New Year’s Eve: The biggest party night of the year. For those who had a good year, it’s a night to celebrate the achievements of the previous 12 months, while others celebrate the conclusion of a bad year and welcome the new with hope of a better future.
It’s also a night fraught with danger on several fronts. Excessive drinking can cause illness the following day, and poor decisions can also lead to legal problems. Even if you don’t drink, driving on New Year’s Eve is a gamble compared to most nights. There’s a reason that barflies call it “amateur night.”
You might be an amateur, but there are steps you can take to ensure a safe, fun, and happy New Year celebration!
- Don’t overdo it. Excessive alcohol consumption is a bad idea on multiple fronts, but especially on New Year’s Eve. Drunkenness impairs your judgement, and you might end up doing some things that you’ll regret (like getting behind the wheel of a car). Moderation is important! Skip the shots, and if you must drink, stick with something that’s lower in alcohol by volume.
- Eat something. Drinking on an empty stomach increases the chances that it will make you sick, and makes a hangover the next day much more likely.
- Work in some non-alcoholic drinks. Water is a good idea. Sports drinks infused with electrolytes are also effective, as they can help counteract the dehydrating effects of alcohol.
- Have a plan to get home. If you are able to find a willing designated driver, great! If not, make sure that you have downloaded one or more ride-sharing apps onto your smartphone (like Uber or Lyft). Cab and ride-sharing fares on New Year’s Eve will be exorbitantly expensive, but far cheaper than the costs of fighting a DUI charge!
- Get plenty of sleep. New Year’s Eve partiers are expected to see in the new year, which means staying up until midnight. But once the ball has dropped and the final bars of “Auld Lang Syne” have been sung, it’s OK to call it a night. A good night’s sleep can help prevent the dreaded New Year’s Day hangover. If you wake up too early and you don’t feel good, going back to bed for a few more hours isn’t a bad move.
