How can I stop getting too drunk?

[cakedup]

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?

Alternate. I drink gin/vodka/beer. But after a couple of hours and maybe 3-4 drinks im on soda water. Just add ice/lemon and it looks like my regular drink. I never do rounds.

@cakedup

Here's my thread...

Alcohol tolerance and age

How old are you if you don't mind me asking? I'm 37 going on 17 with my binge drinking

Eat a big meal before, drink fewer alcoholic drinks (have water or a soft drink between each one), and ignore how much others are drinking - your tolerance is clearly less so you need to drink to your own limit and not theirs (I'm the same as you, and my tolerance has declined from my early 20s, and although it seems 'unfair' I have to accept I'm more likely to be sick or have an awful hangover than my friends, it is what it is!).

If you are a vodka drinker you need to consider the quality of vodka you drink. You’ll never throw up a good quality vodka unless you are dangerously drunk.

Oh and don’t mix it. It’s quite nauseating when mixed.

Drink water as every second drink and make sure you eat a substantial drink beforehand

I used to have a glass of milk and a slice of toast before going out so the booze did not hit an empty stomach as well.

Well stop drinking if you can't control yourself, it's more than possible to have fun without alchol.

Well stop drinking if you can't control yourself, it's more than possible to have fun without alchol.

Oh if only it were that simple! My friends and I like to go out for a few drinks and dance the night away. My family are alcoholics who always drink at gatherings, without exception.

I found these occasions quite boring when I was pregnant both times and really missed drinking.

I like the taste of alcohol, love the warm fuzzy feeling and that I am a lot less inhibited. It's such a sociable thing in my life. There are always wine tastings, birthdays, bottomless prosecco hen do's etc and I enjoy them. Can't imagine giving alcohol up altogether as am such a social butterfly and would feel I'm missing out.

Tho recent occasions when I've vomited fish pie/red wine all over my living room floor and had 2-day hangovers have got me thinking...!

MargotLovedTom1 I don't drink wine, and i'm not that keen on beer - it gets me really bloated.

I only ever drink what I know, so when I go out or to parties I stick to wine. That way I don’t fall victim to over-excited gin/vodka pouring. Whenever I think I might be getting a bit squiffy, I retreat to the loo and if I can work out the number of tiles on the floor/wall by multiplying length by width (if that makes sense) then I’m ok but it’s time to sip water for an hour or so. If I can’t do the sum then it’s time to go home.

halfwitpicker don't you find a lot depends on what you've eaten, how tired you are, where you are in your cycle, your mood etc etc? My limit - whatever that is - doesn't tend to be the same every time.

Thanks SatsumaFan I'll have a read of that. I'm 46. I had a toddler at 37 so barely drunk at all at that time! Love your honesty in your last post. I don't drink like I did in my 20s but it can be really fun to get drunk with your family/friends - there's no shame in it!

Yes, you're right tinydancer88 I just need to accept and remember that my tolerance is lower. Many people I have drunk with also drink more frequently than I do so bound to have a higher tolerance.

Racecardriver do you mean don't mix it as in don't mix your alcohol drinks? Would you consider Smirnoff a good brand?

Well stop drinking if you can't control yourself, it's more than possible to have fun without alchol. ohdearmymistake I do have fun without alcohol! And I'm on here looking for ideas on how to control myself.

Drink water every 2nd drink and never drink on an empty stomach

Drink less.

Food. Be well hydrated before, during (alternating) and after. Stick with what your body copes with. Mine is not a fan of wine, and copes better with gin or cider. Brands can matter e.g. Strongbow is contaminated with sweetners, like I need that lot messing with my body as well as the alcohol

I struggle to get drunk as I either want to go to sleep (wine), get too full (cider) or just naturally stop after 3 drinks. I'm a cheap date My biggest limiter is that it doesn't agree well with my digestive system.

My last hangover was 2015 then goodness knows before that. I really enjoyed earning that one though

Not being able to drink much is hardly a failing. Just drink more sift drinks. Healthier and cheaper.

I have recently rediscovered lager it's surprisingly good and doesn't give a hangover because any more than two make me look 8 months pregnant

And you can alternate.

I definitely drink more than is healthy but can't binge drink more than some people can put away in a few hours.

Er... I'm a fairly very regular drinker, so my tolerance hasn't changed much hangovers take longer to recover from tho

Can recommend alternating with nonalcoholic drinks, sticking to singles with extra mixer, eating a light meal before going out, sticking to one type of alcohol all as recommended by pp...

And when you reach the point of 'ok, one more, it'll be fiiinne' drink a pint of water before you ask for/take that 'last one'. Honest. I don't know why, but it makes it easier to call it a night!

Food, always have a decent meal before you start drinking, particularly carbs.
I also find drinking with normal mixer instead of sugar free helps.

I only ever drink vodka and coke, interesting that a couple of people have mentioned sweeteners/sugar free though, will not ask for diet coke in future.

Having said that, after midnight someone was going around with tequilla shots which I politely accepted.

I am definitely going to try alternating in future (as well as making sure I'm lined with carbs). My friends/family will think me absolutely mad! Just not the done thing in my circle!

BuffysFavouriteStake quite often it is that unnecessary last one at the end of the night that just tips you over the edge.

PickAChew I would never use the word 'healthier' when referring to soft drinks - I don't even buy soft drinks at home. I'm talking about the rare occasion that I am invited and go to a party/big night out. I am not a regular drinker.

I always drink vodka and diet coke. When I'm out with friends who are bigger drinkers (and younger) than me, it's easy to switch to plain coke when I start feeling too drunk. And I NEVER do shots. Well not anymore

@cakedup - could you try alternating alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ones? And make the non-alcoholic one a big drink - a pint of coke or fizzy water, for example - so you can’t drink it too quickly and get to the next alcoholic drink. Plus they will help fill you up so you drink less, and water would help ward off the worst of a hangover.

Find some things you will enjoy drinking, so you don’t feel as if you are missing out when you do have a soft drink - and when you do have an alcoholic drink, keep topping it up with mixer so it lasts longer.