A lot of good points so far...
Sam said:
I don't think its realistic or fair to tell someone they shouldn't drink, ever.
I agree.
I for one like "drinking."
But, you don't have to drink to the point of being an *** (not that you would advocate that, but I am just saying), or to the point of inebreation to where you don't have adequete judgement or coordination for self-defense.
Some simple rules to stay safe:
1. Have a designated driver/sober friend. This is the person who you can rely on to basically stay sober. The person who can make the 9-11 call, make the judgement calls when all else fails, drive people home, etc.
2. Don't go to ****** places where fights and BS occur. Try to stick with places where your less likely to have a problem.
3. Follow simple, basic, self-defense rules. Use the buddy system, carry a cell phone, be aware of your surrounding, etc., etc., etc. These basic principles shouldn't change when your painting the town; they in fact should be more pronounced.
4. Get to know the staff at the places you frequent. If I've been to a bar/tavern more then twice, I can assure you that I or someone with my group usually will know a good portion of the staff by then who will vouch in our favor if anything goes down.
5. This is the last but not least principle, and probably the most important. DON'T BE AN ***! This applies to guys and gals. Alcahol is not an excuse to be an ***, and get yourself into a problem that would require "self-defense." I put "self defense" in quotes because most likely if you are hammered and your judgement sucks and you get in trouble because you are being an ***, you will be considered a "mutual combatant." It won't be "self-defense," it will be you going to jail.
I will aim #3 and #5 at the female gender at the moment, because I often see females who use alcahol as an excuse to overlook these simple points.
As for #3, don't do stuff that would put you in a position where you aren't in control. Don't go take a ride or go to visit some dudes room when you've been drinking, unless of course you want to have the guy not "stop" sexual advances when you say so, resulting in long showers and psychological trauma that will ruin your future relationships and haunt you for the rest of your life. Get the point? good...
As for #5, I see a lot of cases where women think they can drink and be asses, and because they are "girls," they won't be assaulted or have any recourse for their actions. This happends a lot with "daddys girls" who are pretty. Well....
Bullstuff! You may get away with being the drunk obnoxious ***** on more then one occasion without reprocussion; but you are playing Russian Roulette and if you continue to play you will pay for it.
I watched this happen recently. Some overprivlidged ***** was at the bar I went to Friday with about 18 people. She and her friends gave the waitress a hard time, so the bouncer had asked them to either cash out or give a credit card to run a tab. This little lady decided to call the bouncer every name in the book. Because she was "pretty" the manager let everything slide, thus she got away with her behavior. She and her pretentious hoochy friend continued their behavior, and at the end of the night, she opened her big mouth and started insulting another table. That table got up, and basically punked out the entire group. Most of the 18 people scattered, leaving a few guys who didn't want to feel "casterated" so they attempted to stand some sort of ground when they were paying their tab and leaving. They almost got their asses kicked. Knowing the people at that table (and knowing that they also knew all the bouncers and that bar) they would have killed those guys who were with the obnoxious drunk chick; and some weren't averse to hitting the girls either. Had the guys who were with "drunk chick" made one wrong move or insult, they would have been destroyed.
And why? All because some dumbass drunk girl thought she was above rule #5. The sad part is that unlike the guys, she doesn't even realize how close she was to getting her *** kicked, and getting her friends asses kicked. Had it have been someone of more of a criminal nature that she mouthed off too, she would have been looking at possibly being followed to her car, or assaulted on the spot. She was drunk and "special", and thought she was above the "don't be an ***" rule.
Well, she wasn't. And neither are any of us.
Most of this stuff is "common" sense that is becoming less and less common today. Those 5 rules are just to get you started, but use common sense and you should be fine.
Stay safe, and good luck!
Paul