Wellbeing Blog: Having fun and staying safe!

Alcohol

• Alcohol is often associated with celebrations and having a good time. However, alcohol is also a depressant and can negatively affect your mood and increase feelings of stress
• Alcohol and anti-depressants are not a good combo; the combination can make you feel sick, drowsy and dizzy. TCs and MAOIs are worse than SSRIs and SNRIs
• Alcohol increases the risk of accidents resulting in injury (and sometimes even causing death)
• Alcohol increases the risk of losing self-control e.g. engaging in unintended sexual activity or getting involved in violence

So….

• Limit how much you drink. Respect your own limits and those of your friends
• Drink more slowly
• Alternate with water
• Keep an eye out for others who could do with a helping hand to call it a day
• Have some idea of the amount of alcohol you’re consuming and remember that binge drinking will make all the above problems much worse
• Don’t drink and cycle

Spiking

Whatever you are drinking, whether alcoholic or not, be mindful to keep your drink safe from spiking:

• Never leave your drinks unattended
• Always buy your own drink and watch it being poured
• Never accept drinks from strangers
• Do not go out alone and stay with your friends
• Look out for each other and if you see one of your friends struggling then get them home and stay to look after them
• Use drink covers when possible (there will be plenty of these at the June Event!)

If you think that a friend has been the victim of spiking:

• Tell a bar/event manager, bouncer or member of staff
• Stay with them and keep talking to them
• Call an ambulance if their condition deteriorates
• Don’t let them go home on their own
• Don’t let them leave with someone you don’t know or trust
•  Don’t let them drink more alcohol – this could lead to more serious problems
• Report the incident to the police by calling 999 or 101