What to do before a night out: a three-step ritual

What to do before a night out: eat a real meal, drink some water, charge your phone and plan a sober ride home. Then pace yourself during the night and keep the morning simple. This is a three-step ritual for adults 21 and over who have to show up tomorrow. Plain steps. No magic.

The ritual at a glance

When	What you do
Before	Eat. Drink water. Charge your phone. Plan a sober ride home. Take a shot if you use one.
During	Alternate drinks with water. Keep track of your rounds. Eat something if the night runs long.
Next morning	Water, breakfast, a slow start. Protect tonight's sleep.

Most of it is boring. That's the point. A ritual works because you repeat it, not because it's clever.

Before you go out

Start about an hour before you leave. Four things.

1. Eat a real meal. Protein is a good pick. Washington University's Health Promotion Services lists eating, with protein named as a great option, on its night out checklist, alongside setting a drinking limit before you start.
2. Drink a glass of water. Not a gallon. A glass.
3. Charge your phone and plan a sober ride home. Pick the ride before the first round, not after the last one. Never drive after drinking.
4. Check in with yourself. The same checklist asks if you are sleep deprived, sick or on medication. Any of those changes how a night goes.

Set your limit now, while you are calm. You'll thank yourself at 12:40 a.m.

Where a shot fits, if you use one

A shot is one step in the ritual, not the ritual. If you use one, timing matters. Ballast is a 2 oz shot made to be taken before the first round, with optional use after. It is made to support how you feel the next day.

It does not make a night out safer. It does not make driving okay. And honestly, nobody has proven a hangover shot works. We went through the evidence in our skeptic's read, and we'd rather you read that before you spend a dollar with us.

Our formula direction is DHM, electrolytes, B-vitamins and milk thistle. The formula isn't final, so we aren't printing doses here. When it is final, every dose goes on the label. Go ahead, read it.

During the night

Pacing is the whole game. Three habits.

• Alternate drinks with water. The WashU checklist says to alternate alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic ones. Easy to do, easy to skip.
• Track your rounds. Know how many you've had. Phone notes work fine.
• Eat again if the night runs long. Late food counts.

Your crew matters here too. Respect it when someone isn't drinking. Nobody needs a speech about it.

If you plan to be sharp tomorrow, the best move is the one you made in the first section: you set a limit. Keep to it.

The next morning

Keep it dull.

• Drink water when you wake up.
• Eat breakfast, even a small one.
• Give yourself a slow start if your calendar allows it.
• Don't stack a second round of anything on top.

Sleep is the part people forget. A late night followed by an early alarm is rough no matter what you did first. If you know you have a 9 a.m., leave earlier. That's the cheapest step in the whole ritual, and it costs nothing.

Questions people ask

What to take before going out drinking? Take food and water first. That covers the basics. Some people also add a shot or a supplement. If you do, read the label for doses and timing, and ask your doctor first if you take medication or have a health condition.

How to prep your stomach for a night of drinking? Eat a real meal an hour or so before you head out. Protein is a good choice, as the WashU Health Promotion checklist notes. Skipping dinner is the usual mistake. Water alongside it helps.

How do you prepare for a night out? Eat, drink water, charge your phone, set a limit and plan a sober ride home. During the night, alternate drinks with water and keep count. In the morning, hydrate and eat. Never drive after drinking.

Try the ritual with four

Not sure a shot belongs in your ritual? Start with four. Ballast is open for pre-orders with no payment today, and you can cancel for a full refund any time before your order ships. Shots ship once the first production batch is confirmed.

Reserve a spot in the first batch and we'll email you when the doses are on the label.

Ballast is for adults 21 and over. Enjoy responsibly and never drive after drinking. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Sources

• Washington University in St. Louis, Health Promotion Services, Preparing for a night out checklist.