Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Drink responsibly
• Method 2 of 3: Drink without getting drunk
• Method 3 of 3: Dealing with peer pressure
• Tips
• Warnings

Getting drunk isn't difficult. Drinking and staying sober, on the other hand, is less easy. Whether you want to stop drinking or just moderate, there are many ways to limit your alcohol consumption. The most important thing to stand firm - if you don't want to get drunk, that's your decision, no one else's. You can't get around it: if you put alcohol into your body, you get drunk. However, the following steps can help you mitigate some of the unpleasant consequences.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Drink responsibly

1. Do not drink more than one alcoholic drink per hour. A drink can be a shot, a beer, a glass of wine or a cocktail. Whatever you drink, try to drink no more than one per hour. This will prevent you from getting drunk, as your liver can process the alcohol and get it out of your system within an hour. If you stick to this schedule, you can have a nice drink and still stay sober.
   • Take small sips of your drink. Try to enjoy it instead of kicking it back.
2. Set a limit for the evening based on your alcohol tolerance. Set your limit well in advance and stick to it. If you know you will get drunk after three beers, then you should postpone those beers long enough to avoid getting drunk. Everyone interacts with alcohol differently, so there is no set number of drinks to stick to. When in doubt, remember that the recommended amounts are 3 drinks for men and 2 drinks for women.
   • Bring cash to the bar, instead of a debit card, so you have to stop drinking when you run out.
   • Women get drunk faster than men due to differences in physique.
   • The more you weigh, the more alcohol you can drink before you feel drunk.
3. Drink consciously. Drink for the taste, not for anesthetic. Enjoy both the taste and aroma of the alcohol, instead of choking it. Indulge in an expensive but extremely tasty drink, as this will be the only drink of the evening. Whatever it is, enjoy it.
   • Every now and then bring the glass to your lips and tilt it. But, instead of drinking it, you sniff the aroma.
   • Taste the drink while you swallow it. If it's not worth tasting, then it's not worth drinking.
   • Everyone has different alcohol tolerance levels, so drink for yourself, not to prove anything or to compete with a friend.
4. Drink water before, between and after drinks. Water has been proven to help absorb and break down alcohol and gives you something to drink before refilling your glass. Try to have a glass of water before each drink.
   • Slowly sip the water to fill the time between alcoholic drinks.
5. Stop drinking and eat something. Contrary to popular belief, food doesn't stop you from getting drunk. However, it can slow down the time it takes for the drink to get to your brain. Food also fills you up, keeping you from slouching down drinks in the meantime.
6. Make your own mixes, diluting the alcohol. When you drink, stick to mixes that you can control the alcohol percentage. For example, you can use half an amount of alcohol instead of a full one, and top up the rest with soda or another mix. This will help you stay involved in the party and keep you from drinking too much too quickly.
   • Try one Shandy, this is a light beer, mixed with lemonade, to enjoy a little alcohol responsibly.
7. Look for a partner. See if anyone is trying to drink the same amount as you and avoid getting drunk. You can keep an eye on each other, and stop each other if things get out of hand. It's also easier to stay sober when everyone around you is getting drunk, but you can rely on your partner.
8. Know what you are drinking. Don't just accept drinks, especially at parties. While one drink by the hour is normally a good guideline, mixed drinks at house parties can vary greatly in strength. They are also sweetened to disguise the actual amount of alcohol. In such a case, stick to beer, wine or self-mixed drinks.
   • Do not mix different types of alcohol, such as liqueur, beer, and wine, on the same night. It makes it much more difficult to know how much alcohol you actually drank.

Method 2 of 3: Drink without getting drunk

1. Make moderation your best friend. When you put alcohol into your body will you end up getting drunk. Once the chemicals are in your body, they will be naturally filtered through your liver, and they will travel through your blood to your brain. Responsible drinking is best. The following tips can help you mitigate the effects of alcohol a bit and keep you from getting drunk after a few beers.
2. Eat greasy, greasy snacks while you drink. Continue to eat snacks as the fat will help buffer the alcohol. This causes the alcohol to enter your body more slowly. Not good for your weight, but good for your brain. Good options are:
   • Snacks
   • Nuts
   • Pizza
   • Ice cream and milk shakes (dairy products can also help slow alcohol absorption).
3. Eat a spoonful of yeast to counteract the effects of alcohol. A small spoonful of baker's yeast has been shown to break down alcohol in the same way that the liver does, preventing you from getting as drunk as you would have been without the yeast. Just mix it with water or yogurt and take it before you start drinking. While the effects aren't huge, they can potentially lower your blood alcohol content by 20-30%.
   • This will make you absorb less alcohol, but it will not avoid getting drunk.
   • There is some doubt about the effectiveness of the use of yeast.
4. Build tolerance to alcohol over time. The more regularly you drink, the faster your body will get used to the feeling of drunkenness. It will take more booze to feel drunk, allowing you to knock back a few more before you get dizzy. The more you drink, the greater your tolerance will be. Drinking 1-2 glasses every evening will help you stay sober while drinking.
   • For a number of physical, mental and social reasons it is not recommended to drink purely to increase your tolerance. It can quickly lead to health problems and alcohol addiction.
5. Dilute your drinks with water, especially the mixes. Put in more moisture and less alcohol. You can still drink, but you can spread out the actual amount of alcohol, which will keep you sober. You can also dilute beer by mixing it with lemonade and Shandy drink instead of a beer.
6. Have a glass of milk before you start drinking and one more at night. Dairy forms a film on your stomach, so it can absorb less alcohol. It will eventually get into your body anyway, but it will take a little longer, allowing your liver to break down some of it before it reaches the rest of your system.
   • Carbonated drinks can upset this layer in your stomach, so it may not work with beer and soda cocktails.
   • As with so many other methods, there is scientific disagreement about its effectiveness, but many stories attest to the positive effects of milk.

