Getting drunk is easy. Drinking liquor and not getting drunk is very difficult. If you want to stop drinking or practice not drinking too much, there are many ways to cut down on your alcohol consumption. The most important thing to remember is to stick to your point of view--if you want to get drunk it's your decision, not someone else's.
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Method 1 of 3: Drink Responsibly
Step 1. Drink only one alcoholic drink in an hour
This can include a shot, a can of beer, a glass of wine, or a mixed drink. No matter what your choice is, try drinking only one serving per hour. You can also avoid a hangover because your liver can digest alcohol and flush it out of your system within an hour. If you are disciplined to do this, you will be able to drink leisurely without losing consciousness.
Drink your drink slowly. Try to enjoy it slowly rather than hastily gulping it down
Step 2. Set a limit for one night based on your tolerance level for alcohol
Try setting boundaries beforehand and being disciplined about following those boundaries. If you know you can get drunk after drinking 3 beers, it's a good idea to separate the times you drink the beer so you don't get drunk. Each person has a different tolerance level for alcohol, so there is no exact number for setting this limit. If you're not sure, the recommended number of drinks is three for men and 2 for women.
- Bring cash instead of cards, so you should stop when you run out of cash.
- Women get drunk faster than men because of differences in body type.
- The heavier you are, the more alcohol you can drink before feeling drunk.
Step 3. Drink mindfully
Drink for the taste, not because you want to get drunk. Try to enjoy the taste and aroma of the alcohol, instead of drinking it straight away. Spend some money on expensive but very delicious drinks because they will be the only drinks you enjoy tonight. Whatever your drink choice, try to appreciate it slowly.
- Bring the glass to your lips and tilt the glass. Instead of drinking it, try to inhale the aroma.
- Taste the drink as you swallow it. If it doesn't taste good, it means it's not good to drink.
- Everyone has a different level of alcohol tolerance, so drink as much as you can, not to prove something or disagree with friends.
Step 4. Drink water before, between, and after alcoholic beverages
Water has been shown to aid in the absorption and breakdown of alcohol and you should drink something before adding alcohol. Try to drink a glass of water before each drink, then drink a glass of water between alcoholic drinks.
Drink water slowly to increase the time between alcoholic drinks
Step 5. Stop drinking and eat something
Food, unlike many people believe, does not prevent you from getting drunk. However, food can slow down the time it takes for alcohol to reach your brain. Eating food also makes the stomach full and prevents you from drinking alcohol for a while.
Step 6. Try making your own mixed drink by diluting the alcohol
When consuming alcoholic beverages, choose mixed drinks that you can control. For example, you could ask for a half shot of alcohol instead of a full shot and fill the rest with soda or a mixer. That way you can still party but not drink too much too soon.
Try "shandy," which is a light beer mixed with lemonade so you can enjoy a bit of alcohol responsibly
Step 7. Find friends
Find a friend who will drink the same amount of drinks as you and who doesn't want to get drunk either. You can keep an eye on each other and tread carefully if things get out of hand. It's also easier to maintain awareness if everyone around you is sober and at least you have friends in common.
Step 8. Know what you are drinking
Do not recklessly accept drinks, especially at parties. While the one drink per hour rule is pretty good, mixed drinks at parties held at home and elsewhere can have different strengths. In addition, often these drinks are sweet so that the alcohol is masked. If you're at a party like this, opt for beer, wine, or try mixing your own drinks.
Method 2 of 3: Drink Without Drunk
Step 1. Don't drink too much
In the end, if alcohol enters the body, you will drunk. Once in the body, alcohol will naturally be filtered in the liver and enter the brain through the blood. The best option to avoid it is to drink responsibly. The following tips should help you overcome the effects of the booze a bit and avoid a hangover after a few beers.
Step 2. Eat fatty snacks during drinks
Keep eating snacks like this because the fat will help block the effects of the alcohol. Thus, alcohol will be slower to enter the body. Sure, your waistline will likely get bigger, but your brain will feel lighter. Good snacks include:
- Fast food
- Nuts
- pizza
- Ice cream and milk shakes (dairy products can also help slow the effects of alcohol).
Step 3. Eat a spoonful of yeast to partially relieve the effects of alcohol
A small spoonful of baker's yeast is known to break down alcohol like liver. That way, you won't be as drunk as usual. Just mix the yeast with water or yogurt and drink it before you start drinking. While the effects are not miraculous, yeast consumption has the potential to lower blood alcohol levels by 20-30%.
- This will block the absorption of some of the alcohol. However, no will keep you from getting drunk.
- Note, however, that the effectiveness of using yeast is still debated scientifically.
Step 4. Build a tolerance for alcohol over time
The more regularly you drink alcohol, the faster your body will get used to the effects of a hangover. In addition, the amount of alcohol that will make you drunk will increase. That way, you can drink more before you start feeling drunk. The more you drink, the greater your body's tolerance for alcohol. Drinking 1-2 glasses of alcoholic beverages each night will make it easier for you to avoid hangovers during drinking.
