night’s sleep!
Drinking alcohol can reduce mental clarity, impacting motor skills, balance and reaction time, meaning a worse performance and increased risk of injury. Trying to compete whilst being hungover can leave you disoriented and not performing your best.
Interested in finding out more about how becoming alcohol-free can improve your performance? Listen to these podcasts:
What Alcohol Does to Your Body, Brain and Health – Huberman Lab
The Real Science of Sport Podcast
Quitting Alcohol, Work Related Stress and Functional Fitness – The Not So Fit Couple Pod
Fancy getting to know more about the history of Leeds? There are lots of different galleries and museums in and around the city centre.
If you’re looking for a way to spend the evening, then going to watch live music and performances is one of the best ways to do it. Check out what’s on at:
Left Bank Leeds is not only a great space for a coffee break, but also has loads of opportunities to get crafty on Creative Wednesdays! Check out their website for more info on any upcoming events: https://www.leftbankleeds.org.uk/
Candle making
Screen printing
Art club
Clay workshops
Not everything in Leeds has to cost a small mortgage. Why not take some friends and a Tesco meal deal to one of the many parks across the city.
Leeds is renowned for its shopping! Take advantage of the stores on your doorstep and have a look round all the independent stores there are on offer.
Fancy something a bit more out of the city? Leeds is surrounded by lots of green areas only a hop, skip or a train journey away.
If these sound like you, why not try out some sober dating instead.
Pace yourself, plan ahead to ease the nerves – even if this includes an exit strategy! Try some distractions like ringing a mate before the date instead of downing a pint for courage. And try to have a great night that you’ll remember.
Here are some ideas of where you can go for a successful sober date:
You might have used your FitBit, Strava or MyFitnessPal, but why not extend the healthiness beyond January? Cutting down on drinking can save you that headache, hangxiety and sluggish feeling and leave you feeling happier, energised and sleeping better. Here are a few free apps that are easy to use and can help you save lbs and £s.
NHS Drink Free Days
This app frames itself as being for people who love to drink but want some help cutting down. It lets you choose which days of the week you’d like to go drink-free and helps you stick to it. ‘Health guidelines recommend we all take at least 3 days off drinking a week’.
You start by setting up your own personal goals for cutting down drinking, give some insight into a typical week currently and take a pledge on which 3 days you’d like to go drink free.
The app shows you what you could spend those calories on instead and how much money you’d save if you cut back – per week, per month and per year. A great motivator for me personally!
It’s an easy to use app that doesn’t take much time. Once you’ve set your goal you can look back weekly to see if you’re on track and to keep you motivated you can see how much money and calories you are saving in the process. Win win if you ask me!
MyDrinkaware App
MyDrinkaware app helps you track your drinking changes. Once you set up your free account you can track drinks, drink -free days as well as sleep quality. So many of us struggle to get a good night’s sleep and are fed up of feeling shattered. By tracking drink alongside sleep you should see a noticeable difference.
You can also set your own goals, log and celebrate drink-free days. The app has a built in progress tracker to help you keep on track and motivate you to keep going.
Drink Coach
Drink Coach lets you track your drinks and set multiple goals such as drinking less, saving more or having days off. Some of the features that set this app aside from the others are the reminders from your ‘sober-self’. If you know you have plans and don’t want to be suffering a hangover you can set these reminders to ping up to yourself from yourself.
You can also try out some of the app’s mindfulness videos to help improve your mental and physical health further.
Try Dry
Lots of you may have taken part in Dry January but did you know the Try Dry app helps you well beyond this month. You can set yourself another new challenge, track units and view on a units calendar.
You can also record how you’re feeling, use the health quiz and help keep up the dry streaks.
Perhaps for this reason, ‘fresher’ culture and alcohol are seen to go hand in hand. Universities will boast about how many pubs and bars they have on campus and new conversations revolve around funny stories of how friends threw up the night before.
If you look at student halls, you will see empty bottles of vodka and gin lining the windowsill as if shouting: “look how fun we are up here”. Drinking culture at university is reliant on the nerves that come with these new social challenges.
Although it may seem to be, alcohol doesn’t define everyone’s experience. In the summer, The Guardian reported that 1 in 4 people aged 16-24 are now teetotal. According to 2022 reports by Drinkaware, alcohol-free beverages are now drunk during around a third of pub visits and the market for alcohol-free drinks has actually grown by over 506% since 2015, according to Forbes.
Celebrities, such as Love Island 2019 winner Amber Davies, now use their social media platforms to talk about how not drinking has uplifted and improved their mental and physical health.
Not drinking is no longer something to be anxious about, as most of the room will most likely already be friends with or know someone with the same feelings towards it.
If you’re not used to going to events without drinking it may feel strange, but quitting drinking doesn’t have to mean quitting socialising and having fun with new people.
If you feel yourself becoming introverted, an easy solution is to ask new people about themselves: ‘why did you join this society? How are you finding your first year? Where are you originally from?’.
By asking one small opening question, the people around you will naturally start talking and sharing stories with you and each other.
Embracing your natural, sober personality in a room full of new people and drinking students is maybe something that is learnt over time. That doesn’t mean it can’t be done. In learning not to rely on drinking to have a good time, you also will learn not to rely on it to have a naturally strong, funny and confident personality.
Whilst peer pressure is real at university, this is also the best time in your life to find true, lifelong friends who are not only there when you are fuelled by a temporary liquid confidence.
By embracing your natural personality, you will also learn to embrace being a little naturally shy sometimes in new social situations. But through this exploration, you will naturally fit right in.
We all know to line our stomach before we drown ourselves in alcohol but rarely remember until the end of the night kebab cravings kick in. Festivals have some of the best food – whether it’s a burrito, burger or biryani that’s up your street. Get a filling meal in before the drinking begins
I’m sure you’ve already spent ages looking at the line up and dreaming of finally seeing your favourite artist. Make sure you don’t miss them, lay off the box wine and cheap vodka during the day
Dance and sing your heart out to all your favourite bands. Switch up the beers with water so you can stay on top form. Make memories this summer and leave the festival with some class stories instead of a blackout blur.
It’s heating up in the UK but the last thing you want is to pass out from the drink, crowds and heatstroke. Take a refillable bottle with you and sip soft drinks throughout the day. If you swap between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks it’ll save you a bomb as well
Are you going to a festival this year?
Forward Leeds has some more advice on How to Party Properly on their mobile-friendly website including the risks when combining drugs.
I can usually have a few drinks and a good time with nothing too crazy happening. I mean, as someone who volunteers for a responsible drinking campaign, I should hope so, right?
However…I recently had a night out which did not go to plan and ended with a lot of drunken tears and a lot of regret the next day.
So how do you pick yourself up and dust yourself off after a negative drinking experience? And what can we learn from these experiences, if anything?
Here are my thoughts…
I was already SO tired before the night even started. I remember thinking, do I really want to go out? But the FOMO got to me – don’t let it! Don’t allow people (even good friends) to talk you into anything – ever. If you’re tired, get a takeaway, chill out and just go to bed!
I completely lost count…I was mixing drinks…it was bad. So when you get a second -just stop – and make a rough count of how much you think you’ve had…then add at least one more to whatever you’ve estimated
If you stop once you can feel it hit – it’s already too late. After a few drinks, just have one soft drink regardless of how you feel. Trust – you’ll be glad you did
Linking back to point 1, don’t stay out later than you really want to. It’s easy to just keep drinking because you’re tired, bored and just trying to block it all out – but it’s ok to say “you know what, I’m really tired, I’m just gonna call an Uber”
Bad experiences teach us so much more than good ones (annoying, I know!). Reflect on what happened and what you can do differently next time. It doesn’t have to be about drinking or not drinking- there is a middle ground – you really can have a great night AND a great next day!
It’s not really a brunch at all – most places allow you to book your start time up until 3pm. So book a bit later, line your stomach with a hearty breakfast and you’re good to go
Browse the menus and read some reviews before you book. Some places try to get away with serving a small plate as your main. Don’t get ripped off – if you’re paying £30 you may as well get a decent meal out of it.
