How to Look After a Drunk Friend

With Schoolies just round the corner, we thought it would be a good idea to refresh our memories about the best ways - whether we are drinkers or non-drinkers - to look after someone who may have had a bit too much to drink.
A standard drink is defined as one which contains 10 GRAMS OF ALCOHOL. This means:

• 100ml of wine
• 30ml spirits
• 255ml of full-strength beer
• 453ml of light beer
• 63ml of port or sherry
• 211ml of cider
• 105ml of champagne
• 363ml of cooler
• 230ml of alcoholic lemonade
• 22ml of ready mixed

To stay below the legal blood alcohol concentration of 0.05 grams (in Australia) men can have no more than two standard drinks in the first hour and no more than one standard drink every hour after that; women can have no more than one standard drink in the first hour and no more than one every hour after that.
When you are looking after a friend who has had more than their bodies can handle, there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Never leave a drunk friend alone. If you’ve had too much to drink, being left alone can be very dangerous – stick with them, especially if they feel like they need to be sick.
2. Monitor them. If a person is already unwell and has drunk alcohol in the past hour there is a possibility that their situation could become worse once the alcohol is absorbed. Don’t just leave if your friend says they’re feeling better.
3. Reassure them. It can be incredibly scary if you become unwell after drinking – as well as feeling sick, there are added anxieties about parents finding out. Letting your friend know that you are there, and everything will be fine is important.
4. Keep them comfortable. It is common that one would feel slightly feverish after drinking too much and feeling unwell, and a cold compress or even just a cold water bottle on the back of the neck can really help. If you are outside, make sure you have something warm to wrap around your friend so they don’t get even sicker!
5. Keep them hydrated. Water, water, water. You need to replace lost fluids, so keeping a drink bottle with you is so important. If your friend is throwing up though, it is not the best idea to make them drink a heap of water. Have them suck on a cold-water soaked cloth instead.
6. If in doubt, call for medical assistance. Whether that means a parent or an ambulance, it is better to be safe than sorry. Parents will forgive eventually, no matter how much trouble you think you’re going to be in!

Best of luck for exams, and enjoy the celebrations afterwards!