Party hard, but don't drop your guard

CHANDIGARH: You all plan for a party to be a success but it is equally important to chart out a roadmap on how you will make it home safely after the celebrations that probably involve heavy drinking and travelling on the roads in late night hours.
The police have pointed out that 217 cases of drunken driving were reported in March alone. So, keep the safety of you and your friends or relatives the first priority before you even leave your home for that glitzy nightclub that plays the latest chartbusters and serves cocktails to die for.Make a pre-plan. Know where you are going, with who all and where you will be staying after the party. Inform a person who can be in touch with you when required. Mixing alcohol with driving can prove fatal. The effect of alcohol is for a minimum of eight hours and can be detected in your blood till 24 to 36 hours after consumption,
Kashish Saluja, a 22-year-old fashion designing student in the city, says, "A person who is driving is not only responsible for his life but also of those with him or her. It's a matter of life and death and should not be taken lightly." Amandeep Singh, a 26-year-old resident of Sector 15, concurs. "It gets very messy at times if you don't take precautions when you are partying out. It is essential to have a plan before you hit a club," he suggests. Dr Nikhil Mehta, a general physician in a private hospital, lists out risks of getting drunk. "Alcohol decreases your reflexes, hand-eye coordination and increases risk taking behavior," he says. No doubt, it will be better if you stay on the dance floor and not roam around the bar. But if not, taking along a teetotaler friend will help, provided he knows what to do behind the wheels.