This goes for drink too – choose somewhere that’s serving quality beverages rather than cheap booze. The quality of the drink can actually have quite a big impact on how it makes you feel. And – you guessed it – the cheaper it is, the worse the outcome. You could even go “dry” and have some delicious mocktails instead!
Sitting in the sun may seem like a bright idea (and is great for a pic or two), but unlimited drinks in the sun for 2 hours is a recipe for disaster. If half your table are in the sun, rotate seats every now and then.
Mums have been trying to tell us for years: have a glass of water in between every drink. Hydration is the key to success – get a pitcher for the table. This way you’ll actually have fun, and not end up in a taxi home with a headache at 5pm.
I’m not ashamed to admit a Tesco 3-courser is my Valentine’s sorted (sad? No way!) Make yourself feel special with your favourite take-away or home-cooking.
A luxurious shower, face mask and scented candle doesn’t have to be reserved for the girls! Calling all single boys out there: treat yo’self!
The mornings are getting lighter, the evenings are drawing out and crocuses are popping up everywhere (proof from my camera roll above). Take a moment to appreciate the better and brighter days to come.
Exercise is proven to improve mood and release sadness-fighting hormones so you really CAN sweat your tears away! Get yourself to the gym, go for a run or try something new!
Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to just be about celebrating romantic love, it can also be the perfect opportunity to recognise all the wonderful people already in your life! Spread the love by getting together with friends and family-who needs a date?!
Test yourself with our fun quiz and see if your boozing is really as much fun as you like to think it is.
I have to be honest, the name for this blog came to me long before I could think of anything to write! Like most people, drinking is usually how I manage an awful party with no obvious means of escape…
…But as recent experience has taught me, a boring party is boring whether you’ve had 2 drinks or 10. The only difference being that with 10 drinks it manages to ruin Saturday AND Sunday, and I don’t know about you but I resent losing an entire weekend to something that deserved a one-star review on TripAdviser…
Ok…so how can you really have fun at a Christmas party without alcohol?
Here are some ideas…
Learn to dance 💃🏽
You don’t need to be drunk when you’re dancing to your heart’s content
Take control of the playlist 🎵
You can’t dance to a rubbish music, so change it
Bring the conversation
In parties, as in life, sometimes we have to BRING the vibes, so prepare some funny anecdotes and questions to get the conversation going
Pace yourself
Ummm, how do I do that? Go slow, learn your body’s signals for when the drink is catching up with you, alternate between alcoholic and soft drinks, and sneak a glass of water when you can
Take the pressure off
Let’s face it – you win some, you lose some and not every Saturday night will be the best night of your life. Sometimes it’s just nice to get leave the house and be around new people. So shake it off and make the most of tomorrow!
Learn to say byiiiii 👻
Ok. Leaving a party early can be rude. And yes. There is a balance to be had here as some parties just take a minute to warm up. Departing after 20 minutes maybe unfair but, equally, your time is precious, and you owe it to yourself not to waste it so once you’ve given a party a fair shot, LEAVE!
Sometimes it can be easy to forget how alcohol may be affecting our relationships. I think as a University student, our alcohol use is most likely to affect our relationships with flatmates. We live with them for the whole academic year, and they are the people who have to deal with all the drunken singing, noise and mess left behind from pre-drinking.
I personally experienced frustration many times with drunk flatmates. Mainly, due to them returning from a night out drunk and making lots of noise whilst I was sleeping. There were many nights where I had lectures early the next day, work or even exams. But as my flatmates had been drinking, they would come back and starting shouting, singing, playing loud music in the corridor outside of my bedroom.
This would make it impossible to sleep and give me a headache, leaving me quite frustrated- especially if I had something important going on the next day like an exam. It felt like my flatmates didn’t care about how I was feeling, and how their actions affected me.
I also did many of these things before when I would go out and get drunk- so I understand both sides. I’ve definitely learnt from both experiences- I hated annoying my flatmates or doing anything to make them feel uncomfortable. I always felt so guilty and realised that our relationship and respecting them was a lot more important than getting drunk. I also understand how frustrating it is being the flatmate who has to deal with people who are drunk, and I realised I would never want to put anyone in that position myself.
Sometimes my flatmates would bring new friends they made at the club back to our flat. I had experiences where these people would try and enter my room, break my stuff or I would find them sleeping in our kitchen. This made me feel unsafe and on edge. My flat is a space where I want to feel most safe and comfortable, but that is hardly possible when you have strangers trying to enter your room or sleeping in your kitchen.
Safety is a big thing. After a night of heavy drinking, it’s so easy to accidentally put your flatmates at risk. I experienced exactly that. My flatmate returned from a night out very drunk and decided that she was hungry. So, she put on a pot of pasta to cook and returned to her room. But, as she was in her room, she laid down in bed, closed her eyes and fell asleep, completely forgetting about the pasta.
When I woke up in the morning the whole kitchen was completely filled with smoke. This could’ve ended badly if any of us woke up just a few hours later, especially as our fire alarm had broken.
People can also make spontaneous decisions when drunk that they regret the next morning. I heard many stories of people getting into arguments with their flatmates when drunk, kissing them, and saying things they don’t mean. This can result in a very awkward situation the next morning and continue to be awkward for the rest of the year as you continue living with them. So, it may just not be worth jeopardising your relationships and peace with people you live with, for just one night being drunk.
You may also have flatmates who don’t drink at all for many reasons including personal choice, religion, previous struggles with alcohol, and so on. I think it’s important to consider your drinking, and respect your flatmates who don’t drink. Especially since you may not know what their reason is for not drinking, and you wouldn’t want to unintentionally hurt them.
Freshers lasts more than one night, and sometimes even more than a week! Remember to pace yourself so that you can enjoy every day / event. You can pace yourself by sipping water between drinks, and by taking the time to actually enjoy your drink instead of downing it. It’s also a good idea to try a few sober nights out during freshers. Being sober can be more fun in many ways, and a sober night out will allow you to recover and recharge.
Don’t judge anyone who doesn’t drink and don’t feel pressured to drink yourself. If anyone makes you feel embarrassed for turning down a drink, just remember that you’d have felt more embarrassed if you were throwing up and in a state. Brush off any unkind comments. What people think of you turning down a drink / not drinking says a lot about their relationship with alcohol and them as a person. Pick your new friends wisely!
Drinking games are a great way to liven up the party, get the party started (pre-drinks), learn more about your new friends and to have a laugh. To avoid blacking out before you even head out of your accommodation, opt for low or non-alcoholic drinks, or alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic. The last thing you want to do is go too hard too soon, and end up missing a great night out.
Everyone has different limits, and some people are more tolerant to alcohol than others. Your tolerance levels are influenced by a variety of factors, so it’s important to get to know your limits before consuming large amounts of alcohol within a short period of time. Don’t aim to ‘keep up’ with your friends, and don’t encourage others to drink lots of alcohol, especially in a short amount of time.
Always look out for the people you’re with. A few drinks can easily turn into something messy, so if you know you have a low tolerance to alcohol, let the people you’re drinking with know. If you’re with someone who is highly intoxicated, stay with them and try to keep them sitting up straight and awake. If someone you’re with has passed out, lie them on their side in the recovery position and place a pillow behind them to prevent them from rolling onto their back, and of course seek professional medical help.
It’s been a while since we’ve all been totally let loose, and let’s face it – we’ve been waiting for this moment for the past year and a half, so we should be making these experiences as enjoyable as possible. Taking it too far with alcohol never ends well, so remembering to live in the moment and be present is vital for an enjoyable night out.
If there was one good thing to come out of lockdown, it’s that it really made me realise there’s more to life than drinking. I’ve learnt that I actually enjoy myself more when I’m not on the verge of being sick or blackout drunk. This somehow wasn’t obvious to me before. It’s been very refreshing to wake up nearly every day feeling fresh for the past year and a half, and not letting a hangover completely write off my week.
Festivals, garden and terrace parties are all approaching, and there’s so many happening in Leeds; Leeds Festival, Newsham Park Festival, Mint Terrace Party and The Garden Party Leeds just to name a few. I have a few planned already that I can’t wait for, but my experiences are going to be very different this time around.
