(HealthDayNews) -- Binge drinking is soaring in popularity, especially among teens and college-age kids.
If binge drinking is the rage among your circle of friends, try following these guidelines from the American Council for Drug Education:
- Avoid going out with people who make you feel uncomfortable if you're not drinking.
- Set yourself a liquor limit. For example, tell yourself you won't drink during the week.
- When you do drink, take hour-long breaks between drinks, and avoid drinking games.
- Alternate alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic ones.
- Don't keep beer, wine or hard liquor at home.
- When you refuse a drink, put the money you would have spent in a jar. Use your savings toward spring break, a ski weekend or something else you've been itching for.
- Avoid places where you'll be bored if you're not drinking or uncomfortable if you don't have a drink in your hand.
- Take a complete break from drinking. If you don't feel better during that time -- physically and emotionally -- you may have a problem with alcohol.
