Perhaps you just got accepted into your top-choice grad program or earned a great promotion at work. If you have worked hard for something, then go ahead and celebrate (just don’t make it a nightly or even weekly habit). Don’t drink to drown your sorrows. If you have just gotten dumped or are going through a major loss in life, alcohol will only make things worse as it is a depressant.

Wear clothes that will be easy to navigate when you go to the bathroom (which alcohol will make you frequently do). Consider donning an easy, one piece dress or a comfortable pair of jeans and a cute top. This is not the time to try out that complicated, one piece jumper. Dark clothes will also be preferable because they won’t show stains from spills as easily.

You should have supportive friends with you who are up for having a good time. Tell them ahead of time you plan to drink a little more than normal. Don’t bring that friend who always starts a fight when you’re drinking or the one who talks at 10 decibels louder than normal. Most importantly, don’t be that person yourself. If you are drinking in public, make sure you have a safe way of getting home. One of your friends might be a designated driver, or you should plan to get a taxi/Uber ride home.

Try to drink in a place you are familiar with or in an area of town that you know well. This will help minimize any disorientation you might feel when you get drunk. Organize a special night out. Is there a new bar or cocktail place you’ve been wanting to try? Don’t just stumble into the first watering hole you come across. If you’re going to get drunk, it should be at a place you enjoy.

Even if you are drinking with the aim of getting tipsy, try not to exceed more than one drink per hour (especially if you will be drinking for more than a few hours). Women generally shouldn’t exceed more than 4 drinks in any single evening; men should not exceed more than 5 drinks. If you consume more than this, you are heading into dangerous “binge” territory and are likely to suffer unpleasant hangover consequences the next morning. Keep in mind the following measurements for a drink. One beer = 12 oz; one glass of wine = 5oz; one drink of hard liquor = 1. 5 oz.

Enjoy your drink. Alcoholic drinks can have wonderful, complex flavors. If you drink them too quickly, you might miss out on this.

Any food in the stomach will help mitigate the potential of a hangover, but there are a few things that can especially help. Alcohol depletes your body’s store of Vitamin B-12, so you might want to eat foods that are rich in this, like hummus. Alcohol also diminishes the amount of salt and potassium, so consider eating a broth-based soup at dinner. [4] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source

If the room starts to spin or if you find you are having a hard time walking without bumping into things, sit down and stop drinking alcohol. Switch to water, eat a snack, and sit until you feel the effects of your last drink wear off. If nothing changes after an hour, you need to ask someone to help you get home.

Drinking while you are pregnant can also cause harmful birth defects in the fetus. Excessive drinking over a short period of time can also lead to alcohol poisoning. It can make the drinker fall into a coma or even lead to death. [6] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source

You should not drink excessively if any of these conditions are current health concerns for you. Talk to your doctor about the appropriate amount of drinks you can have each week.