​​​Have you ever woken up in an unfamiliar place without your keys, wallet, or phone? 

Have you ever had trouble remembering some regretful things you were told you did the night before? 

Have you ever woken up feeling so bad that you weren't sure if you went out drinking the night before or if you were hit by a truck?

​​If so, then you've probably partaken in an activity that's becoming more and more common among Singapore youth, even though it can lead to some pretty dire consequences: binge drinking. 

You may not know it, but binge drinking doesn't just mean "downing many drinks as fast as possible". It is actually defined as "drinking 5 or more standard alcoholic drinks in a row (for men) or 4 or more standard alcoholic drinks in a row (for women) on at least one occasion". 

Which means that when you go out for a few drinks on Friday night you're already binge drinking – even if you end the night without passing out or throwing up. 

Some common effects of binge episodes include hangovers, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and shakiness. 

And that's not just all…..check out a couple of these OMG facts about binge drinking [1]: 

  • ​​​Alcohol decreases your ability to pay attention.
  • In contrast to adults, teens tend to abuse alcohol with other substances, usually drugs.
  • The younger a person is when they begin drinking, the more likely they are to develop a problem with alcohol.
  • Intoxication is associated with suicide attempts using more lethal methods, and positive blood alcohol levels are often found in people who attempt suicide.
  • Teens that drink are more likely to engage in sexual activity, have unprotected sex, have sex with a stranger, or be the victim or perpetrator of a sexual assault.
  • Excess alcohol use can cause or mask other emotional problems, like anxiety or depression.​


As if that weren't enough, this bad habit increases the risk of alcohol-related injuries – falling down, getting into fights, or driving under the influence are just some of the things that could go wrong when you're drunk. 

So what's the safest way to drink? 

Well, unfortunately the safest level of drinking for teenagers is not drinking at all. 

"But then what do I do on Friday nights", you may ask? Well, there are many other things to do!

1. Zumba

​So you like dancing right? You don't need a dance club for that! 

Zumba is the only Latin-inspired dance-fitness program that blends red-hot international music (created by Grammy Award-winning producers) and contagious steps to form a “fitness-party” that is downright addictive. 

​​​​​​Have you ever seen a drunk person dance nicely? Nope, didn't think so! ​

2. Jello

Not every jello-shot has to be alcohol loaded… 

Give new meaning to the whole idea of fun at parties with some booze-free recipes! 

For instance you could pair orange jello with green tea or even have a cherry jello with lip-smacking pink lemonade! 

And then invite your friends for a blind tasting!

3. Paintball

It's the weekend and your friends have no clue what to do; you know you want to go out but everywhere seems such a major bore. 

Paintball is possibly the answer to all your questions! 

Paintball is an adrenaline rushing sport which is safe and suitable for people of all physiques. It also helps boost your self-confidence and decision-making skills! 

References

1.    National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2006, "Underage Drinking", Accessed from: https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AA67/AA67.htm on 1 Feb 2022.