"I lost my wallet"
"I let my guard down and my drink was spiked"
"My iPod got nicked"
"I had sex and we didn't use protection"
"I needed 15 stitches in my face"
"The drink reacted badly with everything else"
"I don't remember a thing – I could have been raped"
"They rushed me to A&E and pumped my stomach"
"They found him face down in the snow"
Food slows down how fast alcohol gets into your bloodstream. It also gives you more energy and lessens the effects the next day.
Strong continental beers are popular, but can make for a messy night and a bigger hangover. The difference between a pint of 5% lager, and a 3.5% or 4% one is a whole unit.
Decide a drinks limit in advance, and then stick to it.
Try starting off your night with a non-alcoholic drink. It will quench your thirst before you move on to alcohol. Consider alternating between an alcoholic drink and a non-alcoholic drink or at least throw in a non-alcoholic one once in a while to keep the body hydrated, and it will lessen the effects the next day. Drinking water before you go to bed will also help.
This can often mean drinking at a faster pace set by someone else in the group. It may also mean that you end up drinking more than you intended as you accept people returning your kindness after you have bought them a drink.
You should never feel as though you have to drink something if you don't want to. If you don't feel like another drink, or want to drink at your own pace, real friends will respect that.
It is hard to say "That's my limit tonight" if you don't know how much you've had.
Diluting a drink with another mixer will make it last longer, and lessen the effects.
It sounds obvious, but it's better to drink smaller measures of drinks if you have the choice – especially with wine. A large glass of wine in most bars is equivalent to a third of a bottle!
Don't leave it to chance – think about how you're going to get home, and who with, before you go out. Make arrangements before you start drinking, and make sure you don't get left to walk home alone.