How to stay safe and get home safely on a night out
9 September 2019By Daniel, Staff writer at Unite Students
How to stay safe and get home safely on a night out
When I was about 18 and started to take an interest in alcohol, my uncle Dennis told me, ‘Dan, never get so drunk that you can’t defend yourself.’ Wise words from Uncle Den. But even if you don’t drink, it’s still important to protect yourself and get home safely from a night out.
Stick together and stay connected
You’re more likely to get into trouble if you wander off from your group, so always stay together. Stay with a group of friends when leaving bars or clubs and make sure your phone is charged so that you can call someone if needs be. The alcohol education charity Drinkaware recommends having a Whatsapp group for the night, so if anybody does get separated or in trouble, they can message or call for help.
Keep your drink and belongings with you
Did you see your drink being poured or opened? If the answer’s no, don’t drink it. Have you left your drink unattended? If the answer’s yes, don’t drink it. Spiking is where someone slips drugs or alcohol into your drink with the intention of incapacitating you. If you begin to feel unwell or more drunk than you should be, tell a friend immediately. For more information on spiking see what the NHS has to say.
Don’t leave your bags unattended anywhere in public as someone could steal them or they could be removed as a security risk. Try to avoid walking with your phone in your back pocket or hand too. Instead, keep your phone in your bag or a front pocket, preferably with a zip.
Drink water throughout the night
Alcohol can affect your decision-making, so alternating your alcoholic drinks with water will keep you hydrated and slow down your alcohol intake, helping you stay in control. Any bar, club, or restaurant that serves alcohol has to give you free tap water by law. Ask for water and sip it throughout the night, in between drinks.
Taxis should be booked and licensed
Take care when booking taxis. Never get in a taxi that you haven’t pre-booked because if something goes wrong, there is no way to track down the driver. Save the numbers of a couple of reputable local taxi firms in your phone. Never get into a taxi if you haven’t:
Booked it yourself from a trusted firm
Flagged down a licensed taxi with a light on, or
Got a licensed taxi from an official taxi rank
If you haven’t got the money for a safe taxi home, most universities operate a safe taxi scheme. You call the firm they use, get a lift home and pay for it the next day.
Walk home together and choose a sensible route
If you have to walk home, don’t go alone. Leave with your friends and walk home together. Stick to well-lit roads where there are other people and CCTV, even if it makes the walk slightly longer.
Always walk so that you’re facing the oncoming traffic. Stay aware of your surroundings, never listen to music and try to use your phone as little as possible on the way home as both things will distract you.
Dial 999
If it’s an emergency, call the police! Nowadays, many smartphones have a way to call emergency services without having to dial (e.g. press the power button five times on an iPhone). Make sure you know how to do this on your phone.
