Valentine’s Day is one of the most important dates in the calendar if you’re ready to find a new love.

Some people find a few drinks give them the bottle to approach someone they fancy, and alcohol can certainly lubricate a social situation. But
moderation is the key here – would you fancy someone who’s slurring and staggering, if you weren’t in the same state yourself?

The morning after Valentine’s Day, you don’t want to wake up and look into the gorgeous deep blue eyes of a custody sergeant at your local nick.

We know it’s hard to go into a Valentine’s theme night stone cold sober, but sex and alcohol aren’t the best bedfellows.

Having your inhibitions lowered by drink can leave you more likely to make poor choices in your sexual partners, increasing the chances of
sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancy, rape, assault and robbery…

So, as well as being dressed to impress, remember:

• Eat something before you start drinking
• Make sure you know how you’re going to get home (even if that turns out to be the next morning) – keep taxi-money separate from your
  drink-money
• Keep yourself safe – don’t get separated from your friends
• If there’s even the slightest possibility of sex, make sure you have condoms with you – and that you’re in a fit state to use them
• Keep an eye on your drink to make sure no-one spikes it
• Try having a spacer – alternate your alcoholic drinks with alcohol-free ones, to make sure you can see the love of your life clearly when
  they turn up!