1. Keep track of what you’re drinking
If you decide you are going to drink alcohol, why not set a limit for what you’re going to drink before you go out? Then keep a mental note of what you have as the night wears on so you stick to it.
2. Alternate alcoholic drinks with soft drinks
If you decide to drink alcohol and don’t want to drink too much, pace yourself by having a soft drink or two after every alcoholic drink. It’ll help stop you getting dehydrated too. If you start out early, and you know it’s going to be a long night, try sticking to soft drinks for the first couple of hours before you start on the alcohol. Remember, if you drink when you leave the office at five and power through until 11, it’s the equivalent of going out at eight and staying out until two in the morning.
3. Eat before or during your work drinks
Missing dinner after going out straight from work is one of the main reasons after work drinks can get so messy. Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach means the alcohol is absorbed into your system quicker. So try to eat before you go out or during the night. Having a main meal at lunchtime and then a sandwich before you head out for drinks is a good idea. Eating before or during drinking alcohol should help stop any cravings for a greasy snack at the end of the night too.
4. Avoid rounds
Getting involved in rounds means you normally end up drinking at the fastest drinker’s pace. Not only might you end up drinking more than you would have if you were buying your own drinks, you’ll spend more too.
5. Go alcohol free for the night
There’s nothing wrong with going out with your workmates and giving alcohol a miss.
Stick to the soft drinks and you’ll stay on top of all the conversations as well as make it into work the next morning.
The AA Estcourt branch hosts meetings every Tuesday at Forderville Primary School from 7pm to 8pm. Contact Desigan on 082 849 3014.
AA Advice – Are you ready to cut down?