I’ve always enjoyed listening to house music at these kind of events, but nearly every time I’ve got myself into a state and not appreciated the music. If you’re paying anything from £50-£250 to go to a music event, you need to get your monies worth and actually appreciate what you’re listening to!
Before an event I’ll usually pick out all the top artists I want to see, but as soon as I get there my plans go to pot and I end up looking back the next day thinking: ‘why didn’t I go see them?’ and ‘what was I actually doing when … was playing?’.
If you’re going to a festival this summer, I’d recommend pacing yourself so that you can enjoy every day – it’s easier said than done, I know. A few years ago when I went to Leeds Fest, there was only one band on my list where I HAD to see them (Kings Of Leon).
The campsite at Leeds Fest opens on the Wednesday, but there’s no live bands on until Friday. After arriving on the Wednesday and setting up our camp, I spent the next two days being somewhat ‘silly’, albeit enjoying myself at the time. I then spent the most of Friday laid in my tent feeling sorry for myself, along with a few of my friends.
That night I missed the only band I was so desperate to see *cries*. We could hear the arena from our tent and it sounded amazing, I genuinely had goosebumps listening to their set and I still hate myself to this day for missing it.
We all deserve to go out and have the best time of our lives after the year we’ve had, but my point is to remain mindful of the consequences of heavy drinking.
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober is an amazing book which explores the authors experiences of alcoholism, with well written and funny stories. Throughout the book, Catherine shares her bad experiences with alcohol and talks about how they built up over time, until she got to a point where she knew she had a problem. I couldn’t relate to her more extreme experiences, but they were so captivating, and it made me realise how alcohol can slowly begin to ruin someone’s life.
Catherine managed to change her life for the better and now helps others to do the same, but without being too preachy. For anyone who is the ‘life of the party’, cutting out or limiting alcohol consumption may not appear to be an option, however Catherine teaches you how to dance sober and be a party animal without the booze.
Something I’d really like to praise about Catherine’s book, is the fact that she highlights the stigma around alcoholics. She reminds us that it is seen as perfectly fine to be addicted to nicotine/ smoking but not addicted to alcohol, even though alcohol is also an addictive substance. Catherine talks about this in depth so if you think your relationship with alcohol is becoming dangerous, or if you’re worried about someone else’s drinking habits, please read this book.
The Naked Mind by Annie Grace is a book to help understand the pros and cons of drinking alcohol. The purpose of the book is to try and help temptations of drinking alcohol in a social situation, whilst also thinking about the underlying psychological reasons you might be drinking. She talks about you need to understand yourself and your goal in drinking. Is it drinking less? Is it you want to only drink once a week instead of multiple times? In the first part of the book she talks about conscious and unconscious learning of alcohol, and why you might feel a sort of ‘pain’ when trying to become sober. It is an interesting chapter about the power of the mind, and it is the first step of understanding why alcohol can be dangerous psychologically. This approach is a mind over matter approach, that if you can visualise success without the dependence of alcohol then you can help work towards skipping out on beers at the pub.
In the next chapters, she talks that we have to find the problem of why you might have a problem with going overboard on a night out. As a lot of people say, the first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem – as she discusses various ways that we might push the blame onto other things rather than ourselves. She discusses that we might blame the genes, or even that the taste of alcohol is what is at fault. We come up with excuses like it helps us have more courage, to ‘loosen up’, to have better sexual relations, to have less anxiety. But in the reality of all the perceived advantages, these things are just blurring the fact that there is an underlying dependency on alcohol.
Overall, it is an interesting book that helps rationalise the thoughts or justifications that we might have for alcohol, how we might be able to spot an addiction, and how we may begin the process of drinking less – and what we might do in terms of relapse. I recommend this book if you might try to justify drinking with your friends on a night out, or if you simply want to try to cut down on your intake.
Have you read this book?
Sober Girl Society is a great read for anyone who is interested in drinking less but is unsure of how to navigate life with less alcohol. In her book, Millie talks about how alcohol has become central to our everyday lives, and how it started to ruin hers.
Millie’s experiences with alcohol related to me on every level, and I think her stories will relate to the majority of young people today. I enjoyed this handbook so much because it highlights the social and cultural expectations to drink alcohol and gives you advice on how you can navigate an alcohol-free world, or a world with a little less alcohol. I’ve wanted to quit drinking for a while due to my own negative experiences, but I was so worried that my friends would see me as ‘odd’, and I didn’t want to be left out on nights out. Since reading this book, I have been able to go on nights out completely sober, and have an even better time. I no longer bow down to society’s expectations, thanks to this empowering handbook.
Throughout the book Millie shares her experiences, tips, advice and interesting information about the alcohol industry. I have read a few quit-lit books where I’ve felt like there was a finger pointing at me, making me feel guilty for my past actions, but the Sober Girl Society is far from this kind of book. Millie writes in such a light-hearted, sympathetic and friendly way, and it honestly feels like you’re speaking to a friend.
This book changed my relationship with alcohol for good, so I would recommend it to anyone who has had negative experiences with alcohol. Even if you’re not interested in becoming sober or drinking less, it’s such an interesting and funny read, and it really opened up my eyes to the drinking culture.
Did you enjoy this book?
Pre-drinking is popular for many reasons, including saving money on buying alcohol and getting chance to socialise before hitting the clubs. But you don’t want to take it too far so that pre-drinks is the only part of the night you enjoy.
Have no regrets about your night out by keeping your friends and yourself safe by not overdoing it before you hit the town. Here are 7 reasons to cut back on the pre-drinks.
If you have too many pres, the night out that you planned could be ruined if you don’t get accepted into the club. Nobody wants to be the friend that gets refused entry or gets into a fight. Slow down at the start of the night so that you make it to the end.
No one can deny the money saving aspect of pre-drinking. But why is it that when you check your bank the next day you’ve still spent a bomb? Once you’ve already had a few, you often end up buying more in the club. You could have a pact with your friends to not have more than 2 drinks during your entirety of your night out. Your liver and your bank will thank you!
The peer pressure from your friends isn’t worth the hangover the next day. When you’re pre-drinking, it’s easy to get bogged down with ‘keeping up with the crowd’ and being dragged into dares or drinking games. You might end up drinking more than you wanted and feeling like you should be on the same number as everyone else.
If you feel like it gets too much at pre-drinking, next time you could try arriving fashionably late or even just skipping it entirely and meeting your mates at the club. Your friend, who’s been feeling the same will thank you.
I’m sure I’m not the only one that’s made one or two bad decisions on a night out after pre drinking. The less you pre drink, the less likely you are to end up to have regrets, especially when it normally ends up on someone’s story/tik tok/ IG post the next day. To avoid the hangxiety about what you might have done the night before, why not try a night as designated driver?
When you’ve had too many pre-drinks you become a lot less aware of what’s going on around you. The less you drink the more you can relax on the night out. You’ll be more likely to keep yourself and your friends safe and keep your drink covered.
We all know that drinking too much alcohol in general can be bad for you. If you’re looking to go on a diet, or make your skin clearer then alcohol is not your friend.
Drinking soft drinks, mocktails, and alcohol-free drinks is a great way to enjoy pres with your friends while keeping a clear mind and clear skin.
Why not try something different at the next pre-drinks? It doesn’t have to be ring of fire and downing drinks the fastest. Next time you have a night out, you could host with a quiz, have a fashion show whilst choosing your night out outfits or make your own karaoke night.
There are endless possibilities to get with your friends and do something different and still have an amazing night.
The time has finally come for us to re-adapt to yet another new normal but this time, there really is a pinch of true normality. With lockdown lifting and restrictions meaning we can meet others outside, it’d be too easy to ditch all disciplines we’ve learned over the past year and act like the whole thing has gone away. Truth is, it hasn’t.
More than ever we need to look out for ourselves and each other, both by taking in the rules and spotting what else we can do to be #SafeNotSorry. There are some limits which haven’t been set this time compared to other lockdowns, despite there being more cases this year than the last: so we’ve got some pointers for you.
Be #SafeNotSorry and where there are NO limits, KNOW your limits.
There hasn’t been any indication the 10pm curfew is returning. Whilst this might be good news for you crazy cats and kittens who have some catching up to do with your friends, it means more chance of going over your drinking limit.
