I’ve had friends tell me before that the worst part of being the only sober one in the group can be annoying, especially as the night progresses. The good news is that you have the power to prevent that from happening. We know that no one in their right mind would want to babysit a bunch of adults, so we came up with a list of tips for dealing with your friends while they are under the influence of alcohol.
1. Establish guidelines early. Tell the group that while you are thrilled to be the responsible adult of the evening, you still want to be able to enjoy yourself without worrying about taking care of them. If you have a friend who is known for causing trouble or has a difficulty handling alcohol, make sure to keep an eye out for any potential problems.
2. Keep an eye on alcohol consumption. As the clearest-thinking member of the group, you have some level of responsibility for keeping the members of the group in line. We all have those friends who have trouble handling their alcohol, and if your friends are slurring speech or stumbling, it might be time to head home.
3. Be a good wingman/woman. Let’s face it; being intoxicated can easily ruin a person’s chance at impressing a member of the opposite sex. Be a good supporter of your friend by helping introduce them and suggest appropriate conversation topics. You might be surprised how effective the help of a sober friend can be when it comes to making first impressions.
4. Make sure everyone gets home safely. While this may seem obvious, try to understand that this goes beyond the car ride portion of the evening. If one of your passengers has had more than their fair share to drink, help them to the front door and make sure they are not in danger of alcohol poisoning. Also encourage your friends to drink water before going to bed.
Whoever said being the designated driver wasn’t any fun? While being the only sober one of the group can be a challenge and requires a lot of responsibility, these are just some examples of ways that you can turn your night of sobriety into an exciting evening. It’s all about having a positive mindset and remembering that your friends are guaranteed a safe ride home because of you.
