St. Patrick’s day is quickly approaching, which means it’s time to get your best looking green apparel together and start preparing for a full day of festivities. As one of the most anticipated party days for University students, the possibilities for fun and making new memories are endless; however, there is always the possibility for things to get out of hand and for unpleasant situations to arise. With this in mind, here are some useful guidelines for what to do and not do during your St. Paddy’s celebration. As an overall disclaimer, always remember to drink responsibly and keep yourself and those around you safe!
1. DO stay hydrated and bring snacks
It is always important to make sure that you are taking care of your body on days where you are going out and being active for a long period of time. This is especially true during any time where alcohol is involved. When going out and about on St. Paddy’s, it’s always a good idea to bring a bottle of water along with you to keep you hydrated and prevent yourself from getting sick. Make sure to also keep some snacks in your bag as well to keep yourself energized throughout the day!
2. DON’T harass the police or others around you
This next tip should be self-explanatory, but it is still a crucial thing to remember nonetheless. As everyone knows, any situations involving alcohol can get out of control quickly if not handled properly. Make sure to remember that everyone else around is just trying to have fun as you are and that you are well enough to be aware of your surroundings. In addition, while it may seem a bit overbearing to have police officers around, remember that they are there to ensure your safety and well being, so always treat them with respect and try to thank them if you have the opportunity.
3. DO make a game plan for the day
When going into a huge party day like this, it is always a wise idea to be on the same page with your friends as to what you would like to do. It is better to have a solid group of people around you, so try to stick together when going around and exploring the different things going on. If some people want to split off, maybe agree on a place to meet up so that you can find each other later. Make sure that everyone keeps their phones in a safe spot so that you can all communicate if someone gets separated. If you want to go out at night as well, be sure to go home and rest for a few hours to recuperate.
4. DON’T throw your trash wherever you like
As University students, we spend at least 8 months out of the year calling our university town our home. Because we spend so much time here, it is important to respect our local community and its environment. This includes cleaning up after ourselves and disposing of the waste we are producing in a proper way. Nobody likes to have their streets covered in trash and broken glass bottles, so make sure to keep the community in mind and keep your area as clean as possible. One good way of doing this is to keep an extra bag with you while you are out so that you can keep any garbage or recycling with you until you find a trash bin to put them in.