RESPONSIBLE DRINKING
a on Don’t lose yourself
night out
individual judgement, and your sense of responsibility and accountability. Excessive consumption of alcohol on a night out leaves your judgement impaired, and you might unknowingly put yourself in a dangerous position. The best course is to make sure you don’t drink too much and avoid people you don’t know or trust. If someone is aggressive towards you, reply politely and walk away. When leaving an establishment at night, do not leave alone. But there are a few things to know and some tips on how to avoid danger:
Drink spiking This is placement of an often illegal substance into a drink, with the intention of causing harm to the drinker.Symptoms of drink-spiking depend on the substance added. Signs that someone’s drink has been spiked include disorientation, dizziness, hallucinations, nausea and vomiting. One drug that is commonly used is flunitrazepham, also known as Rohypnol or the ‘date rape’ drug. You can protect yourself against drinkspiking by drinking from a bottle or can because it’s harder to drop a drug into one than a glass. Also, never leave your drink unattended or accept a drink from someone you don’t know or trust. Be cautious when there is an unattended punch bowl at a party. If you experience symptoms of drink-spiking, ask a trusted friend or a responsible member of the establishment’s management for help and immediately seek medical attention.
Aggression No one should have to endure unwanted aggression that may lead to abuse or violence.
W
hen out on the town, drink moderately so that you maintain control over yourself and stay observant of your surroundings at all times. Heavy drinking increases a woman’s risk of becoming a victim of sexual assault or other forms of violence. This is especially true in 46
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South Africa, where there is the shocking statistic of a woman being raped every four minutes.
The following are a few suggestions to think about before meeting up with your friends:
• Plan your night out in advance. Think about where you are meeting. You are Drinking alcohol has been a part of more likely to drink moderately if you celebrations and social interaction around meet at a restaurant to enjoy a drink the world for thousands of years. But how with a meal than if you meet at a busy and noisy bar. much you choose to drink is a matter of
