Getting drunk is actually very easy, while drinking without losing your clarity is much more difficult. You can use several techniques to try to stop drinking completely - or at least drinking in moderation. The most important thing to remember is to respect your beliefs; if you have decided not to get drunk, remember that it is your choice and nobody else's.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Drinking Responsibly
Step 1. Drink only one alcoholic drink in an hour
The drink can be a shot, a beer, a glass of wine or a cocktail. Whatever it is, try to stick to the rhythm of one glass every hour. This technique helps you not to get drunk, because the liver has time to metabolize the alcohol and excrete it from the body. If you stick to that schedule, you can drink from time to time while remaining sober.
Sip the drink slowly. Try to taste it, instead of gulping it down
Step 2. Set yourself a limit for the evening, based on your alcohol tolerance
Once you've decided on the maximum number of drinks for that night, stick to it. If you know very well that you get drunk with three beers, then you have to consume them at a distance between them, so as not to lose your lucidity. Each person is able to handle and tolerate alcohol differently, so there is no right amount to stick to. If in doubt, the general rule is three drinks for men and two for women.
- When you go to the bar, take only cash with you instead of a credit or debit card: this way you will necessarily have to stop drinking, once you run out of money.
- Keep in mind that women get drunk earlier than men due to metabolic issues.
- The higher your body weight, the more - typically - the amount of alcohol you need to drink to feel drunk.
Step 3. Drink consciously
Enjoy the drink for the flavor of the drink, not the intoxicating effect. Enjoy both the flavor and the aroma of what you drink, rather than swallow it all in one gulp. Choose an expensive drink, but a really good one, because it will be the only drink of the evening. Whatever product you purchased, sip it appreciating every nuance.
- Occasionally bring the glass to your lips and tilt it. Instead of drinking, just inhale the aroma.
- Taste the liquid as you swallow it. If it's not worth tasting, then it's not worth drinking.
- Everyone has their own alcohol tolerance, so drink for yourself and not to try something or to keep up with a friend.
Step 4. Try to consume a glass of water before each drink and between alcoholic drinks
Water helps absorb and metabolize alcohol; plus you have something to sip before refilling the glass.
Sip the water slowly to lengthen the time between alcoholic beverages
Step 5. Stop drinking and eat something
Food, contrary to popular belief, doesn't stop you from getting drunk; however, it extends the time it takes for alcohol to reach the brain. Foods also make you feel full, so you won't be tempted to keep drinking.
Step 6. Make cocktails to dilute the alcohol
When you consume alcohol, limit yourself to the mixed drinks you can control. For example, take only half a shot instead of a full one and dilute it by filling the rest of the glass with a soda or other liquid. That way you get involved in the party, but you avoid drinking too much or too fast.
Try a "panaché", that is a light beer mixed with a soft drink (usually carbonated) to enjoy some alcohol, but in a responsible way
Step 7. Find a partner
Find out if any friends are trying to drink a little like you so as not to get drunk. This way you can control each other, politely limiting yourself if either of you seems to have lost control. It is also easier to stay sober if everyone around you is sober and you have a friend in the same condition as you.
Step 8. Be aware of what you drink
Don't just accept the drinks offered to you, especially at parties. While the one drink per hour rule is a good guideline, the mixed cocktails that are made at parties can be very strong too. They are also very sweet, which masks the alcohol content. If you find yourself in a similar situation, just consume beer, wine or make your own cocktails.
Do not mix spirits of different nature such as spirits, beer and wine on the same evening. This makes it much more difficult to know exactly how much alcohol you are consuming
Part 2 of 3: Drinking without getting drunk
Step 1. Make moderation a strategic ally
After all, if you drink alcohol, you will certainly get drunk. Once the chemicals are in your body, they will naturally be filtered out by the liver and reach your head through the blood. Drinking responsibly is the best way to keep everything under control. That said, the following tips should help you mitigate the effects a little and prevent a hangover after drinking a few beers.
Step 2. Eat high-fat snacks while drinking
Keep chewing on some snacks; the fats will help you create a kind of buffer against alcohol. Valid options include:
- fast food
- Walnuts
- Pizza
- Ice cream and smoothies (dairy products also help slow down the effects of alcohol)
Step 3. Eat a spoonful of brewer's yeast to nullify some of the effects of alcohol
A small spoonful of yeast is able to metabolize alcohol in the same way as the liver and limits the feeling of drunkenness. Just mix the yeast in water or yogurt and consume it before you start drinking. Although the effect is not very noticeable, in general this "trick" can lower the BAC by 20-30%.
- Yeast prevents the body from absorbing some of the alcohol, but Not alone prevents you from getting drunk.
- Note however that it is not yet 100% scientifically proven that the use of brewer's yeast is really effective in this context.
Step 4. Gradually increase your alcohol tolerance
The more you drink it regularly, the faster your body gets used to the effect. To get drunk you will need more alcohol and this will allow you to maybe have a few more drinks before you get drunk. The more you drink, the higher your tolerance level will be. A couple of shots every night could make it easier to drink and stay sober.
Obviously, it is not advisable to simply drink as a "workout" to increase one's tolerance. It can of course lead to becoming an alcoholic, with all the consequences, including health problems
Step 5. Dilute your drinks, especially cocktails
Put more soda and less alcohol. It still allows you to drink, but at the same time decreases the amount of alcohol, keeping you sober. You can mix beer with soda to make a "Panaché", as mentioned in the sixth step of the first part of this article.
