An important fact you should know about drinking

Alcohol rapidly affects reasoning and judgement. This is why many casinos will offer free drinks to active gamblers. Intoxicated gamers become less concerned about taking on more risk and can begin to conflate luck with skill. Some drinking games are specifically designed to take advantage of this effect. These games typically introduce tongue twisters, logic problems or coordination challenges.

So here's the thing:

The best time to use your reasoning and judgement is when you are sober.

This means plans need to be sorted out BEFORE your start drinking.

• Where am I gonna go?

• How am I gonna get there?

• How will I get home?

• Am I gonna spend the night at a friends?

• How will I know I should stop drinking (or at what time)?

• Who is going to look out for me to ensure I don't drink too much or fall into other trouble?

• Who should I let know I'm going out drinking?

• Who should I let know when I've made it safely home?

The intent of this sober planning is to avoid breaking what should be common sense rules:

• Never drink and drive

• Never ride in a vehicle when the driver has been drinking

• Never drink so much that your body rejects what you have done by causing you to throw-up

• Never drink so much that you stumble and have trouble keeping balance

• Never drink so much that you black-out

• Say no when offered drugs

Shooting-from-the-hip or attempting to make plans while intoxicated are ill-advised. Such plans are at high risk of being flawed and potentially downright dangerous. Common sense, after all, requires intact reasoning and judgement.

If you haven't been planning before you drink, please start.

Drink smart my friend.