Sip Happens:
Smarter Ways to Play This Summer
Summer break is finally here! ☀️😎
Time to switch gears from piles of textbooks, late-night study sessions, and crammed lecture halls to more time with friends, patios, parties, and drinking games. Whether you’re heading to a backyard hangout, a cottage weekend, or just kicking back after exam season, it’s worth knowing how to keep things fun and safe.
Let’s talk about drinking games, why they can get risky fast, what to watch for, and how to make smarter choices without killing the vibe.
Why Drinking Games Hit Harder Than You Think 😵💫
Drinking games are designed to keep the drinks flowing, often quickly and without much thought. The problem? They take away your ability to pace yourself. Instead of choosing when and how much to drink, the game decides for you.
This can lead to drinking way more than you planned, and a lot faster than your body can handle. Games can be fun, but drinking games can be dangerous, as alcohol takes time to affect you. By the time you feel drunk, if you’re playing a fast-paced drinking game, you may have already had more than you intended.
What Counts as A “Standard Drink”? 🍻🍷
Let’s run it back to our standard #DrinkSmartTIPS, and ask, what is a standard drink? A standard drink contains about 13.6 grams of pure alcohol.
That looks like:
- 341 ml (12 oz) of beer (5% alcohol)
- 142 ml (5 oz) of wine (12% alcohol)
- 43 ml (1.5 oz) of spirits (40% alcohol)
Drinking games, more often than not, blur these lines. A “cup” in a game likely equals more than one standard drink, especially if drinks are mixed strong or poured generously. Slamming back drinks to keep the game flowing, without knowing how much is in your cup, makes it all the harder to track how much you’re actually consuming.
Why Drinking Games Aren’t the Smartest Move 🤔❌
Beyond just drinking more, faster, drinking games can also:
- Create pressure to keep up, even if you don’t want to
- Make it harder to say no without feeling awkward
- Lead to risky decisions you wouldn’t normally make
- Increase the chances of injury, embarrassment, or conflict
It’s not about avoiding fun, it’s about staying in control of your choices…and avoiding a gnarly hangover the next morning, because how much fun is that?
If You Still Want to Join In 🥴🍻🎯
Look, we get it, and let’s be real: you might still end up at a party where drinking games are happening. If you do end up participating, there are ways to lower your risk:
- Set a limit before you start
Decide how many drinks you’re comfortable having and stick to it. - Slow it down
You don’t have to chug. Take smaller sips or skip rounds, seriously, it’s allowed. - Alternate with non-alcoholic drinks
Water, soda, or mocktails can help you pace yourself and stay hydrated. - Use your own drink
Keep an eye on what you’re consuming. Avoid drinks you didn’t see being poured. - Eat beforehand (and during, if you can)
Food helps slow alcohol absorption, which can make a big difference over the night. - Have a buddy
Look out for each other. It’s easier to make safer choices when you’re not alone.
Fun Alternatives That Don’t Revolve Around Drinking 🎬🍹
Not every hangout needs to be about alcohol, and honestly, the best nights are always the ones you can actually remember.
Here are a few ideas to mix things up:
- Game nights (no drinking required): Cards, board games, or party games can be just as competitive and way less risky
- Outdoor movie nights: Grab some snacks, a projector, and enjoy a chill evening
- Daytime adventures: Beach trips, hikes, picnics, or exploring a new part of town
- DIY food nights: Taco bars, build-your-own pizzas, or potlucks
- Mocktail challenges: Get creative and make your own alcohol-free drinks
There are always ways to have a social and fun atmosphere without the pressure to drink.
The bottom line 🍻
Summer is about unwinding and having a good time after a busy school year. Drinking games might seem like an easy way to kick things off, but they can quickly turn fun into something you didn’t sign up for.
Knowing what a standard drink looks like, recognizing your limits, and making intentional choices can help you stay in control of your night. And if you decide drinking games aren’t your thing? That’s cool, there are plenty of other ways to have a great time.
Whatever you choose, make it something you’ll feel good about the next day.
Cheers!
