Society has changed to an extent that, what was a Bad habit yesterday is Social interaction today. Hardly a celebration or a party or an event or a business deal is complete without it. Yes I am talking about Alcohol. There is hardly any excuse any more to avoid this habit. It now is a part of a ritual, any ritual!

While indulging in this, we somehow talk very insultingly of people we know, being drunk. Prudes we are! I was being used as a facilitator for sealing a deal, clearing an Inspection or just to take a ‘Guest’ out of the way, because Boss could not face him. I took the excuse of my health, and some cunning, to restrict the habit. By the general standards I am a “Temperate” now. I now know that I was being used, as I liked the heady stuff and so I volunteered.

Please do not drink. But if you absolutely must, then this is one way. This hub is not to encourage any one to drink. Its purpose is to minimize the alcohol taken by you. Do not misuse it to your ruin. Alcohol as a regular feature can and will damage your health.

Volunteer to be the designated driver for the day! You can get away with not drinking.

Drive only when you are well below DUI standards.
 
Do not drink on an empty stomach. Eat cheese or yogurt or eggs or a snack to leave limited space in the stomach for the drink. Eating should ideally start a couple of hours before the drinking, and continue till the end of the party. Proteins and fats are good at delaying the intoxication. It is delaying only, not nullify. You will be drunk later!

Do your homework. Have several alternatives for a low alcohol drinks. Stick to one kind. Do not go with the crowd! It will not serve the purpose.

Drink small, pegs in a large glass and with plenty of water. Do not mix sodas or sweeteners with your drink. Sip and not gulp. Make each round last half an hour at least.

Munch some thing between each sip. Make an excuse of this to sip water. Be liberal with water. This will encourage a trip to the toilet. You will notice the amount of drunkenness during the walk. If you notice it, stop drinking. Say some thing to get out of the situation. Invent a sickness or tell a funny story, complain about your partner, engage them long enough. That should throw them off! “I think I will puke”, is a good phrase. You can be labeled a “Sissy”, you may not be invited to an another binge! Good for your resolve.

I did this once to a very aggressive client and he actually complained to my Boss the next day, and asked for another person to accompany him that day!
 
If a whole bottle has been ordered, and you have to go along, do all that you did when you have a choice.

Do not fall for "match me peg to peg" challenges. It’s a sure shot doomsday thing.

If extra drinks are being forced on you:

Do the pretend thing. Slur your words. Be extra boisterous. Talk loud. Laugh at your own jokes. Tell long stories even if they ignore you. Protest at the service. Focus and unfocused your eyes. Lick your lips often. Have trouble in getting off the chair. Weave your stumbling way to the toilet. Challenge your friends about anything they say. Keep apologizing for nothing. Doze off mid sentence.

Watch for irritation; doze off when it just starts. Your buddies will not wake you or serve you no more. Keep this on till they are out of sight.

Apologize to each one the next time you meet, in a whining way. That the friendship will not go away. They will joke on you, bear with that. Chances are that you will be a social pariah where drinking parties are concerned.

Never drink because you want to. Relaxation is an excuse. Alcohol is a trap.