While the baseball season approaches the playoffs and the regular season of the NFL and NBA starts soon, drinking alcohol is a common enjoyment of sports lovers across the world. But drinking too much at a “pregame” or during the event can have serious legal consequences for you and your loved ones, resulting in a DUI.

Across all 50 states, a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.08g/dL is considered drunk driving and can face serious penalties, according to the NHTSA. If you want to enjoy an alcoholic beverage at your next sporting event, keep the following in mind.

Rideshare or have a Designated Driver

One of the luxuries of seeing a sporting event is that they are generally in large cities which have taxis, Uber, Lyft, and a plethora of other rideshare options that can safely take you from the game to a safer location where you can sleep. Having a designated driver is a significantly cheaper option as well, just make sure that this person does not drink any alcohol, and they can safely drive home without putting anyone at risk.

Eat!

Eating food before drinking alcohol can slow down the absorption of alcohol. Making sure that you eat a decent meal before drinking, and eating healthy snacks throughout the game can keep you from getting drunk too quickly, avoiding a DUI.

Know Your Limits

Drinking responsibly is a key tenet of safe alcohol consumption. You should know how much you can safely drink without losing control. The CDC says that about 4 alcoholic drinks will push you to the 0.08% threshold in California.  If you don’t, be cautious and do not drink much if at all. Alcohol absorption also varies with height and weight, so make sure to keep that in mind when enjoying your next beverage to prevent being too intoxicated. 

Slow Down

Consuming a large amount of alcoholic beverages quickly can rapidly increase your BAC. This will exacerbate feelings of intoxication, and can result in a DUI. Remember that it takes time for your body to process alcohol. Your liver can only do so much work at one time. Slowing down and pacing yourself throughout the night can help you stay safe if you decide to drive after the big game.

Drink more Water

Alcohol makes your body rapidly lose water, known as a diuretic. Drinking one cup of water for every drink is a good rule of thumb to keep you from dehydrating and avoiding a hangover the next morning. It also will help you stay safe by forcing you to pace yourself throughout the night, as well as keep you healthy. 

Basic Traffic Safety

Simple traffic safety tips can also help you stay safe. Wearing your seatbelt greatly reduces the likelihood of fatal accidents. Making sure that you stay at or under the speed limit reduces the risk of a traffic stop and accidents. If you are injured because of a drunk driver, contacting a trusted personal injury attorney should be on the top of your priority list after recovering. Stay focused and alert. Making sure that you are not too tired from the excitement of the game to drive safely is also greatly important to your safety. Finally, staying off your phone while driving keeps your attention on the road, rather than your phone, which is especially vital if you have had a drink.