Many students drink alcohol at university - so we want to make sure that you are taking care of yourself as much as possible. Though we do not actively encourage the consumption of alcohol, we want to do the best we can to ensure you are taking precautions during your time at university. Though it can be fun to have a drink, it is important to be aware of your own body and personal limits. Everyone has a tolerance to drinking that can vary by individual – if you are someone who gets drunk quite easily, or if you have a higher tolerance, it is important not to push your own limits and to know when to stop. Some good indicators of when to stop include: Feeling dizzy, blacking out, loss of physical ability (i.e. stumbling, falling over), blurred vision and making decisions that you might not usually make when sober. It is important to have supportive friends around you who want to take care of you when you feel too drunk, and it may be worth having a chat with friends before getting drunk to ensure you are all keeping each other safe whilst drinking. Plan your route home before going out for a drink and always be aware of safety – try not to walk home alone late at night when intoxicated and make sure you have a plan to get back, whether that is ordering an uber or arranging for a sober friend to pick you up after your night out.
When You Feel Like You Have Had Too Much
Hydration is key. It's super important to keep yourself hydrated when drinking alcohol, this includes having water or a soft drink between alcoholic ones. If you feel like you have had too much to drink, sit down and hydrate yourself as much as you can. At this point, it might be sensible to call it a night and head home, though remember not to leave your friends alone, keep your friends updated and make group decisions surrounding when it is time to call it a night. If you continue past your limits, you put yourself at risk of alcohol poisoning, and you may be more vulnerable to dangerous situations if your senses are impaired from too much alcohol.
What is Alcohol Poisoning?
This is when someone drinks a high amount of alcohol, usually over a short period of time – it is the leading cause of poisoning among young people in the UK. The signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning include confusion; severely slurred speech, loss of coordination, vomiting, irregular or slow breathing, pale or blue-tinged skin caused by low body temperature (hypothermia), being conscious but unresponsive (stupor), passing out and being unconscious. This is something that needs to be treated in hospital and it can be very unpleasant, so please take care of yourself and be careful not to get to this point.