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FLASH

You wouldn't start a night like this, so why end it that way?

Why don't you eat before drinking?

Food slows down how fast alcohol gets into your bloodstream. It also gives you more energy and lessens the effects the next day.

"We carried on drinking and made our way to a club, and on the way my mates dared me to climb a lamp-post, and I accepted the challenge. When I reached the top though, I lost my grip and fell 25 feet, landing on my back, against the edge of the kerb.

My parents had to drive 150 miles from Sussex, and maintained contact with the hospital via their mobile. That's the bit I really do regret putting them through."

Daniel

Why don't you drink lighter beers?

Strong continental beers are popular, but can make for a messy night and a bigger hangover. The difference between a pint of 5% lager, and a 3.5% or 4% one is a whole unit.

Why not set a drinks limit?

Decide a drinks limit in advance, and then stick to it.

"A typical example of a night out was once when I was in a pub with a group of friends, and I slipped out unnoticed - my mates found me unconscious later on, in a shop doorway covered in my own sick."

Anna

Why don't you have an occasional water or soft drink?

Try starting off your night with a non-alcoholic drink. It will quench your thirst before you move on to alcohol. Consider alternating between an alcoholic drink and a non-alcoholic drink or at least throw in a non-alcoholic one once in a while to keep the body hydrated, and it will lessen the effects the next day. Drinking water before you go to bed will also help.

"I was trying to keep up with the others drinking in rounds and ended up being in a pretty bad state. Between bars, someone suggested a piggy-back race up the road. I think I managed about three steps forward before falling flat on my face. I took most of the impact from the pavement in my mouth; I'd lost seven teeth and was covered in blood."

Liam

Why don't you try to stay out of rounds?

This can often mean drinking at a faster pace set by someone else in the group. It may also mean that you end up drinking more than you intended as you accept people returning your kindness after you have bought them a drink.

"One of them suggested they round the meal off with some port afterwards, and I drank a lot of it. In fact, I drank two bottles of it.

I had a colossal hangover - it lasted two days it was that bad. I could hardly touch food, but more worrying were the severe stomach cramps and sickness that I suffered in the next few days. These became so bad that I went to the doctors and discovered that the diagnosis was a burnt stomach lining."

Simon

Why don't you stand your ground?

You should never feel as though you have to drink something if you don't want to. If you don't feel like another drink, or want to drink at your own pace, real friends will respect that.

"One night I was in a club, and a guy I'd just met was buying me drinks - which all seemed fun at the time. I've got a hazy recollection of the events, but after a while I felt uneasy - as if I needed to get away from him, and left and went to walk home, but the guy was still with me, walking with me, despite my protests that it wasn't necessary and I didn't want him with me. Regardless of this, he walked me as far as my house, so I started shouting and swearing at him to leave me alone, and even then he left reluctantly. It was a situation that could have gone either way, which really scared me."

Geraldine

Why don't you keep track of what you've had?

It is hard to say "That's my limit tonight" if you don't know how much you've had.

Why don't you use more mixers?

Diluting a drink with another mixer will make it last longer, and lessen the effects.

Why don't you drink smaller drinks?

It sounds obvious, but it's better to drink smaller measures of drinks if you have the choice - especially with wine. A large glass of wine in most bars is equivalent to a third of a bottle!

Why don't you plan your journey home?

Don't leave it to chance - think about how you're going to get home, and who with, before you go out. Make arrangements before you start drinking, and make sure you don't get left to walk home alone.

Why don't you decide sober?

Work out where you stand on the types of behaviour associated with alcohol when you're sober. Knowing your own mind when you're not drunk makes it much easier to stay true to yourself.

Why don't you look out for your mates?

If you're worried that a friend's behaviour when drunk is getting out of hand, don't keep it to yourself. Talk to them, hearing it from someone they respect may be just the push they need.

Why don't you be yourself?

If you're finding it hard to be yourself within your group, take a step back, and think about whether it's time to find a new crowd to hang out with.

Would you smash this in someone's face?

46 per cent of victims of violent incidents believed the offender to be under the influence of alcohol.

Would you squat down and pee into the gutter?

You can get an £80 fixed penalty fine for urinating in the street.

Would you trash the place if they got your order wrong?

If you cause harassment whilst drunk you risk being made the subject of an anti-social behaviour order.

Man's face reflected in rear-view mirror