At the start of the night, why not set your own curfew and live your Cinderella fantasy. To make sure you stick to this, why not pre-plan where you’ll get your post-party takeaway? Or, if a late-night meal isn’t your thing, you could pre-schedule your Uber home.
With contactless limits on the rise, it’d be super easy to tap your way into some trouble.
Before you become less aware with every sip of your long-awaited beverages, make sure you only transfer a budgeted amount. Plus enough for your trip home.
It’s understandable that people will be excited to be reunited with their loved ones, but add in some alcohol and it’ll be hugs all round.
As exciting as it is to have some sense of ‘normality’, COVID still exists. So, be mindful. Respect others’ personal space and before throwing your arms around them, check they’re okay with it.
We’ve all missed our mates and the first thing we want to do is treat ourselves and them to a good time. But, depending on the numbers in your groups, getting ‘rounds’ with your friends can be seriously costly and even mean you end up drinking more.
Perhaps set yourself a spend limit that accounts for both your drinks and the odd one or two for your mates. Not doing rounds will avoid any quibbles on who has and hasn’t paid theirs yet. Plus, you’re more likely to drink at your own pace and last the whole night.
Using Uber is a very safe way to get yourself home so we completely recommend using it and even pre-ordering it before your night ends so you can leave before you go over your limit.
Take an Uber together with your friends: this has multiple benefits. It is the safest thing to leave together as a group, this way nobody gets left behind. You can also set multiple destinations on Uber, share your location and split the fare.
After what we’ve all gone through over the past year, a lot of us are looking forward to some tasty cocktails. It’s all too tempting to go all-out when we go OUT out in the near future, but just remember not to dive in the deep end.
Our tolerances may have changed over this time period, seeing as its unlikely that we’ve had the same exposure to alcohol. Be mindful about how quickly drinks are consumed and consider whether there’s any need for the shots, why not just settle for a sippy drink and leave the shots. After all, it’d be easier on the bank account and the head the next day!
When I turned 18, I was out in Leeds nearly every weekend, and nearly every weekend was the same story. I have come to realise that I hate the feeling of being drunk, particularly because I like to feel in control of my body and when I am not it makes me super anxious. So, whenever I could feel myself heading into the ‘blackout drunk’ stage I would take myself home to my safe, warm, and cosy bed, yet it wasn’t as safe as it seemed.
Throughout the past few years, I have thrown up in my sleep countless times, with no memory of it occurring. Although I knew the dangers of this and was fully aware that I could choke in my sleep and potentially die, there were so many times when I had gone to sleep feeling somewhat fine, so I could not understand why it was happening so frequently.
Despite the frequent occurrence of what I now understand was alcohol overdose, I continued to drink excessive amounts in a short space of time. It’s also cost me a small fortune having to constantly replace duvets, bedding, pillows etc.
Before I share with you what I know now and how you can prevent this from happening, I want to highlight my most worrying experience of alcohol overdose which was during a girl’s holiday in Zante. As you’re probably aware, these kinds of holidays are centred around excessive drinking, and drinking to ‘get drunk’.
One night we paid for a 3-hour unlimited bar, and of course I wanted to get my monies worth. After the 3 hours were up we went to the next club and I knew I was on the verge of blacking out, so it was time for me to go to bed and ‘sleep it off’. My friend kindly walked me back to the hotel and the next thing I remember was waking up very confused and seeing sick on the floor.
Pretty much every time this has happened I have still been drunk when I’ve woke up, so I’ve somehow managed to find light in the situation and laugh it off. I guess it’s one of those things where if you don’t laugh you’ll cry.
Anyway, after having a conversation with one of my friends (who usually stayed out until the early hours) she told me she came back to the hotel not long after me, and for some reason got a taxi home (it was only a 15-minute walk). This friend was also staying in a different room to me and for some reason she didn’t have her room key, she had my second one.
She said she could hear me choking from outside the room, and when she opened the door she saw me laid on my back, foaming at the mouth and choking on my sick. Luckily, she was there to turn me onto my side, so I could throw up all the pasta I had eaten a few hours before, and considering the strange coincidences, I’m lucky to be alive to tell the tale.
You’d think this would’ve stopped me from binge drinking again, but it didn’t. Since then, I have unknowingly thrown up in my sleep multiple times, but after gaining an interest in reading books on alcohol and experiencing life in lockdown without these kinds of nights out, I’ve become more aware of the causes and effects of alcohol overdose, and I’ve realised how good life is to feel ‘fresh’ every day. I will never allow myself to get into those states again.
Even after you’ve finished drinking your last drink, your alcohol levels continue to rise. There have clearly been many times when I’ve gone home feeling relatively stable, yet unaware that my alcohol levels are rising, causing me to ‘blackout’ in my sleep. Alcohol also hinders the signals in your brain that trigger your gag reflexes, and this can be fatal for obvious reasons.
If you know you have a ‘low tolerance’ to alcohol, then make it known to the people you’re drinking with.
Your age, gender, weight, height, medication, and food intake are just a few of the factors that impact your tolerance levels. So, as a 5 ft 1 women weighing just over 100 pounds, my tolerance to alcohol is understandably going to be much lower than your average persons, and this is something I would encourage you to consider when trying to ‘keep up’ with your peers.
I’ve always felt that people would perceive me as ‘boring’ if I didn’t drink. If you want to wake up in the morning with no regrets that doesn’t make you boring, just sensible, and more people need to realise this.
Even though alcohol is a poisonous drug, people advise us to get to know our limits, but we all have different tolerances to alcohol and our ‘limit’ is dependent on so many factors, making it difficult to do so. So, try not to bow down to the pressure of having to keep up with everyone else and instead keep it steady.
Reducing your alcohol consumption is an effective form of self-care, it improves everything from our finances to our physical and mental health.
Whilst waking up to find yourself in a pool of your own sick is most definitely the least glamorous part of a night out, it could also be the most dangerous.
Be aware of the risks, take it steady, live in the moment, make memories, and look after yourself and others.
Meet some of our volunteers and hear what their tips are to have a night with no regrets and a great next day.
Ella’s Tip:
Sophie’s Tip:
Frederica’sTip:
Jonny’sTip:
Kate’sTip:
Georgia’sTip:
Lockdown is tough and it’s only made tougher by the hangover the day after the night before. But you don’t have to spend your nights drinking with mates over Zoom or stuck in the house drinking out of boredom. Why not try out some new things to pass the time and have you feeling fine?
Whether it’s a sea shanty or the Junebug challenge, Tik Tok has plenty of videos to watch and challenges to join in on
The shops are closed and you’re fed up of couriers leaving your parcels in your bin. Why not raid your wardrobe for the clothes you haven’t worn in a while and show off your masterpieces on Instagram.
Always wanted to play guitar but been putting it off? Now is as good a time as any to take on that challenge.
Lockdown and drinking less may be hard but don’t let it stop you from indulging in the finest food and desserts. Why not get your housemates involved and enjoy the 3 course meals?
They may not have been used since you were ten but board games can be a fun way to pass time and be sociable. Failing the board games whip out Cards Against Humanity. There’s even an online version to play with the pals you can’t meet right now.
We can’t travel yet but one day you can tick off some countries from your ultimate travel goals. No harm in daydreaming.
You may need yoga to distress or you may want to take up running to get out of the house. Whatever it is, get moving and feel them endorphins.
Select a night and take it in turns to choose which series to watch as a house. Whether it’s Brooklyn 999, Superstore or the latest murder documentary.
Now’s your chance to finally read that book you’ve been meaning to, get your favourite bath bomb, face mask and relax in the bath.
Let us know what you do to keep occupied in lockdown and don’t forget to tag us @NoRegretsLeeds and include #FeelingFine if you try any of these out.
You could sink 8 pints or…book an off-peak flight to Barcelona and soak up some winter sun.
You could fork out for 8 Mojitos in your local bar…or bag yourself an Amazon Echo 2nd Gen Alexa. “Alexa, play Oh Happy Day!”.
You could buy a round of Pina Coladas for you and your mate…or treat yourself to a new pair of Old Skool Vans.
You could splash your cash on 6 Bloody Marys whilst out on the sesh…or invest in a fitness watch to help you track your workouts.
