How to Hold Your Liquor

Managing your drinking means never having to say, "I'm sorry I threw up on your shoes" again.

Step 1: Never drink on empty stomach Never drink on an empty stomach—unless you like getting the spins. A meal will slow alcohol absorption by lining your stomach.
TIP: Eat two tablespoons of honey or a candy bar before a night of drinking. One study found that ingesting fructose and glucose helped reduce mistakes on a motor skills test.
Step 2: Drink 1 drink per hour Stick to one alcoholic drink per hour, the most the liver can process.
Step 3: Alternate alcohol w/ water Alternate alcoholic beverages with glasses of water, because dehydration is what causes most of the unpleasant side effects of drinking, like headaches and nausea.
TIP: Avoid red wine, champagne, and sugary drinks; they cause the worst hangovers.
Step 4: Dilute drinks Dilute your drinks as the night goes on. Wine drinkers can switch to spritzers; beer lovers can order an English shanty—beer mixed with a lemon-lime soft drink.
TIP: Your weight determines how much alcohol your body can handle, so if you're 100 pounds soaking wet, don't try to match your 200-pound buddies shot for shot.
Step 5: Take a seat Take a seat. People in bars drink more when they're standing because they are less relaxed.
FACT: College students drink significantly more than they think they do, according to a 2003 medical survey.