Know your own limits

Alcohol affects different people differently. Make sure you understand your own relationship with alcohol and your own limits.
Drinking even a little can increase risk for some people, so it is important to understand how your own body responds to alcohol and to follow advice you may have been given by a health professional.
Your body will tell you when you have had too much. If you are starting to feel tipsy, stop drinking alcohol and switch to a non-alcoholic drink or to water and make sure you have something to eat.

By planning ahead before you drink during a night out, you can make sure that your drinking is moderate.
Drinking to be ‘cool’ or to fit in is never a good reason. You can have just as much fun if you drink a little or not at all. Trust yourself.
Make sure that you eat if you are drinking and that you keep yourself well hydrated with water or non-alcoholic beverages.
Moderation and responsibility go hand in hand. If you are planning to drink, make sure you are not planning to drive. Even light drinking can impair your reaction time and how you make decisions, so make sure you arrange for alternative transportation.

Moderate drinking can fit into a balanced lifestyle, but it is important to be aware of your overall lifestyle habits – avoid smoking, eat a healthy and balanced diet, avoid putting on extra weight, and get regular exercise. These are important considerations, even if you do not drink alcohol.
Nobody should drink alcohol to improve their health. If you do not drink alcohol, you should not start doing so for health reasons.
If you have been diagnosed with a health condition like cancer, high blood pressure, mental illness, or another disease, make sure you consult a health professional about the possible interaction with alcohol.
Alcohol and certain medications do not mix. Find out about possible interactions before you drink alcohol.
Having several drinks within a short period of time will make you intoxicated. Avoid drinking excessively and ‘binge’ drinking.
Contrary to popular belief, drinking alcohol before going to bed is likely to disrupt your sleep. You should avoid using alcohol as a sleep aid.