You could order 5 double G&Ts when you’re out with the girls…or order that dress you’ve had your eye on for weeks.
You could chin 6 Jagerbombs on a Freshers’ night out…or head out for meal to get know your new housemates properly.
You could buy 5 vodka and cokes at a beach bar…or get yourself some statement swimwear and turn heads for all the right reasons!
Surprise side effects can be more than just trippy – they can be a warning sign for much worse. Think about where your head’s at and if you’re not feeling 100% then it’s a definite no-go.
You might trust your dealer, but that doesn’t mean they know what they’re selling, or what’s in it. So if you’re heading on a big night out this weekend, find out if they’ll have drug safety testing available – that way you’ll know more about what you’re planning on taking.
Sounds super obvious, but before you head out, think about how you’ll get home. Make sure you’ve got your money, keys and phone, as well as some taxi numbers saved just in case you have to make a quick getaway.
This goes without saying but we’ll say it anyway – if you’re going to drop, do it with friends. It’s easy to stress out and get lost so make sure you have good people around you and decide on a meet up point just in case. If someone disappears, don’t presume they’ve bailed, find out for sure before you leave.
Oh yeah, and eating definitely isn’t cheating – line your stomach by smashing some food before you head out.
Try a small amount and then go slow until you know the deal. Even alcohol can take a while to have an effect, so make sure you pace yourself properly or it won’t just be your dignity at stake.
Keep yourself cool and stay hydrated. Take regular breaks from the dance floor and check in with your friends if you’re feeling rough – who wants to waste their night hugging a toilet bowl?
Mixing is a risky business. Stay in control and remember that mixing drugs with drink or other drugs can seriously increase the risk of something going wrong. If you want a high, pick one and leave it at that.
If you spot your friend suffering from any of these, help them out.
Throwing up: As grim as it may be, if your friend’s chucking up, give them some water to sip slowly but avoid food. If they want to sleep, lie them on their side and stay close by.
Paranoia: If they’re freaking out, find them somewhere quiet and safe to sit. Let them know that the feeling will pass but bare with them – it might take a while for them to calm down.
Chest pain: Get a medic and whilst you are waiting, sit them down and try and comfort them.
Fits: Get a medic straight away and clear the area around them so they won’t hurt themselves.
Overheating: Stimulants raise your body temperature, so if you or a friend start overheating, find somewhere safe to sit and ditch the extra layers. Wet some clothing with lukewarm water to cool the forehead and grab a glass to sip slowly.
Whether it’s pissing in public, shouting “TAKE YOUR TOP OFF” to a random lad or getting a tacky dolphin tattoo on your ankle – if you wouldn’t do it at home, don’t do it abroad, it’s as simple as that.
Determined to return home with a killer tan? Remember your sun cream. Red marks aren’t chic and who wants to be the ultimate Brit abroad and sport a t-shirt in the pool? Not us.
Plus, do yourself a favour and give sunbathing a miss if you’re hungover. You’ll be at risk of severe dehydration and even sun stroke, and put yourself out of action for the rest of the holiday.
It’s easy to lose your bearings in a new place when you’re sober, let alone after a few drinks, so be sure to stick together when you’re on a night out. Even if one of the girls is really getting on your tits, it’s never a good idea to split up.
Decide on a meeting point or make sure you have a way of contacting everyone in case you get separated.
You want us to come back to your crappy, run down hotel for an ‘after party’ with you and your gross mates? We’re good thanks hun x.
As we’ve said above, there are some creeps out there and it’s easy to get too trusting after a couple of margaritas. Stay safe and never leave your drink unattended or accept one from a stranger, regardless of how nice they may seem.
You might know your limits at home but that won’t necessarily apply when you’re away. Foreign bars and clubs tend to free-pour spirits so one G&T abroad could feel like three from your local. Pace yourself properly to avoid writing off the next day.
Counterfeit alcohol is also more common abroad, particularly in Asia. This is fake alcohol that has been produced illegally, which usually means it’s been cut with loads of other substances such as nail varnish remover and cleaning products – ew. It goes without saying, but drinking dodgy booze is really dangerous and can cause issues like dizziness, liver problems and even blindness.
If you’re planning on drinking, make sure you buy your booze from legit bars and shops and remember, if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Your pals might tell you that ‘what happens in Maga stays in Maga’ but if you’re not careful, you could end up reenacting that scene from Bridget Jones in a foreign pharmacy. If you fancy a holiday romance, do yourself a favour and protect yourself against any unwanted surprises.
In the past, the choice of low abv (low alcohol) beers was limited to warm, dusty bottles of Becks Blue, usually accompanied by words of contempt and looks of disgust from your drinking buddies. Well, the modern world of craft beer is changing that, with a surge of breweries trying their hand at making some beers that are low on ABV but BIG on flavour. 2019 has seen the comeback of Victorian Table Beers (ooh err), Radlers (tasty beer and fruit juice mixes) and the introduction of session/small pales and IPAs. Often weighing in at below 3.6%, this mix of low ABV beers can provide a refreshing break between the stronger stuff, keeping you on top form throughout the session.
The best thing about beer festivals? The huge range of ‘out there’ beers to choose from, including some that you’ll never find at your local pub or bottle shop. They’re often high strength special brews, barrel-aged for big bold flavours, with a hefty ABV to match. If you spot a beer with the words BA, Imperial, DIPA, TIPA, Barley Wine be prepared for anything from 8% to 16% ABV.
One of these is essentially the same as a pint of strong wine, so share the love and share a third with friends. Get a couple of different ones and swap after a few sips. This way you can experience more without breaking the bank.
Street food is to beer festivals as Mo Salah is to Sadio Mane, both brilliant in their own right, but damn, they’re good when they’re together. When it comes to street food, LIBF doesn’t disappoint – from Indian delights brought to you by Leeds legends Bundobust, to Korean bao buns from Little Bao Boy and not to be missed Cadillac Jack’s classic burger and fries combo.
If you’re partial to a mixed-meat kebab, give Döner Summer’s delicious Berlin döner a try – a vegan upgrade to the end-of-the-night favourite. If it’s cheesy chips you’re after, head to Blue Caribou Canteen for their authentic French-Canadian poutine.
There’s a beer for everyone, and a dish to go with it. Getting your fill will mean you don’t peak too early so you can enjoy the festival right ‘til the end.
Once you’ve swapped your tokens for that first cold beer, it’s time to check out all that LIBF has to offer. Check out the live music on offer and, head to the tipi on Friday and Saturday night, keep your ears open for a performance from Leeds DIY legends COWTOWN.
For pub quizzes, descend to the crypt below the town hall, and for an experience to remember, the old school jail cells will be unlocked throughout the festival, offering probably the strangest setting to enjoy a pint in Leeds.
All beer-ed out? Head to Cardiff brewers Tiny Rebel’s arcade room and get your fill of free-to-play arcade games. Be sure to pay the glass washroom a visit – it might not sound like the go-to destination for beer-related fun, but the glass washroom offers loads of seating and unlimited tap water. Switch the odd beer for a pint of water and finish this year’s festival with no regrets.
Normally you’d never be able to stomach a pint at 7am but you force yourself to order one at the airport because “we’re on holiday”. If this sounds familiar do yourself a favour and leave it at one – you don’t want to rack up regrets before you’ve even landed. Being drunk on a flight is illegal and could result in a two-year jail sentence – yep, you read right. Plus do you really want to be the most hated people on the plane?
With the music blasting and countless drinks free-flowing from the poolside bar it can be easy to lose track of time – but being out in the blazing sun all day can seriously affect your health. Hot weather causes dehydration anyway, but add alcohol to the mix and you’ve got a pretty nasty combination.
Avoid sunstroke by alternating your alcohol for water or other soft drinks and switch up the sunbed for a shady patch when you can.
It’s easy to lose your bearings in a new place when you’re sober, let alone after a few pints. Stick together when you’re out and make sure you’ve got a meeting point or a way of contacting your mates if you do notice someone’s missing. There’s nothing worse than spending the whole time scanning the crowds instead of enjoying your night.
