5 Tips for Drinking Responsibly at Nightclubs

It can be difficult enough to stick to your good intentions in all sorts of circumstances … going for a jog when you promised yourself you would, putting more broccoli on your plate than bread. But when your aim is to 'just have a couple of drinks' on a Saturday night at your fave London nightclub, and then you get into a dark room, pulsing with people and throbbing with music, and everywhere you look someone has a drink in their hand … it becomes incredibly tough. Today we go through the top 5 tips for drinking responsibly at a nightclub … help yourself to help yourself!

Snack beforehand

You've heard this a hundred times. Without a bit of food in your stomach it will take you almost no alcohol to get seriously trashed … and probably to a very embarrassing state. Make it a social event, and try to eat something with a bit of oil in it - the oil coats your stomach and oesophagus and stops the alcohol getting in as quickly.

Get mixers or lights

If you’re the sort of person (most of us!) who feel they need to constantly have a drink in their hand, drink light beer or half-strength mixed drinks. You can sip away as much as you like, and still have your wits about you.

If you get to the point of vomiting … drink water

Ask your sober buds to remind you to drink a couple of big glasses of water if you tell them you’re about to spew. It will dilute your stomach acid and be a lot kinder to your throat and teeth.

Don't mix wine and beer

We don't know why. We are not chemists, unfortunately. But anecdotal evidence universally suggests that hangovers are much worse when you've been drinking both wine and beer. Stick to one or the other. Better yet, if you’re planning to get pretty trashed (and of course, have a safety plan to go along with that!), drink the type of alcohol that you're used to. If you usually drink beer, drink beer. Your body is better able to deal with familiar poisons.

Take breaks

You might not realize how drunk you’re getting if you just sit on a bar stool or a couch and have people hand you round after round. Take frequent breaks to the loo, or out to a little outside area if your London nightclub has one.

Get Her Party Style: Victoria Beckham

So, not all of us can aspire to have Victoria Beckham's figure. And given that it looks sort of painful to maintain … most of us don't really want to! But there's no disputing that she's one of the yummiest mummies in the UK (if not the world), and that she has an awesome style for London nightclubs as well as industry type parties. Today we check out Victoria Beckham's party style, and how you can get her slick, styled, dainty look.

Victoria always looks polished and perfect, and her ways of 'letting loose' a little with her outfits can all be seen in this cute little dress … going strapless, bringing the hemline right up, and adding some fancy details. Obviously you don't want anything trailing on the floor if you're planning to do any dancing … and especially not if you have to take the tube to your nightclub in London! Hot for sit-down parties, though.

This pic of Victoria Beckham was taken at NY Fashion Week … possibly in a position where she really didn’t want it to be taken, given that sort-of snakey look! Nonetheless, she looks awesome, and the bright colours and skin tight sexiness of this dress are perfect for living it up in a club. Wear comfy shoes, because dresses like this aren’t made for taking advantage of nightclub couches!

In this pic Vickster was on her way to an Armani party in New York. It's a great number - she has a real talent for picking dresses that look hot while juts standing around, but are also super sexy on a dance floor. No wonder she's watching the floor ahead though … can you see how high those heels are? Take it down a couple of inches if you'll be walking around a dark nightclub in London, for safety's sake :-)

It must have been the dead of winter for Victoria Beckham to have had her legs covered! But this outfit does go to show that you can be sexy, and covered up at the same time. This sort of outfit leaves you a lot freer for dancing, also.

How to Throw an Awesome After-Club Party

Sometimes, even when your ears are ringing, your legs are aching, and you’re more than a bit wobbly, although you’re well and truly ready to leave your London nightclub you just aren’t ready to go home to boring old bed! Today we check out how to throw an awesome after-club party for your mates, taking some of the golden rules of entertaining and applying them when people have already had plenty to drink, they don't want to dance anymore, and are usually starved!

Tell everybody beforehand!

There's nothing as disappointing as planning a party that nobody turns up to. However, you'll usually find more than enough willing friends to kick on back at your place, if you just tell them about it beforehand. Let everybody know that you've got yummy snacks, enough comfy couches for everybody, and some chilled out tunes, and you'll soon have a platoon of partiers -- your own version of London nightlife!

Put some snacks on

Have something prepped before you leave for your London nightclub - after a night of mostly liquid refreshment and sometimes smoky air, everybody will be starving. Kebabs are always a hit … but any finger food that can just be unwrapped from the fridge will be a hit. Savoury is usually better than sweet after alcohol.

Have plenty of non-alcoholic drinks available

Give your mates that time to sober up after a few wobbly hours, and their heads and stomachs will thank you in the morning! Put on plenty of soda water, cordial, tea and coffee … or just light beer, if you must.

Prep the couches

If you don't have enough couch space for all your expected after party guests, drag out some mattresses to put against the wall, and pop a heap of cushions on them for people to lean against. After a night of dancing, you will never have seen people so excited at the sight of some stuffing and upholstery.

Fresh air

If it's too cold to open a window, pop a fan on at least -- let people get the smell of cigarettes and dry ice out of their nostrils

Be prepared for people to stay

One of the best things you can do for your mates after clubbing in London is give them a place to crash. You'll be helping prevent traffic accidents and drunken injuries, and will have plenty of company to moan with in the morning!