However, you are not recommended to drink just to increase your tolerance for alcohol because of the physical, mental, and social effects. This method can actually trigger health problems and alcohol addiction in a short time
Step 5. Dilute alcohol, especially mixed alcoholic drinks
Reduce the amount of alcohol and add more liquid. This method allows you to drink, only with a lighter alcohol. This way, you will avoid getting drunk. You can even mix beer with lemonade to dilute the alcohol content.
Step 6. Drink a glass of milk before drinking and have another glass of milk in the middle of the night
Dairy products can coat the stomach thereby reducing the amount of alcohol absorbed. Although the alcohol will still eventually enter the body, this method allows the liver to digest some of the alcohol before it finally enters the body.
- Carbonated drinks can interfere with this coating. So, this method may not work if you mix beer or cocktails with soda.
- Just like other ways, this method is still being debated scientifically. However, many people feel the benefits of consuming this milk.
Method 3 of 3: Dealing with Pressure from Friends
Step 1. Try to be confident in your decision not to drink
Alcohol isn't for everyone, and it's definitely not a "healthy life choice." So don't feel like you're lousy or unpleasant just because you don't want to drink. Try to understand why you don't want to drink so you can say no easily in even the most difficult of situations.
- If you've decided not to drink, for whatever reason, try to stick to that decision. The phrase "just one drink, really" often leads us to an unpleasant night.
- You don't have to explain yourself to anyone why you don't want to drink. Alcohol is recreational, not a lifestyle or philosophy. If you don't want to drink, you don't want to drink.
Step 2. Avoid situations that often lead to alcohol
Going to a bar or partying at a friend's house can be tempting, especially if you're trying to quit drinking or are easy to get lured into. Try suggesting other events to your friends, find new places to hang out and try planning other activities to do besides sitting and drinking.
- You don't have to avoid everyone who drinks. Instead, make sure that there isn't a strong drinking culture that can tempt you or lead others to encourage you to "not fall behind."
- Try to tell your closest friends beforehand that you don't drink. Tell them why and ask them to help you stay sober before the party starts.
Step 3. Try to learn to say no quickly and steadily
If someone asks if you'd like a drink, the best response is a simple and firm "No thanks." Usually this answer will suffice, but sometimes people will ask for an explanation or excuse, or beg you to drink with them. It's a good idea to say "no" quickly, directly and honestly when needed. Make sure you have eye contact with the questioner and say the following words clearly and unequivocally:
- "I don't drink anymore, thanks."
- "I'm on driver duty tonight."
- "I'm allergic to alcohol!" is a great joke to lighten the mood when you refuse.
Step 4. Lift another drink in your hand
Often this is enough to convince the other person not to offer you a drink. It doesn't matter what drink you have in your hand, but usually picking up a fizzy drink is often a surefire way to show that you don't drink alcohol.
- Try talking to the bartender beforehand and letting him know that you don't want to drink alcohol. Give him a tip and thank him for the fizzy drinks and water he provides.
- If someone is being very persistent, take the drink they offer you and hold on to it. When the drink is in your hand, you can leave it alone without having to drink it and most people probably won't know it's not a new glass.
Step 5. Find activities other than trying to get drunk
You're likely to drink less when you're in a place with something distracting like food, a game like bowling, darts or billiards, or going to a concert. You're also less likely to drink if it's light, the place isn't crowded, and you're comfortable. Make sure people have other things to do or talk about and drinking is not the main activity.
Step 6. Try to leave if the pressure feels too much
If the pressure to drink starts to mess up your evening, it's time to leave. Alcohol is not, and should not be, a primary activity. If the only thing other people around you are doing is getting drunk and they don't respect your decision to stay sober, then you should leave.
Step 7. Find ways to avoid temptation
If you know you're going to want to drink more than you should, try some methods to remind yourself to stop. Remember the reasons why you don't want to get drunk and think about why staying sober all night is important to you. There are several ways to do this:
- Use the rubber band trick. Wear rubber bands on wrists. Whenever you feel the urge to drink, pull the rubber band against your skin so that you realize you are not drinking.
- Ask a friend to remind you not to drink too much. You can choose a friend who doesn't drink or is smart about knowing your own limits and stopping at the right time. Or you can ask your brother.
- Divert your attention. Try standing up and dancing, chatting with someone, or playing pool.
- Reward yourself like going shopping, eating your favorite food, watching a movie, or calling friends who are far away from you if you manage to stay away from alcohol.
Tips
- Try to find a lot of information about alcohol-related problems. There are many sources of information available online and through foundations that have information on alcohol-related problems and illnesses. Try to find out and read this information to help you maintain self-awareness.
- If you use food to drink more, you'll get drunk too. Don't go wrong with this solution.
- Avoid discussing drinking habits, whether it's who can beat who or announcements that you've decided not to drink. As well as being a boring topic of conversation, you're also focusing on alcohol as an issue and they may even urge you to drink if things get more competitive. Try to change the subject or you can excuse yourself to the restroom.
Warning
- Buy a non-alcoholic drink yourself if you can't trust a friend or other person to do it. Even if they mean well, buying alcohol when you don't want it is stressful and unfair.
- If you have problems with addiction and are addicted to alcohol, take the time to seek help.