Method 3 of 3: Dealing with peer pressure

1. Be firm in your decision not to drink. Alcohol isn't for everyone, and it definitely isn't healthy life choice. So don't feel dull or groggy for not wanting to drink. Understanding why you don't drink will help you say no in those most difficult situations.
   • Once you've made the decision not to drink, for whatever reason, stick to it. A drink can be the start of an unpleasant evening.
   • You don't owe anyone an explanation as to why you don't drink. Alcohol is for recreational use, it is not a lifestyle or philosophy. If you don't want to drink, you don't want to drink.
2. Avoid situations that usually lead to drinking. Going to bars or house parties is asking for trouble, especially if you're trying to quit, or are easily pressured. Suggest alternatives to your friends, find new places to hang out, and try to plan activities to do something other than just sit and drink.
   • You don't have to avoid all people who drink. You better avoid creating a strong drinking culture that tempts or leads others to pressure you to to participate.
   • Let your best friends know in advance that you don't drink. Tell them why and ask them to help you stay sober so they are on your side before the party starts.
3. Learn to say no quickly and confidently. When someone asks if you want a drink, the best response is a simple, straightforward one no thanks. While this should be enough, people will often pressure you into giving a reason or explanation, or begging you to drink with you. You will be quick, direct and honest No ready when it is offered. Make sure you make good eye contact and speak your words clearly and forcefully:
   • I don't drink anymore, thank you.
   • I'm the BOB tonight.
   • I am allergic to alcohol is a great, fun way to lighten the mood when you decline.
4. Hold another drink in your hand. This is often enough to convince people not to ask you to drink. It doesn't matter what it is, but soft drinks and other fizzy drinks are often good ways to indicate that you are drinking without actually drinking.
   • Talk to the bartender ahead of time and let him know you won't be drinking alcohol. Do tip him and thank him for soda and water.
   • If someone is super persistent, take the drink and hold it in your hand. Once you have the drink, you can feel free to leave it untouched, and most people won't know it's not just a refilled glass.
5. Search for activities other than simply get drunk. Obviously, you drink a lot less when you are in a place where there are distractions like bowling, darts or billiards, or when you go out to a show or concert. You can also give up drinks more easily if the lights are on, the place is not too crowded, and you feel comfortable. Make sure people have something else to do or talk about, and then drinking will become a background activity, not the main activity.
6. Get on if the pressure gets too great. If the constant pushing for a drink is starting to ruin your evening, then it's time to go. Alcohol is not and should not be an activity in itself. If all people do is get drunk and they don't respect your decision to stay sober, then you should go.
7. Avoid the temptation. If you know you'll want to drink more than you should, make sure you build in some methods to remind yourself to stop. Remember why you don't want to get drunk, and why a sober night is important to you. A few ideas are:
   • Use the elastic band trick. Wear an elastic band around your wrist. Whenever you feel the temptation to drink, pull the elastic for a moment so that you make a conscious choice not to do it.
   • Have a friend remind you when it's enough. This could be a friend who doesn't drink, or who knows his or her own limits well. Or it could be a family member.
   • Distract yourself. Get up and dance, talk to someone for a while, or play a game of pool.
   • Give yourself various rewards, such as a late night shopping, a snack, watching a movie, or calling a friend, if you are able to resist alcohol.

Tips

• Be aware of the problems associated with alcohol. There are various educational resources available online and organizations that provide information about alcohol problems and illnesses. Enroll to help you stay sober.
• If you eat to make yourself drink more, you will still get drunk. Do not abuse the solution.
• Avoid discussing drinking habits, be it who can drink the most or an announcement that you have decided not to drink. Not only are these boring topics of conversation, but they draw attention to alcohol as a problem and prompt others to challenge you. Instead, change the subject or go to the bathroom.

Warnings

• Buy your own non-alcoholic drinks if you can't trust your friends or others to do so. Even if they mean well, buying an alcoholic drink when you don't want to is peer pressure and unfair.
• If you have problems with addiction and alcoholism, get help.