Why is it that no one gives you a guide for turning 21? All you’re told is that you’re now able to go out and drink but not much else. Here are seven things that I wish I knew about going out on the town.
1. Recognize the niche of the bar.
For an example, if it’s country music night, don’t go about break dancing in the middle of the square dancing herd. Trust me, you WILL be kicked out.
2. Know what to order.
For a while, I would only order Jack and Cokes. Not because I’m absolutely fond of them (I don’t even like Cola), but rather I didn’t know any other mixed drinks, and I thought Jack and Coke is what cool guys order.
3. Watch your drink intake.
My logic was, “ok, it’s a bar so I can drink as much as I want as long as I can afford it right? It’s like a buffet of booze.” But no, it doesn’t quite work that way. I learned the hard way that when the bar tender says that you’ve had enough, then you’ve really had enough.
4. Avoid opening a tab if you can.
It’s extremely easy to lose track of your spending this way since you can’t see what you’re spending. Then by the time you’ve finished wrecking yourself you’re likely to even forget your card altogether, as I’ve done on occasion.
5. Always eat before you go out.
Not to sound like your mom or anything, because I’m sure you’ve heard this one plenty of times before. But it’s easy to forget sometimes
6. Keep an eye on your designated driver.
Because sometimes they like to sneak in a couple of shots, I’ve learned.
7. Wear plastic covers over your shoes in the bathroom. I swear, some guys just pee on the floor. Be prepared to have to wade in it.
These things would have been nice to know before hand, but no one teaches them to you. I’m a little bit more seasoned now when it comes to going out, but I think that it will always be a learning process for me.