This article is written as part of a series of posts about the #DrinkLessEnjoyMore campaign
If you are venturing out in Wrexham over the festive season we want to make sure you have a memorable night – for the right reasons. Take a look at our top tips to help make sure your night out is a safe and enjoyable one.
- Tip 1: Don’t load up on drinks at home
- Tip 2: Look out for the Best Bar None signs
- Tip 3: Eat before drinking
- Tip 4: Think of your health
- Tip 5: Stay with your friends
- Tip 6: Don’t leave your drinks unattended
- Tip 7: There is help at hand if you need it
- Tip 8: Plan your journey home
- Tip 9: After your night out…
- More Information
Tip 1: Don’t load up on drinks at home
It may seem like a great idea to have a few drinks at home before your night out. You may think that it could save you money and make you more relaxed , but drinking too much at home before a night out can ultimately cut your night short. People who drink at home before going out tend to lose track of how much they have had to drink and end up getting more drunk than they had planned. This can often make you more likely to:
- Suffer illness due to excessive alcohol intake, including vomiting, which can bring your night to an unpleasant end
- Be involved in a fight
- Be injured from falling
- Become more vulnerable
Tip 2: Look out for the Best Bar None signs
When you walk into a licenced premises and see this sign it means you , you have just stepped inside a Best Bar None (BBN) Wrexham accredited venue. Every BBN venue has put their premises to the test to prove just how committed they are to keeping you safer on your night out.
Tip 3: Eat before drinking
Make sure you eat before you go out. Food soaks up alcohol, slowing it down before it enters the bloodstream. It will provide more energy and lessen the effects the next day. Try spacing out your drinking and drink soft drinks or water between alcoholic drinks. This can slow the rate of your drinking.
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Tip 4: Think of your health
Most people are not aware that alcohol is a poison and drinking too much can have immediate serious implications for your health.
Tip 5: Stay with your friends
Friends look after each other. Make sure you don’t get separated. If you are socializing with a group of people, then watch out for each other and make sure everyone stays safe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1dVqH7B4xQ
Tip 6: Don’t leave your drinks unattended
Don’t leave any drinks unattended as this may increase the possibility of your drink being spiked. Spiking can happen to both men and women. Criminals do this in order to commit a crime against you such as theft, robbery or sexual assault. For these reasons also avoid accepting drinks from strangers. If you need to leave your drink for whatever reason, ask your friends to watch it.
Tip 7: There is help at hand if you need it
If you are feeling a little too drunk, look out for street pastors who provide compassionate support in the town centre and can help you. They work in partnership with police and can provide you with water and practical help if you need it.
You can also visit the Welfare Centre at Hafod y Wern, the centre is funded by Wrexham County Borough Council, the Welsh Air Ambulance Service and the Health Board. It is staffed by British Red Cross Personnel and offers medical assistance, a place to recover and pastoral care if you have a had too much to drink, have taken illegal drugs, or are feeling vulnerable.
Tip 8: Plan your journey home
Make sure that you check any taxi you get into is properly licenced. All private hire or hackney cab vehicles should be displaying white and purple coloured licence plates which should be on the outside of all vehicles.
Private hire vehicles will also have yellow adhesive signs in the rear windows.
All drivers should have an ID badge with their name, photograph, licence number and expiry date. If you can’t see it please ask to see it before you set off.
Tip 9: After your night out…
Drink a pint of water before going to bed to stop your body/skin dehydrating and give your body a few drink-free days to recover after a heavy drinking session.
More Information
Anyone who wants more information about the possible harms of drinking can visit these websites:
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol/Pages/Alcoholhome.aspx
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/abuse/Pages/drink-spiking.aspx#
Anybody who is concerned about their drinking can contact the DAN 24/7 Wales Drug & Alcohol Helpline on Freephone 0808 808 2234 or www.dan247.org.uk
Find out more about the #DrinkLessEnjoyMore campaign here
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