Understanding and reflecting on your socializing and drinking behaviors can help keep you and those you care about safe during this global pandemic. Read below for different strategies and questions to consider when consuming alcohol and gathering with others.
Partying & COVID
Strategies to Help Reduce Risk
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Limit social interactions to the same group of people or socialize in very small groups
- The more people gathered, the higher the risk
- Replace your mask after every sip or immediately after eating
- Set a target for the number of drinks you want to consume for the night and pace yourself
- Alternate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks
- If gathering indoors, open windows to increase airflow
- Do not share drinks
- Bring your own cup or mug, preferably with a lid to keep your drink covered
- Wash your hands frequently
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Limit social interactions to the same group of people or socialize in very small groups
Things to Consider When Drinking/Socializing
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Before attending a social gathering, check in with yourself about your level of comfort:
- How many people am I comfortable being in a room with?
- Are other people going to be wearing masks and social distancing?
- Will I drink alcohol? If so, what's my target level of buzz for the night?
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It's going to be exciting to see friends I haven't seen in a long time
- This could impact how much I drink → set a limit and pace drinks
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What is my tolerance? It might be lower if I have not been drinking as much this past year
- Drinking in a new location (friend's new apartment, different bar, etc.) can make my tolerance to alcohol lower
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While it's important to limit time at social gatherings, it is equally important to space out my drinks to get the most out of my night
- Pace alcohol to one hour+ between drinks
- If choosing to participate in drinking games, drink only from your own cup to reduce the risk of transmission
- If gathering off-campus, keep in mind state and local guidance about group size limits
- If gathering on-campus, be mindful of the community compact and rules based on the color-coded opening of campus
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Before attending a social gathering, check in with yourself about your level of comfort:
Additional Information
- Alcohol Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic developed by NYC Health Department
- Safer Drug and Alcohol Use While in Isolation or Quarantine Settings developed by NYC Health Department