As a woman, you are more quickly affected by drink as you have more body fat than a man and it will stay in your system longer. There is also a correlation of heightened effects during the time you are pre-menstrual, making you feel more drunk more quickly than any other time of the month.

Know that you are three times more likely to be involved in a crash if you have been drinking. Police do roadside checks trying to stop the accidents before they happen. They conduct more than 2.3 millions BAC tests a year, yet people still get caught. There are many things you can do to prevent being a statistic. There were 1040 road deaths in 2004, the latest year data were available; of those, alcohol was a factor in 980 cases.

Obviously, never drink and drive is the first and smartest choice. But, what if you have had a few with the girls and need to get home. Know that two drinks an hour will mean that you will be over the limit by the end of the second hour. And you will stay there about four hours after your last drink. Oh, the joy of being a woman.

Before you start drinking, have something to eat. Carbs are best as they take longer to digest and can slow the absorption of the alcohol into your body. Snack while you're drinking. If you even think you are over the limit, make arrangements to get a ride home with a non-drinking friend or take a cab.

Better yet, make it a ritual that everyone in the group takes a turns at being the designated driver for the group. You can still be part of the fun and won't feel resentful as you know it will be someone else's turn the next time and everyone can relax knowing that they will arrive home safely.

Try to be a conscientious drinker. The challenge with party drinking is that you are unaware that you are more inebriated that you think. You may end up making choices that you will regret the next day. The newest survey on women and alcohol shows that the number of women drinking has doubled from 1995 to 2000, the year it was published. Women in the study reported they have forgotten things they did while drinking, engaged in risky behaviours while drunk and had lingering effects the day after drinking.

This is one area you do not have to beat a man at his own game. Binge drinking, engaging is outrageous antics while drunk and drink-driving are not badges you should wear.

Remember that there is no 'Undo' button in life. Make your actions speak for you. Let people look up to you, not down at you.

Interactive Drinking Quiz

http://www.alcohol.org.nz/IsYourDrinkingOK.aspx

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