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Original poster

How can I stop getting too drunk?

49 replies

cakedup · 06/01/2019 22:41

Help! I've turned into a lightweight!

I only ever drink alcohol on the odd occasion. When I do, I tend to really let my hair down, get fairly drunk (I'm a good, fun happy drunk!) have a great time but then before I know it, the room is spinning and I feel sick or am actually sick. I drink as much as, if not less than the people who I'm drinking with. My tolerance just seems to be really low.

How do I stop this from happening? It's getting to the point now where I get quite nervous before a party and dread that fact I may get sick. I guess counting units could be helpful, but I honestly don't know how many units is my limit.

Anyone else experience similar? Is this an age thing? Anyone got any tactics they use?

OP posts:
elephantoverthehill · 06/01/2019 22:42

Drink water.

Wigeon · 06/01/2019 22:43

Er, drink less?! Just switch to soft drinks after one or two alcoholic ones. You can still have fun!

madmum5811 · 06/01/2019 22:47

One alcohol drink, one water/soft drink. Just keep alternating. It works for me.

Drogosnextwife · 06/01/2019 22:47

With me it was the hangovers so now if I very rarely drink, I drink alcohol with a lover %. I discovered Edinburgh gin, rhubarb and ginger with ginger ale. It's lovely and half the % of the vodka, which I used to drink.

Original poster
cakedup · 06/01/2019 22:57

madmum5811 that's a good idea, I could manage alternating.

madmum5811 vodka is what I drink. I hadn't considered that gin had less alcoholic content?

OP posts:
RJnomore1 · 06/01/2019 23:00

It doesn't. The Edinburgh rhubarb is a liqueur. It is lovely though but you couldn't drink many cos it's very sweet (well I couldn't)

Which in itself might help?

gamerchick · 06/01/2019 23:04

Stop drinking when you get the twangy head and are able to make a choice. Just drink soft drinks from then on and the warm fluffy feeling will last a while.

Personally I make myself the designated driver these days. I was surprised at how much fun you can have without drinking anything.

It's a new feeling, no idea how long or will last Grin

SpoonBlender · 06/01/2019 23:05

Vodka with mixers? Put less vodka in.

Vodka by itself? Don't do that, you'll die.

defineme · 06/01/2019 23:06

Have one drink per hour?

strawberrypenguin · 06/01/2019 23:08

Drink less? Don't try and keep up, drink to your own limit and stop before you feel shit

SatsumaFan · 06/01/2019 23:09

I hear you OP! Recently posted a similar thing re: ageing and alcohol tolerance and indeed there does seem to be evidence of a correlation...Sad

Original poster
cakedup · 06/01/2019 23:12

gamerchick I think it's really difficult to know when that point is? Because the drunker I get the more likely I am to say "oh it's fiiiiiine!"

SpoonBlender gosh no, I don't drink neat. Usually it is at a bar and I've discovered in some places you'll automatically get served a double unless you request a single. I think my downfall on New Years Eve is that I was at a house party and drinking from a jug of vodka/lychee juice that someone had made. No idea how much vodka but I didn't think it tasted that strong!

defineme my timekeeping is bad enough when I'm sober!!

OP posts:
Original poster
cakedup · 06/01/2019 23:14

SatsumaFan Oh I'll look your thread up! Yep I'm sure of it, in fact I can hear my 25 year old self laughing at me as I write.

OP posts:
Original poster
cakedup · 06/01/2019 23:17

SatsumaFan was it a thread you started or just a comment on a thread?

OP posts:
CakeNinja · 06/01/2019 23:18

Definitely try alternating if you don’t want to get to that stage.
I have to say, the obvious answer is not to drink at all but I enjoy drinking and if I’m going out I know I should make sure I eat well during the day, try and eat something before I go out and make sure I’m well hydrated.
Also, I drink a pint of water before I go to bed, sometimes 2. And have a shower if I can manage it. However your problem seems to begin before the end of the night!!
Asking for singles instead of doubles is important Grin
When dp and I go out, he automatically orders doubles and then I end up drinking at the same pace as him. I have ended up absolutely smashed after an evening where he’s drank 10 pints and I’ve had 10 doubles (obviously he’s wasted too but on a usual night away from each other out he’ll have 5 or 6 pints and I’d have the same amount of single vodkas). Now he knows not to order me doubles after 2 rather memorable incidents.

BackforGood · 06/01/2019 23:24

I think my downfall on New Years Eve is that I was at a house party and drinking from a jug of vodka/lychee juice that someone had made. No idea how much vodka but I didn't think it tasted that strong!

Are you 16 ? Hmm

Original poster
cakedup · 06/01/2019 23:26

CakeNinja oh I've been there with the drinking at the same pace as a man (and some women too)! Good point you make about being hydrated though because I generally don't drink a lot of water. During the day of my last drink up I probably just had 2 coffees and a cup of tea before drinking alcohol. I wonder if drinking water beforehand would help.

OP posts:
Original poster
cakedup · 06/01/2019 23:29

No BackforGood . I just get a tad over excited at parties.

OP posts:
VenusClapTrap · 06/01/2019 23:59

Eat a shitload of pasta or potatoes before you go out.

antimatter · 07/01/2019 00:03

Don't mix alcohols! Have a glass of water between each drink during yoir parties.

toastfiend · 07/01/2019 00:06

Make sure to eat before you go out. Make sure you've drunk plenty of water before you start on the alcohol so you drink slower and not in an attempt to alleviate thirst.

I used to be able to handle massive amounts of alcohol when I was younger with no ill effects. Nowadays I get that unpleasant spinning room and nausea feeling pretty early on and the hangovers are hideous, so I find it's not really worth it anymore as drinking makes me nervous I'll feel terrible. Being pregnant this Christmas has been a handy excuse at parties!

I alternate my drinks now when I do drink. Will quite often order a soft drink or have water between alcoholic drinks, slows me down a lot and I find I can catch myself before I start to feel too ill that way. Nurse your drink rather than drinking it all quickly. I also don't get sucked into buying rounds anymore, no one ever listens if I say I want a soft drink this time when it's their round, so in order to avoid being presented with a jagerbomb or double vodka I now just go for a wee when people start doing rounds, miss the first round and am then out of sync with the drinks buying so can get my own without having to awkwardly refuse to get involved and without anyone really noticing.

Sakura7 · 07/01/2019 00:10

I'm the same OP so no advice really, but I do sympathise!

Original poster
cakedup · 07/01/2019 00:52

I used to be able to handle massive amounts of alcohol when I was younger with no ill effects. Nowadays I get that unpleasant spinning room and nausea feeling pretty early on and the hangovers are hideous, so I find it's not really worth it anymore as drinking makes me nervous I'll feel terrible. I could have written that *toastfiend!"

And you're right - people just don't listen when it comes to drinks. "I'll just have a single" "What? No go on have a double. I'll get you a tequila to go with it."

OP posts:
MargotLovedTom1 · 07/01/2019 00:58

Is it only vodka you like? I'm much better if I drink lager, eg bottles of Peroni/ Birra Moretti/ San Miguel. Fills you up more with gas and obviously not as alcoholic.

halfwitpicker · 07/01/2019 01:05

Yeah man the hangovers are shit these days.

I think what you're saying is op, is that you dont know your limit.

Mine is around 3 medium glasses of wine, I can feel it if you will, feel chuckly and a bit silly. I usually stop then. Or change to g and t then have an awful hangover.