How to drink and not get drunk

In general, this may seem strange – why drink if not get drunk? The meaning is just the opposite. However, there are situations when you need to support the company, but at the same time not hit the salad with your face. For example, at a corporate party, especially in the presence of the boss.

So how do you drink and not get drunk? We asked to share professional tricks psychotherapist, narcologist Ilya Kisler.

Here are the rules from our expert.

Have a snack

Drinking on an empty stomach is a bad idea. But there is something horrible – also wrong.

– The best appetizer for a party with alcohol is a vegetable salad dressed with olive oil, assures Dr. Ilya Kisler. – The oil and vegetable fibers found in vegetables make the absorption of alcohol more uniform, gradual.

In general, according to experts, it is necessary to prepare for a party in a couple of hours. Eat pre-roasted chicken and broccoli (to replenish potassium and magnesium) with quinoa (rich in fiber). Such a dinner will slow down intoxication.

If you don’t have time for a full meal, snack on eggs or avocados. Eggs are full of essential amino acids needed to break down alcohol, while avocados are rich in healthy fats that are slow to digest.

eat yeast

Another good pre-dinner snack is unsweetened Greek yogurt (it’s high in protein). But yogurt should not be eaten in its pure form, you need to add 1 teaspoon of baker’s yeast to it – they will possess an enzyme (alcohol dehydrogenase) that breaks down alcohol in the same way as your liver. Yeast has been shown to reduce blood alcohol levels by 20-30%.

Take a big break between the first and second

The fact is that the liver does not begin to utilize alcohol immediately – it needs to “swing”. And if you load it immediately with a large dose, it will not cope with a large volume.

– The first portion of alcohol will start the processes of neutralization in the liver, and the body will be more ready to receive the next portions of alcohol, explains psychotherapist Ilya Kisler.

In general, try not to chase after those who like to get drunk quickly. Remember: drinking is a marathon, not a race! The time it takes for your liver to metabolize and remove alcohol from your body is approximately 1 drink (a Western term for one drink of alcohol) per hour. A drink is a glass of champagne, half a can of beer or a shot of hard alcohol (30 ml). By sticking to this schedule, you will be able to stay fully adequate.

Don’t mix drinks

“Drink only one drink,” advises doctor Ilya Kisler. – Do not interfere with others!

And it’s not just about cocktails. Drinking different alcohol during the evening is also not worth it. The Russian tradition, in which, for example, on New Year’s Eve we drink a glass of champagne to the sound of the chiming clock, then we switch to vodka, and at the end of the evening we pour everything into ourselves (well, because there is nothing left except beer and wine), is completely unacceptable .

Don’t drink soda

We understand that whiskey and cola is a classic. But from a medical point of view, this is a disaster.

Ordinary, not sweet, carbonated water is also not good.

But what about mineral water? After all, it is always advised to drink it in order to restore the electrolyte balance in the body. That’s right, that’s exactly how it works, but! Before you drink it, release the gas from it – pour it into an open container and let it stand for half an hour. Or pour into a glass and stir well with a fork.

Give up sweets

Combining alcohol with sugary drinks, such as the popular Screwdriver cocktail (vodka with orange juice), leads to faster drunkenness. First, because sugar masks the taste of alcohol. A glass of vodka is tasteless. A glass of cocktail is easy to drink. As a result, more alcohol is drunk. Secondly, sugary drinks increase blood sugar levels, and this leads to rapid intoxication.

The best drink for alcohol is a glass of water with lemon or ginger juice and cucumber juice (not pickle, but juice). These drinks speed up metabolism and help the liver remove alcohol from the body faster.

Tomato juice is also a good option, but on condition that it is homemade (there is a lot of sugar and “chemistry” in the store).

Dilute alcoholic drinks

Another tip from the pros: dilute wine with water (2:1), and add ice to spirits and beer. This will not affect the taste, but will reduce the dose of alcohol.

Drink more water

Alcohol is a diuretic, so drink plenty of water to make up for your lack of fluids, even if you’re not thirsty. Ideal option: a glass of vodka – a glass of water.

An abundance of water will help keep your body hydrated, keep you from getting drunk quickly, and prevent a painful hangover. Well. Of course, if the alcohol was drunk within reasonable limits.

Go outside more often or ventilate the room

A feast in a warm stuffy room leads to rapid intoxication. Not only does alcohol make you run to the toilet frequently and become dehydrated, but you will also lose moisture through sweat.

Consider health and age

People with normal weight and good muscle mass do not get drunk the longest and can drink more. Very thin people get drunk faster. As well as full people. Surprised? It is generally believed that the larger the person, the more he can drink. But it is not. In obese people, fat is not only on the body, but also on the liver. A fatty liver works much worse and we break down alcohol more slowly.

Age is also important – the older the person, the slower alcohol is removed from his body.

stop in time

This is perhaps the most important piece of advice.

Many people know that alcoholics develop tolerance to alcohol. That is, they drink a lot, but get drunk very slowly. They have to drink large doses to reach the condition. The same thing happens with ordinary people during a long feast.

Do you know the classic example? First, a person drinks a glass or two and his mood rises – alcohol relieves stress and tension. Then a couple more glasses and it becomes quite fun. Some people get so happy that they start dancing on the table. But at some point, that very tolerance to alcohol sets in, and it ceases to function as an antidepressant and the person who just burst into laughter begins to cry. To return a good mood, you will have to increase the dose of alcohol. But in the end, you still have to sob, but already in the morning – when your head will split and suffer a hangover.

Therefore, it is important to stop on time. Go to sleep in a good mood, not in tears.

Important! And now the main remark from the psychotherapist, narcologist Ilya Kisler: All these tips are applicable only to people who are NOT addicted to alcohol! If there is an addiction, you need to refrain from drinking any doses of alcohol!

Popular questions and answers

Several traditional questions about intoxication we addressed psychotherapist, narcologist Timur Mammadov.