Students live in a very drink heavy society. There is Freshers at the beginning of the year, special occasions, celebrations for the end of exams, birthdays and then just the weekend. We also struggle to know our limits and wake up in the morning slightly more nauseated and a banging head desperate for a glass of water cringing in bed. But every hangover does not always stop us from ever going out again (despite what virtually everybody, including myself, says “the morning after the night before”).
Last summer the UK’s Crime Prevention Minister at the time, Norman Baker, invested £90,000 to get city universities to crack down on binge drinking using the Alcohol Impact initiative. The NUS looked at ways to tackle “prinking” by ensuring bars in halls reduce the price of non-alcoholic drinks. Try all they like, it probably won’t prevent students from getting a bottle of wine from their local for £3.99.
During the 2014 Freshers week Brighton University organised café crawls, knitting workshops and film nights. While these ideas sound interesting, are they really going to have the same impact as clubbing for students? Possibly not considering Freshers is usually how many students begin to make friends for their university years (Dutch courage perhaps…). Particularly for Brighton which is very popular for its buzzing nightlife.
If a night out on the town sounds more appealing than a knitting workshop, The Complete University Guide has some tips on staying safe.
- Take responsibility for yourself on a night out.
- Know how you will get home – plan ahead, particularly if you’re going to a part of town you don’t know.
- Eat before you go out and drink plenty of water. Drinking a glass of water or a soft drink between alcoholic drinks will help you not to get drunk.
- Keep track of what you’re drinking, as well as how much. Drinks can get spiked with drugs, so do not leave your drink unattended or accept a drink from a stranger
- Always leave a club or pub with a friend or a group of friends.
- Let someone know where you’re going and what time you expect to be back.
- Ensure your mobile phone is charged and is in credit. Keep the money you need to get home separate, so that you don’t spend it.
This might hinder your night but remember that it is for your safety (as most aspiring journalists are aware, the world is not always a pretty place). Have fun whilst staying safe!
