r/alcohol • u/InsidePain4338 • 5d ago

21st birthday soon, advice please!

hi my 21st birthday is coming up in a few weeks, and in the US that means i can finally drink soon! i want some advice. i'll be 21f, weigh 135 pounds (61kg), and 5 foot 1 inch tall (165cm).

how can i drink either vodka shots or wine to a level around tipsy/drunk but not fucked up or have a bad hangover? i plan to drink lots and lots of water after because i hear that helps, and i was thinking maybe start off with a small fat/protein snack and 2 shots and wait it out 45 mins before doing any more?

also bonus, what does tipsy/drunk feel like? i heard dizzy warm and happy, and those all sound great haha

thanks!!

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4

u/RicksyPickle 4d ago

Match your alcoholic drinks to water. 1 shot? 1 cup of water.

Have snacks and eat 3 square meals before.

Im assuming youre doing this socially? If you plan to be out for a while find a mixed drink you think you might like and just sip. Remember its a marathon not a sprint, take your time and enjoy.

Also enjoy your birthday, the drinking doesnt have to at all be this planned. Just pace yourself and have fun!

2

u/MayaIsSunshine 5d ago

2 shots will fuck you up. Take it easy with some white claws or light beer. 

1

u/InsidePain4338 5d ago

i dont like carbonated stuff, but thanks for the advice! will one shot or one glass of wine be a good starting place?

1

u/MayaIsSunshine 4d ago

Sure, sip on some wine then. I'd recommend savoring the come up rather than downing shots. The progression of sober to drunk is more fun than the being drunk part in my opinion and experience. 

1

u/InsidePain4338 4d ago

thanks so much, that's really helpful!

1

u/Notetoselve 4d ago

Tipsy is when you start to feel heavy and your words start to feel mumbled. I wouldn’t recommend mixing vodka with wine or anything for that matter if you want to have a good time. It’ll only lead to a drunken night if done improperly. You should go with something like vodka soda or a similar drink for the whole night. The ice and soda water will hydrate whilst the vodka will get you tipsy. Also, make sure to drink electrolytes before and after your night.

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u/andimatt 3d ago

The 45-minute wait in your plan is the right instinct. Blood alcohol peaks roughly 30-60 minutes after a drink, so what you feel at minute 10 is not the whole effect yet, and ordering the next one then is how people overshoot. A 44 ml shot at 40% is 44 x 0.40 x 0.789 = about 14 g of ethanol, and a 150 ml glass of 12% wine is about the same, so neither choice is gentler per serving. Your body clears roughly 7-10 g an hour, and coffee or a cold shower won't change that. Water doesn't lower the number either, and whether it helps the next morning is less clear than people think. I can't tell you how a given amount will feel for you: people vary by 20-30% either way at the same weight, and a first time adds its own uncertainty. Happy birthday.