You might know your limits at home but that won’t necessarily apply when you’re away. Foreign bars and clubs tend to free-pour spirits so one drink abroad could feel like three from your local. Pace yourself properly to avoid writing off the next day.
Counterfeit alcohol is also more common abroad, particularly in Asia. This is fake alcohol that has been produced illegally which usually means it’s been cut with loads of other substances such as nail varnish remover and cleaning products – lovely stuff. It goes without saying, but drinking dodgy booze is really dangerous and can cause issues like dizziness, liver problems and even blindness to name a few!
If you’re planning on drinking, make sure you buy your booze from legit bars and shops and remember, if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.
It might seem like a great idea after a few pints, but is being dubbed ‘an absolute lad’ worth the shame (and excruciating itchiness) of catching an STI? We doubt it. Battle your beer goggles, but if you do decide to go there, be smart and wrap it up.
Whether it’s going home with that shot girl, ordering another fish bowl or getting ‘IBIZA 2K19’ tattooed on your arse, remember that just because you made that decision abroad doesn’t mean it won’t come back to haunt you. Think of future you and head home regret-free.
It’s easy to get carried away and forget to eat, but drinking on an empty stomach is never a good idea. Arrange to meet for a bite beforehand and avoid having to make an early exit before the party’s even started.
C’mon people, if there’s ever a time for shots, 1pm is not it. Necking a few before the bar gets busy might seem like a great idea at the time but you’ll regret it when you miss brunch because they’ve made a reappearance in the toilet bowl. Do yourself a favour, swap a sambuca for a cider and enjoy a vom-free day.
The best thing about starting early? Finishing early. Don’t be fooled into thinking you can start drinking at midday and still last until 3am the next day – it’s just not going to happen. Quit while you’re ahead and call it a day before things get messy.
Entry into Backroom after midnight = £7. Heading home knowing you’ll still get a solid 9 hours sleep = priceless.
It’s hard to imagine a hot day without a pint of lager or a pitcher of Pimm’s in hand, but if you’re not careful, alcohol and the sun can be a dangerous combination. To avoid dehydration and heat stroke, alternate your alcohol with soft drinks and the sun for some sweet shade.
Need to slow down but don’t want to be branded ‘boring’? Switch tap water for a pint mocktail between drinks and wake up feeling fresh.
We know the drill. Just a couple of hours ago you were boomerang-ing the hell out of a glass of prosecco, now you’re walking barefoot through town with a Maccies in your hand and mascara down your face. The rest of Leeds are judging you hard.
Keep it classy this weekend by pacing yourself properly and head home looking as good as when you left.
Think of how annoying your mate is when they’re smashed and you’re not. Now imagine there are ten of that irritating person and they’ve been plonked on the table across from you at a civilised family lunch. Picturing it? That’s how 70 year old Vera feels. All she wanted was to enjoy an afternoon in the sun but she’s fighting to be heard over the sound of “DOWN IT FRESHAAAAH!”. Think of Vera next time you head out.
Packing enough alcohol to sink a small ship might seem like a great idea at the time, but you’ll no doubt regret the decision when you realise how far you have to carry it. Pack wisely and remember the essentials: a portable charger, anti bac, dry shampoo, a water bottle, factor 30. Not forgetting snacks for the weekend and a money belt or bum bag for your cash and phone. Your future self is guaranteed to thank you for switching that extra bottle of vodka for Berocca and a loo roll.
Ah, the classic festival dilemma. Some of your group are desperate to stick to the main stage all weekend, whereas the other half are keen to explore. To play it safe, stick together. But, if you can’t find a plan that suits all, make sure your phone’s got juice (hello handy portable charger you packed earlier) and decide on a meeting point before you part ways. You can’t always bank on having signal and there’s nothing worse than getting lost and wandering around on your own.
Hangovers in tents are the worst – fact. If you’re starting early, opt for a drink with a lower percentage of alcohol (think lager, cider, VKs) and go from there. That way you’ll avoid peaking too early and landing that unwelcome midday hangover. You don’t want to miss your favourite band because you took it too far…
Speaking of festival stamina, it’s easy to get dehydrated when you’re standing in a sunny field for three days. Sipping water between drinks will help you keep a clear head and party for longer. Plus, that way you’ll wake up feeling fresh and ready to do it all over again.
Alcohol and other drugs can seriously cloud your judgement. In any other situation you wouldn’t dream of going there with an unwashed stranger, but after a few drinks you’re more than happy to get jiggy with Steve the ‘part time DJ’. Avoid morning regret by listening to your gut and stick with your friends instead. If your inhibitions do win, make a point of letting your friends know where you’re going and who you’re going with.
Mixing substances is never a good idea, as it increases the risk of something going wrong. Whether it’s different drinks, alcohol with drugs or drugs with other drugs – whatever combination, they’re all a recipe for disaster.
Giving drugs a miss is always the smartest decision but if you do decide you want a high, make sure you get clued up before you take anything. For more info on drugs, click here.
Sadly, even if you’ve decided against drugs, there’s still a chance someone could drop something in your drink without you realising. Never leave your drink unattended or accept one from a stranger. If you can, put your hand over your pint when you’re moving through crowds.
If you notice someone throwing up or passed out, put them on their side and alert security asap so they can help.
If you start to feel weird or unwell yourself, tell your friends and head straight to the medical or welfare teams for help. If you’ve taken something, always be honest about what and how much – the staff aren’t there to judge but knowing the full story will help them treat you.
It’s summer, the sun is shining, and the beer garden is calling your name, so it’s easy to be tempted into a full day out. Sounds great in theory, but in reality, that means three whole meals to fork out for – plus, let’s face it, a load of drinks too. Save your cash by opting to eat at home and head out later or invite your friends over for food at your place.
Contactless might be convenient, but it’s also the devil. We all do it – you have a few drinks and all of the sudden you get tap happy, paying for things left, right and centre (because using your card isn’t real money right?). How we wish that was true. Swinging by an ATM before you head out and leaving you card at home is a great way of setting yourself a budget and keeping track of what you’re spending.
If you’re planning on drinking, choose your tipple wisely. Cocktails are overpriced, pitchers are mostly ice and rounds are seriously damaging to your bank account; it can be easy to get roped in, but that often leaves you paying for your friends’ drinks even when you’ve had enough. If you’re going for a spirit, swap your usual double for a single measure and only pay for yourself. This way, you’re taking control of what you’re spending (and drinking) and can easily duck out when it’s time to head home.
Water is your friend, particularly if you’re out in the summer sun. Anywhere that serves alcohol is legally obliged to give you tap water. In fact, a lot of bars in Leeds have a jug on the side so you can help yourself. Water not only helps you sober up if you’ve had too many but also fills your stomach, leaving less room for pricey drinks. And the best part? It’s free.
From free gigs, to a scenic picnic in the park, there are tonnes of free things to do in Leeds – especially during the summer months. Why not switch your usual weekend plans for something a little different and save your cash while you’re at it?
The taxi ride home is a night out expense that’s often overlooked. When it’s time to leave, avoid being out of pocket by arranging to get a taxi back with friends. This way you can split the cost* and make sure everyone gets home safe.
*Please note: A lot of taxi apps have a split fare function, so you can easily avoid the classic “I’ll buy you a drink next time” crap.
Whether it’s a day trip, casual drinks with friends or a full blown night out, knowing when to leave is a skill, but once mastered it can help you save a heck of a lot of cash. When things start to wind down, use this as your cue to leave, not buy another round. You’re bank account and future self will thank you for it.
“This group of girls were really drunk and one of them started touching up her make up, but as the car was dark, she accidentally smeared red lipstick all over her face instead of foundation. I didn’t realise until I pulled up to drop them off and all her friends started laughing at her. She was so upset that I ended up driving her straight back home.”
“A customer I had stole one of those big plastic plants from outside Nando’s after a night out and tried to stuff it into the car with her and her mates. It wouldn’t fit so I had to charge them to cancel their ride and leave them to order another taxi.”
“I was taking one guy to the station, or so I thought…turns out he was hungover and had slept through his alarm, so I had to drive him to the airport instead. £90, and a lot of stress later, I bet he wished he’d called it a night sooner.”
