Safer drinking
If you are drinking
alcohol it is a good idea to know its effects and how to use it responsibly. Some things you may consider to help make alcohol use safer include:
- Do not mix alcohol and other drugs
- Eat food prior to and while drinking alcohol
- Finish each drink, don't top it up, so that you know how much you have had.
- Put down your drink between sips
- Know your limits - what may be OK for others may not be OK for you
- Between alcoholic drinks have a non alcoholic drink
- Do not drink and drive or operate heavy machinery
- Stay with people you know and trust
- Don't drink and go swimming
- Carry condoms - The effects of alcohol may make you more relaxed and confident which may increase the likelihood of having sex. If you are having sex, use a condom to avoid contacting HIV/AIDS or other sexually transmitted infections.
Is your drinking becoming a problem?It is not uncommon to drink
alcohol occasionally however you may have a problem with your alcohol use if you are:
- Neglecting school/work tasks
- Getting into hassles at school/work/home
- Feeling hung over in the mornings
- Thinking about drinking a lot during the day
- Feeling edgy
- Drinking more alcohol than intended
- Finding that you need to drink more to get the same effect
It may be helpful to make a list of all the "good" and "less good" things about
drinking and to work out how much money is spent on alcohol each week. If you are not happy with the result you may need to manage your
alcohol intake better.
