4 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Drink on Prom Night

Prom is just around the corner. That means finding the perfect dress or tuxedo, mustering up the courage to ask your crush to the dance, deciding where to go for dinner, and finalizing all your plans with friends. Prom can be a fun and unforgettable night, but it can also end in disaster ⎼ especially if alcohol is involved. Here are five reasons to say no to alcohol on this special night.

1. You Want to Remember It

Alcohol affects your memory. The more you drink, the more likely you are to be left with nothing but hazy memories. If you blackout, you may not even remember a single thing that happened after taking your pre-prom photos. Prom only happens once, so skip the alcohol and cherish the moment. You don’t want to miss this last chance to spend a carefree night with your high school friends. By choosing to enjoy prom without alcohol, you will be left with lots of unforgettable moments you can reminisce about for years to come, rather than the horrible hangover an alcohol-filled prom would leave you with.

2. You Want to Have a Good Time

You’re probably thinking that alcohol will make your prom experience more fun, but the truth is that alcohol is a depressant that intensifies your emotions. This means that after taking a couple of shots, you can go from being Miss Congeniality to crying in the bathroom over something that happened last year, or you could end up fighting your buddy from the soccer team because he accidentally bumped into you on the dance floor. Aside from the emotional rollercoaster that alcohol can take you on, it can also wreak havoc on your body. From the dizziness, to the headaches, to the vomiting ⎼ you don’t want alcohol to keep you from having a good time

3. You Don’t Want One Night to Ruin Your Future

Alcohol impairs your judgement and can therefore lead to poor decisions. As dramatic as it may sound, choosing to drink on prom night can deeply impact your future. If you get caught drinking, you may be suspended or even expelled, which could hinder any college plans you have. If you drink too much, you may end up saying or doing something you regret, which could cost you a valuable relationship. If you drive drunk, you could end up in jail, or worse – dead or responsible for someone else’s death. Alcohol is synonymous with bad decisions. Don’t let one night of drinking ruin the next chapter of your life.

4. You Don’t Want Your Family to Worry

Prom night should be a time for your loved ones to brag about what a wonderful man or woman you have become. A time for happy tears over how great you look in your outfit and the bright future that awaits you. But for many parents, siblings, and friends, prom night ends with a dreaded phone call informing them that their loved one was involved in an accident. The number of drunk driving accidents significantly increases during prom season, and in many cases, results in the loss of young lives. Alcohol-related injuries, including alcohol poisoning, are also more common. When you are under the influence of alcohol, it is easy to misjudge just how dangerous a situation is, and the results can be deadly. Don’t take a chance on your life. Stay sober for your loved ones. Stay sober for yourself.

It may seem as if everyone is planning to drink on prom night. And while many students may be, it does not mean that you must. As cliché as it sounds, you don’t need alcohol to have fun. Just put on your snazziest outfit, grab your date or your friends, and let loose on the dance floor.