Stay in control - Pre-loading
4 cans of premium strength lager may contain over 4 times your recommended daily alcohol allowance.
“Come on round to mine for a cairyoot before we hit the town”.
Studies have shown that those who ‘pre-load’ – drink at their own or a friend’s home before a night out in the city centre – were four times more likely to consume over 20 units on a night out.
To put it into perspective, there are 26 units in a bottle of vodka. The maximum recommended daily intake for an adult male is 3 – 4 units and 2 -3 for a female.
On average, women who pre-load consume over a third of their total amount of alcohol for that evening before leaving their own or their friends’ homes. Men who pre-load consume approximately a quarter of their nightly total before leaving home for their night out.
Home measures have proven to be often 2 – 6 times as much as standard pub measures, adding to the level of drunkenness before even entering the first pub or club of the night. That’s if you are allowed in of course.
Some become so drunk by the time they reach the city centre they are not admitted into any pubs and clubs – particularly those which have stewards on the door. Pre-loading is strongly associated with being involved in nightlife violence and risk behaviour such as unsafe sex.
There are small changes you could make to your drinking habits that will help you and your friends have a healthier, safer and more enjoyable night out.