15 Rookie Drinking Mistakes You Make When You First Turn 21

When you turn 21 in the United States, the only thing on your mind is the fact that you can now legally drink.  Everyone heads off to the bar for their 21st birthday, and for many nights afterwards, until the novelty wears off and they settle into a less destructive drinking rhythm.  During those first few outings, many mistakes are made.  Of course, mistakes are always made by drunk people, but I’m talking about mistakes that are specific to someone who’s still learning all the rules of getting wasted.

If you haven’t turned 21 yet, let this list serve to educate you.  Hopefully it’ll keep you from making the same mistakes that most of us had to learn the hard way.

15. Not drinking water beforehand.

This is how you get crazy drunk and even crazier dehydrated.  Drink your water, dude.

14. Doing shots like they’re going out of style.

There are other, more enjoyable ways of getting your drunk on than ordering shots all the time.  Don’t get me wrong, shots are fun, but they’re also the fast lane to the way-too-drunk zone.

13. Overcompensating to keep your buzz going.

It takes some practice and getting to know your body before you can successfully keep yourself in that sweet spot where you’re buzzed but not too drunk.  When you first try to do it, you’ll inevitably overcompensate by drinking too much and going way past buzzed.

12. Not drinking water during.

You’re supposed to have a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage you consume.  I don’t know anyone who actually does this, but at least make an effort to keep hydrating yourself.  You’ll be sorry if you don’t.

11. Not planning how you’re going to get home.

This is the sort of thing you need to plan ahead of time.  Don’t leave it to your drunk self to figure out on the fly, because that’s how dangerous things happen.