Know Your Limits during Freshers' 2014
It’s Freshers’ Week. It’s your first time away from home and you’re determined to make the most of it. There’s no one to tell you off for staying out too late, getting too drunk or bringing someone home with you.
The last thing you want in your first week of freedom is one drink too many spoiling all the fun. We’ve all heard the stories of mad nights out ending with lost phones and IDs, and sneaking back to your flat the morning after, but those drunken antics could turn into something much more serious.
Universities have support networks in place to help you during your time there, but most of the time it’s up to you to take responsibility for your wellbeing. It might be a chance to let your hair down, but taking responsibility for your actions starts during Freshers’ Week. A big part of that is to know where you stand with alcohol.
Know your limits when it comes to alcohol and know your friends’ too. That’s what friends are for, right? The more alcohol you’ve had to drink, the more likely you are to take risks you wouldn’t normally. This could be anything, like getting involved in a fight outside a club, or having unprotected sex.
A survey by a Student “dating” website found that 9 out of 10 students didn’t use condoms with the majority of their partners. Almost three quarters also admitted that most of their sexual encounters happened while they were drunk, and more than half of those who caught an STI couldn’t remember who gave it to them. The most common STI turned out to be chlamydia.
To stop yourself nursing more than a hangover after a night out during freshers’, try to stick within your limits - make sure you eat before you go out and drink plenty of water. Look out for your friends too and stop them getting into a situation they might regret the morning after.
If you’ve had one too many recently and think you’ve put yourself at risk of catching an STI, or if this has reminded you to get tested, enter your postcode over on freetest.me to see if you’re eligible for a free postal chlamydia test kit.