Content warning: sensitive topics including date rape and assault are found in the tip “watch your drinks and use the buddy system.” If you need to talk, check out http://www.sexualassaultsupport.ca/support/ or SASSL at http://sassl.info.yorku.ca/ if you’re a York student.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… Happy New Year’s! In just a few weeks, it’ll be time to don little party hats and dance all night to ring in 2018. For those of us who bring in the new year with a bang and a toast, it’s crucial that we make good choices so we can live through our resolutions to the fullest. Safety is the most important part to any party, so here are some quick and easy tips to have the best night!
Have a Route Home
We’ve all been told not to drink and drive, but drunk driving still caused around 1,200 deaths during the 2015 holidays. That’s not including the accidents, either. These accidents are absolutely devastating and are entirely preventable. Get a designated driver if you’ll be drinking, or take an Uber or taxi. If there’s no other way to get home, do not drive. Crash at your friend’s house. Any of these options, no matter how minutely frustrating, is infinitely better than death or injury. Please read here for a better understanding of impaired driving. It’s against the law for a good reason.
Eat Up!
One of my favourite boozy memories from first year is the chant “Eat your carbs! Eat your carbs!” Not only will you be less likely to spend $30 on McDonald’s nuggets (guilty), but you’ll be able to slow the alcohol absorption into your body. It may sound boring, but who wants to be the girl who is wasted half an hour in?
Pace Yourself
It is absolutely fun to do shots and slammers, mixed in with a few shotgun beers and drinking games, but it’s even more fun to keep your head clear. Alternating drinks with water/non alcoholic beverages creates a nice little buffer for your liver and keep your blood alcohol level down. How much you can safely drink per hour varies per sex, height, and weight, but the rule of thumb is typically between 1-2 standard drinks (around 12 oz beer, 5 oz wine, or 1.5 oz hard liquor).
Watch Your Drinks and Use the Buddy System
Honestly, I hate the fact that I even have to include this. I should not have to tell ANYONE to watch out for themselves so they won’t be the victim of being drugged or even assaulted. This responsibility is completely on the would-be assaulters and we should continue to champion putting full blame on them, but in the meantime, we have to keep ourselves safe. This isn’t the survivor’s fault. Ever. It doesn’t matter what they wear, how much they’ve had to drink, or if they’ve passed out. They are not to blame.
The good news is that more and more people are starting to support these survivors and are using their voices to bring down the guilty. Things are changing, but slowly. Until then, watch your drinks to make sure you know exactly what is in them, and find safety in numbers. Don’t walk alone in dark or dangerous areas, and preferably just avoid them altogether. Again, I’m so angry that I have to use this tip. If you are a survivor of date rape/assault and need to talk, check out http://www.sexualassaultsupport.ca/support/ or SASSL at http://sassl.info.yorku.ca/ if you’re a York student.
Going out for the night can be great fun, but it has its risks as well. The holidays are a time of cheer and celebration, and there’s nothing wrong with having a drink or two (per hour) and having a fantastic time. This holiday season, choose security over wild abandon. Remember, party hard, but party even safer!
Sources
https://guardianinterlock.com/blog/2015-holiday-drinking-and-driving-stats/