There are many reasons not to get drunk, yet drunkenness is a huge problem in many towns and cities, and there are too many people who think that they have to get drunk to have a good time. But if you're one of them, you are taking all kinds of risks. Here are some of the reasons not to get drunk …
Of the many reasons not to get drunk when you go out, your personal safety should be right at the top of the list. It isn't a woman's fault if she is attacked when she is drunk but we should be sensible enough not to increase the chances. If you are drunk, you are less able to protect yourself and less aware of danger. Stay sober and look after yourself.
Any emergency room doctor will tell you that many of the patients they deal with on Friday or Saturday nights are there because of alcohol-related injuries. If you've had too much to drink, you're more likely to get into a fight or fall over. It's a huge waste of doctors' time - and in many countries you'll end up with a bill to pay once the medics have patched you up. And if you make a habit of getting drunk, you could be seriously damaging your long-term health.
I can honestly say I've never had a hangover, since I'm not fond of alcohol and worked out very early on that my limits were very low. Nobody really enjoys a hangover, but if you get drunk you're pretty much guaranteeing that you'll have one the following morning. And what's the point of that?
You'd think it shouldn't be necessary to warn people about driving when they've had a drink. Yet it still happens. If you're driving, then the best advice is not to drink at all. Not even a glass of wine with dinner. If you must have a drink, get a cab home. In some states, drivers under 21 will be considered legally drunk if they've had any alcohol. Don't risk your life, and those of other people.
I've heard people say things like 'It's not a good night out if you can remember it the next day.' That's just idiotic. There's nothing clever about getting so drunk that you don't have any memories of the evening. You're risking your safety and your long-term health. Cases of liver disease are rising in young people (source: news.bbc.co.uk). Don't be one of them.
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If you're legally not old enough to drink, then don't be stupid enough to get drunk when you're out. Forget trying to beat the system with fake ID or getting a friend to buy alcohol for you - you could land yourself in a lot of trouble. You don't need alcohol to have a good time. Learn to enjoy yourself without drinking - it's a good habit to get into.
Finally, getting drunk could make you really embarrass yourself. You could do something stupid in public, sleep with someone you don't really fancy, or be caught on camera embarrassing yourself. When you're drunk, all kinds of things you wouldn't normally dream of doing can seem like a great idea. Why take the risk?
Having a couple of drinks with friends is one thing; getting drunk is another. It's smart to stop drinking before you have too much. So what if people make fun of you for not drinking? It's their problem, not yours. Have you ever done anything stupid because you were drunk?