How to stop a good night from going bad

Whether you’re hitting the pubs, heading to a gig or club , or making your way to a house party  – great nights start and end with your mates.  

Of course, not all nights out end up becoming legendary. Sometimes drinking too much too quickly, or not sticking together as a group, means good times can go bad.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are some simple tips to make sure the good times keep coming, whatever situations the night throws at you.

Stick together

Finish the night with the friends you started it with and it’ll be a lot more fun. You’ll get to share gossip, have a laugh about the night so far and look ahead to the next one. In fact, often the after parties are the best part of the night.

If things go wrong...

Make sure you don’t get separated by ensuring you have enough credit to text or make calls if you get split up. Sometimes it’s difficult to get a signal in basement clubs or at a gig venue, so have a plan B and arrange a meeting place before you head out or when you’ve all just arrived somewhere.

Keep your leary mate in check

Everyone has a friend whose mad ideas can turn evenings out into epic escapades or total disasters. They’re the people who might blag their way backstage to meet the band, but also get you all chucked out for trying to chat up the guitarist’s girlfriend.

Unfortunately, drinking too much alcohol can make people aggressive. So even if a loose cannon hasn’t been drinking much, heading off into the unknown can mean they end up experiencing someone else’s bad temper!

If things go wrong...

If your mate has been drinking alcohol and is getting into a situation which could get out of hand, make your way over to them calmly and have a chat with them. Take a soft drink to help them rehydrate and take a break from alcohol, while steering them back to the safety of your group.

Stay safe

A good night out means avoiding situations that could be unsafe. While a little alcohol can make you feel good, too much can cloud your judgement and lead you into situations where you’re vulnerable.

From dodgy unlicensed cabs to mates who’re in danger of going home with the wrong person, watch out for each other as you go along to stop potentially bad things from happening.

If things go wrong...

Staying focused enough to suss out dodgy situations goes a long way towards staying safe. Sipping soft drinks or water between alcoholic ones or moving onto soft drinks completely after a couple of alcoholic drinks is one good way to stay sharp. So is eating food, it’ll help to slow down the absorption of alcohol and stop you getting fuzzy headed.

Get home OK

It’s easy to get carried away when you’re out with your mates. You’re having a laugh, catching up and putting the world to rights. Add alcohol into the mix and your judgment is impaired. Stay clear-headed if you need to catch the last bus, tube or train home. Check the timetable before the night starts and know when you have to leave. If you’ve got web access on your phone, bookmark the public transport sites or download a relevant app.

If things go wrong...

If you or your mate ends up missing the last ride home, work together. You’re sure to find a solution, whether it’s sharing a taxi, calling someone from home or sharing a lift with another group of mates. A good mate will always know how their friend got home.

Page last updated by

Unknown, 10 May 2012.

Page checked on

01 Sep 2010