Staying safe on a night out

While studying at university, it goes without saying that your days are rarely 9 am to 10 pm. You may discover that your evenings can be just as busy as your afternoons, if not more so. Student nights across the city have meant going out midweek can be great, as enjoyable as early morning adventures may be, living in a city inevitably requires a certain level of vigilance. Regardless of how rare crime and accidents may be, there’s no harm in taking a few extra precautions to ensure your night out remains a highlight of your week.

Here are 6 ways of staying safe on a night out.

Make arrangements for how you plan to get home before you go out:

Coordinating taxis and arranging to meet friends when you leave may seem a little overprotective, but ultimately, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Dark streets can often feel intimidating, and regardless of how safe an area might be, travelling alone can still be pretty frightening. By travelling with a group or staying at a friends’ house, this ensures everyone is comfortable and safe.

Don’t leave your drinks unattended:

Regardless of what you choose to drink on a night out, it’s important to keep an eye on it. While spiked drinks aren’t exactly common, the reality is that it happens. Fortunately, this can be prevented by simply being more attentive to your environment. If you really must be away from it, leave it with someone you trust, or be prepared to throw it away.

Don’t bring unnecessary valuables:

Bringing cash on a night out is better for a variety of reasons. Not only does it discourage any unplanned overspending, it’ll make losing your bag far less of a catastrophe. While losing £30 and your provisional licence is undoubtedly an annoyance, losing your debit card and passport can be far harder to resolve.

Bring some spare shoes:

Anyone that frequently goes out in a glamorous pair of high-heels will tell you how unglamorous the journey home is. Walking home exhausted on a slippery pavement can be dangerous enough on its own, but doing so after a night out can prove even more so. Bringing a spare pair of flat footwear will ensure your walk home is not only more comfortable but also much safer. Most clutch bags can hold a small pair of flat pumps, and some high-street shops also offer special compact folding shoes for this purpose. I never go out without them anymore!

Know your limits:

Everyone has a different tolerance to alcohol, and if keeping up with your friends means you’ll be intoxicated before you even get to the club, not only is it not worth it, but it is also likely to ruin your night. Encourage your friends to keep an eye on how much you consume and respect them enough to listen to them when they tell you you’ve reached your limit.

Let your friends know where you are:

Try not to disappear without telling your friends where you are going. If you plan to stay over at a friend’s house that your group isn’t familiar with, they might appreciate you letting them know who you’ll be with and approximately where you’ll be staying. While I’d encourage you never to leave with someone you don’t know, I’ll be realistic and accept that it happens. Keep your friends up to date if you can, and make arrangements for what you can do if you change your mind after leaving your group.