“I once waited ages outside this house to pick up a customer. When she eventually came outside she was so drunk that she couldn’t work out which car to get in and started running up and down the road trying all the doors of the parked cars. I ended up having to get out and wave at her whilst her friends watched and laughed.”
“I was taxiing a group of girls home after their night out and they all had McDonald’s. I said they were find to eat it in the car as long as they were careful and they agreed. When we were about 5 minutes away from their destination the car started to smell really strongly of BBQ sauce. One of the girls had fallen asleep with her food in her hands and there was BBQ sauce all over her coat, in her hair and all over the back seats of my car.”
“I picked up 3 passengers on Halloween – they were sat awkwardly in the backseat, huddled together, and there was a strange smell coming off them. It wasn’t until they got out of my car that I realised they’d spilled a bag of fake blood all over themselves, and the back seat smelt like something had crawled back there to die.”
“I got an order from a customer who wanted to go to Manchester after a night out (we were in Leeds). I thought it was strange so I asked him if he’d got it wrong but he said no and told me to take him there, so I did. Halfway there the guy shouted at me to turn around. He’d got so drunk that he’d forgotten he was staying with his mate in Leeds rather than his house in Manchester. There was a surge that night so it cost him £140. He was not happy.”
“This girl got into the back of my car, slurring down the phone to her friend. As soon as she sat down I noticed a disgusting smell so wound all four windows down, trying to work out where it was coming from. It turns out she had got so wasted that she’d s**t herself and what’s even worse…she was in white jeans.”
“I once picked up a guy at 4am from Leeds City Centre. It was obvious he was drunk but he was really chatty and started asking me lots of questions about my life. We were still talking when we reached his destination but instead of getting out, he extended his ride, saying I was a safe guy and he wanted to be my mate and just drive around for a bit. I was fine with this as it put his ride up from £4 to £33 – but I’m sure he wasn’t too pleased the next day when he realised how much he’d spent!”
“I picked up this couple once – you could tell they’d had a few but seemed okay until the guy threw up all over himself and his girlfriend’s handbag he was carrying. This resulted in a huge argument between the two of them over the fine and I had to ask them to get out.”
“I once had to carry a girl up to her flat after she passed out in my car. She put herself in a very dangerous situation and it’s a good job I’m a nice guy or it could have ended very badly.”
Will you pace yourself to help you get home safe next time you’re on a night out?
Try out rock climbing at City Bloc in Hunslet. Complete with a huge climbing wall and yoga studio, this converted warehouse is so much more than meets the eye. Plus they do student discount and are open until 10pm Monday-Thursday. Win, win!
Test your sketching skills at a life drawing class hosted by Leeds Drawing Club. They run a range of evening sessions all year round in Meanwood and Leeds City Centre and provide everything you need to create your masterpiece. All you have to do is try not to laugh when they drop the robe…
If you can’t be trusted to stay composed at life drawing, maybe HIFI’s Comedy Sessions are more up your street. They run every Saturday, 7pm-10pm with previous acts including Alan Carr, Russell Howard and Katherine Ryan. If you’re looking for a guaranteed good night, this is it.
With sofa seats and freshly made pizza, Everyman Cinema reinvents the big screen experience. Scrap predrinks in favour of a late-night viewing of a new release.
Work together, solve puzzles and unravel clues to escape in under 60 minutes at Tick Tock Unlock. Pick your theme: Alice In Wonderland, The Forgotten Tomb – to name just a few, then bring along some mates for an evening of detective work.
Whether you’re showing off your skills or falling on your arse, a trampoline park is a great use of your Friday night. Oxygen offer loads of sessions, from freejumping slots, to classes with qualified coaches.
Your friend is smashed and has just bought the rounds, low and behold they hand you a Jagerbomb. You find yourself necking this foul combo to a feeling of instant regret. Next time they offer you this, do yourself a favour and chuck it over your shoulder.
Whether it’s in a cocktail or a shot, sours have never tasted good. Save yourself a morning hugging the toilet and just say no.
A strong contender for the worst shot a friend can suggest – tequila. Your hope for a nicer spirit gets lost in translation and suddenly your biting down on a piece of lime wondering where it all went wrong.
The smell itself is enough to make you want to hurl, why do people think JD and coke is a good combination?
The devil takes form in the shape of a sambuca shot, so how did you end up doing three?
I made jelly shots for my birthday – no one else liked them so I had them all myself before we went out. I was far too drunk and ended up falling under a table on Call Lane, throwing up on my friend’s feet, and was put in a taxi home before midnight. – Anonymous Female, 22.
I once got really drunk and uploaded multiple videos of myself singing (awfully) on Instagram. Over 300 people saw them, including my mum, and I still shudder thinking about it. – Anonymous Male, 19.
I got so drunk I once fell asleep on the toilet in a club, only to be woken up by a panicked cleaner and my friends. I’ll never live it down. – Alex, 23.
I threw up all over my friend’s shoes after one too many drinks – he wouldn’t speak to me for about a week. – Anonymous Male, 25.
I was predrinking with my friends before going out and one of them thought it would be funny to pour gin into the wine I was drinking. I decided to drink it anyway (a really, really bad idea) and spent the rest of the night puking at home whilst the others went out. Although, I didn’t make it to the loo in time…instead I threw up in the sink and spent hours cleaning it the next day. It was without a doubt, one of the most embarrassing nights of my life and my friends will never let me forget it. – Anonymous Female, 23.
You’ve got half an hour until the taxi comes so you down drinks to avoid forking out for them at the club – that’s if you even make it out. Everyone’s focus is on drinking instead of having fun and there’s always that person who goes too far.
Yeah, you’ve got more room to dance, but what’s a club without other people to dance with?
Maybe they’ve pulled a 10, maybe they’re busy throwing up in the toilets. Either way, you won’t know until you’ve escaped the avalanche of drunkards blocking your path. Not ideal.
Generally, shots are gross – everybody knows that. Plus they have disastrous consequences for your ability to remember anything the next day. You’ll wake up feeling like death and you didn’t even enjoy your night.
Normally talking to strangers is a bit awkward and weird. But with a bit of booze inside them, your mate will be spilling their life story like they’re chatting to Piers Morgan. Cringe.
It doesn’t work. Those shots we mentioned? They now decorate the back seats. And yes, you have to fork out £50 for it.
You’ll remember the events of the night before for years to come – and for all the wrong reasons. Every regretful decision you made haunts you, especially when you have to relive them repeatedly through your friends’ Insta story. Plus your head hurts. It really, really hurts.
Having a night in with your pals and a takeaway is a great way to hang out, without breaking the bank. Who wouldn’t wanna get a pizza in and binge on reality TV?
Pocket the cash you would have spent on that last round of drinks and save it for a rainy day or a trip away.
That pair of shoes you’ve walked past again and again but you thought you couldn’t justify buying? Treat. Yo. Self!
Spend some quality time with your friends – where you can actually hear each other speak! Why not head out for dinner together and catch a film afterwards.
Wanna take up a new hobby? Do it. That new gym you said you’d join? Why not? Spend your cash on something new and exciting, instead of a substandard night out at the same club you always go to.
Half a glass of lemonade
¼ glass of apple juice
1 teaspoon of brown sugar
Fresh mint leaves
1 lime (half to squeeze, half for wedges)
(Makes 1 glass, repeat the process for more)
Source: BBC Good Food
100ml of cranberry juice
500ml orange juice
Juice of 1 lime
1 lime (cut into wedges)
1 orange (cut into wedges)
100g of frozen cranberries
Fresh mint
600ml Appletise
(Makes approx. 8 glasses)
Source: BBC Good Food
500ml of smooth orange juice
500ml cranberry juice
400ml of sparkling elderflower
(Makes approx. 4 glasses)
Source: BBC Good Food
Don’t underestimate the power of water. Drinking a glass between bevs will help you stay hydrated and in control – no one wants to see your regurgitated turkey dinner. No, really.
Although beer, mulled wine and a shot of tequila might have seemed like a greaaat idea at the time, mixing your drinks will leave you feeling less than merry the next day. If you fancy a drink, pick one type of booze to avoid spending Christmas Day nursing a banging headache.
