We can often get a little carried away on a night out. While we all look forward to them, catching up with our friends, having a few drinks and maybe even having a dance, we can often end up letting the amount we drink get on top of us.

That can lead to a number of concerns, not least how you’re going to get home!

Alcohol problems are becoming more and more prominent across the UK and the number of people going through an addiction treatment centre to improve their health is huge. However, whether you’re looking to cut back for health reasons, financial reasons or to simply try and avoid a hangover, there are ways you can do it.

So, if you’re heading out on a night out and you want to drink less, here are some top tips…

Set Clear Limits and Goals

Firstly, you should go into the night out with clear goals on how much you want to drink and what you’re comfortable with drinking. This will allow you to set specific limits and stay accountable and responsible during your evening out.

What’s more, it can help you beat peer pressure no matter how old you are and stick to that plan. This can be quite empowering and allow you to get to the end of the night in a much healthier place.

Stay Hydrated

A simple way to do this is to stay hydrated. And not through alcohol. That’s because alcohol is actually a diuretic, meaning it will cause you to lose fluids and increase the chance of dehydration. This in turn exacerbates the effects of alcohol and will lead to a loss of control quicker and increase the chances of drinking more alcohol.

Drink plenty of water throughout the night, and maybe even alternate alcoholic drinks with glasses of water or opting for water-based mixers to accompany your spirits.

Choose Low-Alcohol Options

A good way to decrease your drinking is to opt for low-alcohol drinks over the evening. This will essentially lower your overall intake. Look at the ABV of drinks and choose drinks that have a lower alcohol content.

What’s more, you may want to alternate between alcoholic and non-alcholic beverages. For instance, you may have a pint of IPA or a cocktail first up, but second you could pick a 0% IPA or a mocktail and alternate as you go through the night. This will give you the same social experience, but without the large levels of alcohol.

Sip Slowly and Mindfully

Ultimately, you could just slow down the regularity in which you are sipping. Mindful drinking can not only be better in terms of the amount you drink, but it can also help you appreciate the aromas and flavours of a drink more, as well as being more attuned to your body’s signals of intoxication.

Surround Yourself with Supportive Company

Finally, get your friends to support you on this evening of less alcohol. If you’ve decided to moderate your drinking, share your goals and limits with your friends. They’ll more than likely respect your wishes and help you stick to your plan.

In fact, you may even find that others want to do the same. It’ll take the pressure off you having to drink, encourage responsible drinking and prioritise seeing your friends and socialising over the amount you’re drinking. This can all have a huge impact on your night, improving it overall as well as forming better connections with your friends.

Another top tactic can be top designate yourself as the driver, so not only can you stick to your goals, but also you’ll be in everybody’s good books as you can give them a lift home too!