Thursday 28-09-2023 - 11:21

 

Content notice: mention of spiking, alcohol and substance abuse, sexual harassment and misconduct, hate crime

 

 

We love a good night out in Lancaster whether it’s sampling the local pubs, cocktails with the besties or a big society social at the Sugarhouse. Everyone deserves to enjoy a night out while feeling safe which is why we’ve put extra measures in place at our own venue and constantly work to improve welfare standards in the city. Josh, Vice President Welfare, talks you through his tips to make sure your night out is memorable for all the right reasons.

 

 

Getting ready

 

Eating isn't cheating 

Food helps slow the absorption of alcohol stopping it going to your head too quickly and helping you to avoid that dreaded hangover!  

Carbs or protein such as pasta, potatoes, and chicken are good to eat before or while you’re out drinking. Not only will they help keep you full, but they will also make that extra money spent on a takeaway seem less tempting.  

 

Anyone for pres?

If you drink too much too early, you’re much more likely to miss out on the proper night. Nobody wants to get put to bed before making it to the night-out. Remember, turning down a drink is much less embarrassing than throwing one up.  

Keep an eye on your home pouring if drinking spirits. Single shot measures are 25ml which might not look like a lot in a glass but don’t be fooled into over-pouring.  

Know your healthy limits for the night! The NHS recommends taking maximum 14 units a week of alcohol. Need help counting? Collect our drinkaware unit calculators from your VP Welfare at the Students' Union Late Night Do It Right Talk.

 

While you're out

 

Look out for your mates 

While on a night out, look out for each other in case someone’s getting ahead of themselves. If they are, grab them some water or a soft drink from the bar and encourage them to pace themselves.  

You don’t want to have to put them in a taxi, clean their sick from your shoes or miss out on the night by having to take them home.  

 

Raise your voice 

Don’t be the bystander who notices inappropriate behaviour and does nothing about it – if it’s not acceptable when sober, it’s not acceptable under the influence of alcohol. When you’re on a night out, you can do your bit by raising concerns with venue staff and security.  

 

 

Don’t leave your drink unattended 

Get into the habit of never leaving your drink unattended and don’t accept a drink from someone you don’t know. Drink spiking is when someone puts alcohol or drugs into another person’s drink without their knowledge or consent. At local nightclubs, including the Sugarhouse, you can request anti-spiking devices with your drink at the bar to keep you safe such as bottle stoppers and cup covers. If you suspect that your drink has been tampered with, you can also request drink testing kits from behind the bar. If in doubt, don’t risk it and dispose of the drink.  

 

Don’t take a vape from a stranger! 

As tempting as a free vape is (believe me I know...) spiking can happen through more than a drink, it is possible to be spiked through a vape with substances.  

If your drink is spiked or you feel it might have been, it is never your fault. Venue staff are there to support you without judgement and take a zero-tolerance approach to spiking perpetrators.

 

Getting home 

 

How are you getting home? 

All good things must come to an end and when you’ve had a great night out, it’s just as important to make sure you get home safe and sound. 

The SugarBus runs from the Sugarhouse to campus on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights to get you home safely. Venue staff at any venue will also be able to help you with arranging a taxi or checking the times for the N1 night service which runs on weekends.  

With special arrangement for Freshers Week to maximise safety and to support with the cost of living, the Sugarbus will be running each night Sugar is open and will be free!

 

Don’t leave anyone behind 

If possible, it always best to leave the club in pairs or as a group. If someone’s disappeared, don’t assume they’ve pulled, find out for sure. Keep a mate with you and go home together at the end of the night. It is good to plan and talk about this before going out!

 

The morning after

 

Hydrate yourself

Drink a glass of water when you get home to rehydrate – and you’ll have a better chance of avoiding a hangover. 

 

Speak to someone 

If something doesn’t feel right after a night out then don’t just pass it off as hangxiety, speak to someone. If you, or someone you know, has been harmed by abuse, sexual harassment and misconduct, spiking or another incident then you can report incidents to the Students’ Union at su.safeguarding@lancaster.ac.uk. We are also an official Third Party Hate Crime Reporting Centre. If you, or someone you know has been the victim of a hate crime or incident, contact our Advice team at advice@lancastersu.co.uk for confidential support.   

 

You can find out more about night out safety by visiting a short talk with your VP Welfare, Josh, during Freshers’ Week. You will also be able to pick up night out safety freebies at the talks taking place on Monday 2nd October at 2pm in Welcome Centre Lecture Theatre 2.