‘But it’s Christmas’ won’t save you from feeling rough tomorrow morning. Staying away from sickly shots on a festive night out so you’re not that friend who has to head home before the party has even started.
The best thing about Christmas? The food, obviously. Turkey sandwiches, mince pies, pigs in blankets – you name it, everywhere you look they’ll be something to gorge on. Take advantage of the stocked fridge and feast on food to help pace yourself.
Trifles, Christmas pudding, even mince pies…alcohol sneaks its way into anything and everything during the festive season – so don’t get caught out!
As tempting as it might be, the office Christmas party is not a competition to see how much free booze you can drink from the open bar. Avoid a Christmas full of regret by not taking it too far.
If you plan to have a drink, don’t get behind the wheel – it’s as simple as that. Even if you’re not planning on driving that night, remember that you can still be over the limit traveling back home the next day. Don’t be caught out this Christmas, club together and get a taxi or bag a lift with someone who’s not on the booze.
The food has gone, the games have been played and Christmas carols are becoming increasingly hard to stomach – it sounds like it’s time to call it a night. Slowing down as it gets late and knowing when to head home will save you money and a whole lot of regret the next day.
Are they lying in bed for hours after a night out, feeling sorry for themselves and complaining that they’ve done nothing with their day? Are they turning up to work mega late, bailing on plans or skipping yet another gym class?
If so, it sounds like booze is taking priority over the important things in life. Try making alcohol-free plans that they can’t get out of and encourage them to take it easy the night before.
Whenever you go out they’re determined to drink as much as they can, as fast as they can. They’re known for always being the one who’s on a ‘different level’ to everyone else, but that doesn’t stop them from ordering that third round of shots (that nobody actually wants!)
If their pace is a problem, discourage them from getting that extra drink and order them some water to sip instead.
You dread that “I’ve had a bad day at work, let’s get smashed” text – Sam’s beginning to sound like a broken record and your suggestion that drinking isn’t the answer seems increasingly lost in translation.
If this rings a bell, why not invite your pal over for platonic Netflix and chill, order a takeaway in or meet for coffee and cake to chat things through.
It’s like you’ve got déjà vu. You spend half your night in the club toilets holding your friend’s hair back whilst they throw up and the other half trying to keep them upright. At first, it was a laugh dragging them out of the taxi to avoid the hefty cleaning fee, but now it’s a standard end to the night.
Encourage them to eat properly before you drink and head home together if you notice them getting out of control.
You know where the night’s heading before it’s even begun. It’s no longer just a one-off, and you forget what it’s like to have a few drinks without thinking, “I never want to end up like they did last night”.
The morning after the night before. It’s finally time to relive last night’s events. But it turns out your friend blacked out. They can’t remember anything, not even you carrying them to bed at 4 am.
Maybe you’ve fancied Anna from accounts for months, or perhaps a serious case of beer goggles is clouding your vision. Either way, she’s married with kids and definitely not interested in your cheesy chat up lines and slurred spiel. Save yourself the rejection and keep your thoughts to yourself – future you will thank you for it.
It’s 1am and you’ve got work tomorrow, yet you’d ended up in a rundown karaoke bar witnessing the 7th drunken rendition of Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas’. Do you head to the ‘after party’ (there are four of you so can you even call it that!?) or head home now and still manage to bag yourself a decent night’s sleep? We know which one we’d choose…
You are going to see these people again*. In fact, you spend a third of your life at work, so do yourself a favour and make sure you can walk in on Monday morning with your head held high.
*Unless you reeeally mess up of course…
There’s nothing worse than walking into the office on Monday morning and everyone’s talking about you. In particular, how you had too much mulled wine and fell asleep on the toilet. Know your limits and enjoy the festive fun without taking it too far.
Whatever you do, don’t call in ‘sick’ after your work night out. It’s as much use as wrapping a gift in cling film – everyone will see right through it. Do yourself (and your future career) a favour and take it easy so you can smash out the work the next day.
You crawl into work looking far from human and receive some questionable looks from your colleagues. No one is going to take you seriously with that Players stamp on your hand.
Fried chicken, a litre of Fanta or lying in a cold, dark room – whatever you’re thinking, work couldn’t be further from your mind. If that important meeting has you feeling more queasy than breezy, then it sounds like it’s time to cut down the booze.
You might think what happens in the club, stays in the club – but you couldn’t be more wrong. Thanks to Facebook, your boss sees you strawpedo a bottle of wine and you know how that’s bound to end…
You’re strapped for cash at the end of the month so find yourself bailing on work trips, networking events or socials – missing out on the chance to get yourself out there.
You’ve got applications to fill in and your CV to write, yet you find yourself wasting weekend after weekend nursing a killer hangover.
Eating definitely isn’t cheating. Whether you’re having a couple of drinks at home or off on a big night out, having a decent meal before you drink will slow down how quickly you absorb alcohol – helping you to pace yourself. After all, you don’t want to be that friend who ends the night early because they went too far…
Did you know, dehydration is the main cause of the dreaded hangover headache? Well you do now! Grabbing a glass of water in between drinks will not only help you stay in control of how quickly alcohol affects you, but it also flushes out all the toxins you’re putting into your body when you drink it. The result: spot-free skin and a healthy head.
The mixture of different flavourings, additives and sugar can make you sick on the night and leave you feeling pretty worse for wear the next day. If you fancy a drink, pick one type – beer, wine, a spirit and mixer – and stick to it. As tempting as it might be to try one of everything – we’ll put money on you regretting it.
Out of fear of being labelled ‘boring’, it can be easy to just follow the crowd. Whether it’s downing tequila shots or ordering that last double – don’t fear the FOMO, because the chances are all you’ll miss out on is chucking your guts up the next day.
Whether it’s the opening bars of Cotton Eyed Joe or sitting by the sidelines whilst your pal pursues a serious case of beer goggles – you’ll know when it’s time to head home. By listening to your gut and not staying out for the sake of it, you’ll avoid buying those pointless drinks and protect both your head and your wallet.
No matter where you are or who you’re with, they’re known for being the loudest one in the room – for all the wrong reasons. Whether that’s telling your mate’s girlfriend to eff off or spilling Jägermeister all over the carpet, they’re always causing a scene.
They’ll use any excuse to strip off and parade the room, resulting in you seeing far more of your friend than you ever wanted to. Ew.
They have one (or five) too many and slur something utterly embarrassing to someone they shouldn’t. You’ll never be able to look them in the eye again.
The DJ won’t play their favourite song? Cry. No text back? Cry. The takeaway has run out of gravy? Cry again. They receive some questionable looks that make you want to crawl into a corner and die of embarrassment for them.
Drunk in Love or just plain smashed? They embarrass you until the End of Time with their less than Flawless dance moves.
Whether it’s passing out at pres or falling asleep in a club toilet, they’re always forced to leave the party early because they’ve gone too far. They end up missing out on all the fun, but the next day swear “it’ll never happen again”.
Whether they dive out of the Uber just in time, or fork out 50 quid to clean the seats, the night always ends with their dinner making a reappearance. Pavement pizza anyone? Vile.
There’s nothing worse than waking up the next day and regretting everything that happened the night before. Lots of people have a great night without drinking, but if you do decide to, here’s my advice on how to enjoy yourself without having those mortifying flashbacks the next day.
Eating is something I particularly enjoy so I don’t find this step too hard to follow! The best nights I’ve had are the ones where I’ve eaten a decent meal before heading out. Plus, you’ll feel better the next day too. Cook something carby with your mates and make sure you don’t skimp because you want to save money on buying drinks – it’ll end up working against you, trust me. My top tip is to make a big portion of pasta and half it so that I have something easy to eat when I get home, without forking out for a takeaway. Win, win!
That little voice questioning if you need that third shot of vodka your friend just gave you? Listen to it. Learning to pace yourself and slow down when you need to will help you enjoy your night so much more. Plus it means you won’t have to be ‘the mess’ your friends put in a taxi home at 10pm.
This applies to all aspects of a night out – drink on your terms. You’ll have way more fun if you can relax when you’re out, without feeling the pressure to do what your friends are doing. Learning to say no is a great feeling, and your body, bank account and liver will definitely thank you for it!