Staying safe on a night out
We've put together advice and tips on how to enjoy your night while staying safe, especially when it comes to drugs and alcohol.
Tips for a safer night out
Have a fully charged phone. This will help you keep in contact with people and get home safely at the end of the night.
Keep yourself and your drink safe. Keep your drink close by and keep an eye on it to avoid spiking. Learn more about spiking.
Stay low and go slow. Pace yourself with alcohol or drugs. Drink water throughout the night to stay hydrated, especially if you’re dancing or in a hot place.
Avoid mixing alcohol and drugs. This can be very dangerous and increase the risk of overdose. The Drugs and Me website has some really helpful information on how different substances interact with each other.
Keep an eye on your mates. Make sure the people you are with are safe and enjoying themselves. If someone leaves, make sure the group knows where they’ve gone.
Have a plan for getting home. It can help to have a backup route home just in case your original plan is no longer possible.
Travel safely. If possible, avoid travelling alone and avoid isolated or poorly lit areas. Use a reputable taxi or ridesharing service, and let other people know the details of your journey.
Don't be afraid to call for help. If someone is having problems because of drugs or alcohol or for any other reason, call for help.
If someone is unconscious or having difficulty breathing, always call 999. Don't worry; the ambulance won't bring the police unless it's a very specific situation.
Place the person in the recovery position, unless they’ve had a heavy blow to the back or head. Here’s a quick guide to the recovery position. If you don’t remember how to do it, get them on their side as this will still help.
Keep yourself safe from spiking
Spiking is giving someone alcohol or drugs without their knowledge.
In most cases, being spiked involves someone adding something to your drink. This is usually a substance like a ‘date rape’ drug or alcohol.
Spiking is never the fault of the person who has been spiked, and it is not something to feel ashamed or guilty about. Spiking someone is illegal, but people who have been spiked often don’t report it.
You can keep yourself and others safe by knowing what to look for and what to do if someone has been spiked.
Read more about spiking and how to avoid it.
Managing the next day
Alcohol and drugs can be tough on your body and leave you feeling sick, tired and worn out the next day. t’s important to let your body rest, stay hydrated and eat healthy food to help you to feel better quicker.
If you’ve drunk a lot the night before, you may still have alcohol in your system. Don't drive the next day to limit the chance of an accident or getting into trouble for drink driving.
If you’ve taken drugs on a night out, you might have an unpleasant comedown the next day.
Find out more about comedowns and how to manage them.