Above the INfluence

Make smart choices surrounding alcohol use. Binge drinking - especially underage - can have some serious health, social, and physical repercussions. Waiting to drink - and drinking responsibly - until you are of 21 years old is what is best. However, if you are going to drink, making smart choices surrounding consumption is important!

1. ​Track Drinks: Track how much you drink—keep a card in your pocket, wallet or purse. Mark your calendar or keep notes in your phone.
2. Count/Measure: Refer to the “standard” drink size in this guide or at the Rethinking Drinking website: https://www.rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/.  
3. Set Your Goals: You’re learning what you like and wish to accomplish—remember your goals will be around longer than that party night, but that party night can affect your goals or life without you knowing how.
4. Pace It and Space It: Pace drinks, sip slowly. If you choose to drink, it’s best to limit the number and have nonalcoholic beverages between them. If you choose not to drink, have water, soda, juice, etc. 
5. Eat Food: Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Food affects alcohol absorption—alcohol is absorbed more slowly.
6. Get a Sub: Just because friends or others might be drinking, a lot don’t, and you can choose water, soda or a juice without the mixed-in liquor. If you want, avoid the party altogether and go to the gym, study, do a hobby, whatever.
7. Watch for Triggers: What—or who—makes you want to drink? If certain activities, events, or feelings influence your choice to drink, try to avoid them and call a buddy.
8. Plan on Dealing With Urges: If you can’t avoid the events or triggers—think about your reasons for change, find your support system, get distracted and go do something else. Or if it really just comes down to it: accept that you might feel pressure to drink or want to; ride out the feeling and don’t give in. The pressure or feeling will pass.
9. Know What Your "No" is: You might be offered a drink when you don’t want one—have that “no thanks” ready that is both polite and firm. If you say no earlier or faster, the better the chance you won’t.

Check Your Drinking: "I don't have a problem!" is something we hear a lot when we talking about alcohol consumption. Click here to take a short quiz to screen yourself for alcohol dependency. After the quiz, you'll learn ways to quit or lessen your drinking!

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use disorder or alcohol use disorder and wants connected to services or resources, call the Jay County Drug Prevention Coalition at (260) 251-3259 and ask to speak to Josh.