The Highs and Lows of Magic Potions
These are my personal views and concerns as the festive season approaches. Let's keep each other safe.
Alcohol – it’s a magic potion that takes away the day’s stress and could make a nice man out of the meanest, but the bigger issue at hand is enjoying it responsibly.
Living in Gauteng, there are police at every corner over the weekends, there are many people who would Uber or Taxify to their destinations to drink, dance and party the night away; but there is still a large group of people who would rather drive.
“I don’t get drunk”, “I can control my alcohol”, “I’ll get you all home safely”, these are some of the responses you will hear from your designated or mostly self-chosen drivers for the night.
Definition of Responsible Drinking: Responsible drinking means more than just limiting yourself to a certain number of drinks. It also means not getting drunk and not letting alcohol control your life or your relationships.
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Most of the time I am that person. I’d like to be considered as that responsible friend and driver. But when there’s alcohol involved – I would never take that chance.
My anxiety levels sky rocket when I see those blue lights and immediately Jorja Smith lyrics come to mind. #It'sANiceSong -->
“I wanna turn those blue lights into strobe lights, not blue flashing lights, maybe fairy lights..”
Anywhoo...
Irrespective of how much or little you’ve had to drink – a breathalyzer never lies, and police standing in the cold of the night at 2am will never have mercy on you when their main objective is to fill up their van for the night.
Here are 3 simple steps to use as a checklist before considering drinking and driving or drinking and getting into a vehicle with a driver who has been drinking.
1. Plan your transportation in advance
Plan how you will get to your destination and how you will get back home. If you are calling a cab then ensure you will be able to call one when the night is over. It’s not ideal to be dependent on intoxicated friends when the night is over. If you are driving (which I strongly do not recommend), ensure you pace your intake of alcohol and drink loads of water hours before you have to drive. If you get stopped by police – from my experience: don’t panic! Stay calm and don’t feel or act guilty. Cops can always smell your fear. The next thing is to be completely honest – say you had 2 drinks 3 hours ago for example so if a small amount does show in the Breathalyzer then the police are more lenient as you were transparent about your intake. Although it’s present in your body – you are not intoxicated.
2. Understand (All) the Risks and Stay Aware
“I’m never drinking again” – sounds all too familiar! Ultimately understand the effects that alcohol has on your health and remember the consequences the next day. Pace yourself and know your limits, both physically and financially. Winners know when to stop!
3. Make sure your company has the same goals
There’s always that one friend of the group who has no idea when to stop. Make sure your group is all on the same page on your activities and whereabouts for the night. This will ensure everyone stays together, is safe and no one goes disappearing. This is vital when going out in a group of girls.
If you need more help and advice – Google can help answer all your questions.
Feel free to email me on shernoviareddy@gmail.com if you would like to talk more about this issue and how you can still go out and enjoy a responsible night out.