Step 6. Have a glass of milk before drinking alcohol and another during the evening
Milk and derivatives create a sort of barrier on the stomach, thus preventing it from absorbing alcohol. Of course it will eventually arrive in your body, but it will take a little longer, allowing the liver to clear some of it before what's left goes into circulation.
- Fizzy drinks could destroy this film created by milk, so this method may not be suitable for beer or cocktails mixed with fizzy drinks.
- As with many other remedies, the effectiveness is not fully scientifically proven. But according to many, it seems that milk still has a positive effect.
Part 3 of 3: Managing Social Pressure
Step 1. Be sure of your decision
Alcohol is not suitable for all people and, of course, it is not a "healthy lifestyle choice". For this reason, don't feel "weak" or "boring" just because you don't want to drink. If you are aware and sure of the reasons that led you to say "no" to alcohol, you will be able to respect the decision even in the most complicated situations.
- If you've come to the conclusion that you don't want to drink alcohol, for whatever reason, respect it. Giving in to temptation and indulging in "just a drink" is often the beginning of an unpleasant evening.
- You are not required to give any explanation of your choice. Alcohol is a drug and not a way of life or a philosophy. If you don't want to drink, there's nothing more you need to add.
Step 2. Avoid situations that lead to alcohol consumption
Going to bars or going to parties means exposing yourself to temptation, especially if you're trying to quit or give in to group pressure easily. Suggest alternative nights out to your friends, find other places to hang out, or organize other activities instead of sitting at a table drinking.
- It is not necessary to avoid people who consume alcohol, but make sure there is no strong drinking culture that can tempt you or cause others to push you to "join the group".
- Tell your closest friends about your decision in advance. State your reasons and ask them to help you stay sober so they'll be on your side before the party starts.
Step 3. Learn to reject drinks safely and quickly
When someone asks you if you want to drink, the best answer is a simple and firm "No, thank you". While this sentence is more than enough, people often push you to motivate your refusal or beg you to have a drink with them. At this point, reaffirm your willingness not to drink with an honest "No". Remember to maintain good eye contact as you say these words firmly:
- "I don't drink anymore, thanks"
- "Tonight it's my turn to drive"
- "I'm allergic to alcohol!"; this is a perfect playful answer to lighten the mood as you waste the drink.
Step 4. Hold another drink in your hand
This is usually enough to persuade those present not to offer you any more drinks. It doesn't matter what it is, but a soda or other fizzy drink is perfect for giving the impression of consuming alcohol even if it isn't.
- Talk to the bartender and let him know you don't want to drink alcohol. Tip him anyway and thank him for serving you some water and a soda.
- If someone is particularly pushy, accept the drink and just hold it in your hand. At this point, you can feel free to walk away without drinking it and many will not even notice.
Step 5. Find alternative activities to just "getting drunk"
You are less likely to drink a lot if you are in a place with different distractions, such as food, games like darts, bowling or pool, or if you go to a concert. You are also more likely to forget about alcohol if the lights are on, the place is not crowded and you feel comfortable. Make sure people have something to do or topics to discuss, so that alcohol consumption is just a "background" activity and not the main reason for the evening.
Step 6. If the social pressure becomes excessive, leave
If you are constantly being bothered by offers to drink and it is ruining your evening, then it's time to leave. Alcohol consumption is not - and shouldn't become - a hobby or activity to pass the time. If people around you just drink, get drunk, and don't respect your decision to stay sober, then you need to leave the party.
Step 7. Find ways to avoid temptation
If you know you'll end up drinking too much, use techniques to remind you to stop. Recall the reasons why you don't want to get drunk and think back to why it is so important to you to spend your evening sober. Here are some suggestions:
- Use the rubber band trick. Put a rubber band around your wrist; every time you are tempted to drink, pull and release it to give yourself a nudge and to have a "reminder" to get you back on track.
- Ask a friend to remind you when you've had enough. It should be someone who does not drink or who is very good at recognizing their limits and stopping in time; it could also be a family member.
- Distract yourself. Go dancing, talk to someone for a while or play pool.
- Indulge in rewards, like a little bit of shopping spree, your favorite meal, a movie at the cinema, or call a distant friend whenever you can't drink.
Advice
- Read up on alcohol-related problems. You can find many sources of information both online and at rehabilitation centers and counseling centers, thanks to which you will be able to learn about the problems and diseases related to alcoholism. Read these brochures to help you stay sober.
- If you eat to be able to drink more, know that in the end you will still be drunk. Do not use this method inappropriately.
- Avoid discussing alcohol, regardless of whether it is determining who is able to consume the most or announcing that you have decided not to drink anymore. Not only is this a boring topic of conversation, but it also draws attention to the topic, making it clear to everyone that it is a problem for you; by doing so, your interlocutors will be stimulated to up the ante and push you to drink more, because you have proved to be competitive or too insistent. If you find yourself in this situation, change the subject or come up with an excuse and go to the bathroom.
Warnings
- If you can't trust your friends or other people, buy your own soft drinks. Even if they are good people with the best of intentions, they might buy alcohol for you even when you don't want to drink it; this is a classic social influencing behavior that is rather unfair.
- If you have problems with addiction and alcoholism, make an effort to find help.
