With summer
approaching, people are finalising their holiday plans. Many will travel to
foreign countries where fun in the sun is often combined with alcohol and
parties. But excessive drinking while travelling can lead to many unforeseen
dangers. We discuss here how you can better ensure that you have a good
vacation instead of a disastrous one.
This summer many people around the globe will pick up their
backpack, buy a plane ticket, and head to a foreign land in search of adventure
– and parties.
A beer at lunch? – “Why not? We are on vacation!”
A beer while waiting for the train? – “Why not? We are on vacation!”
An all-night party serving unlimited alcohol? – “Why not? We are on vacation!”
A beer while waiting for the train? – “Why not? We are on vacation!”
An all-night party serving unlimited alcohol? – “Why not? We are on vacation!”
While partying on holiday can be fun, and even help us relax, it
can also lead to excess drinking – so much so that many people end up being
drunk for most of their trip abroad. This poses many dangerous risks both
during travel and once they return home, including an increased risk of
developing an addiction.
Dangers and Risks of Excessive Drinking While
Travelling
For many, travelling and drinking
seem to go hand-in-hand, especially those who are younger. While having a
couple of drinks may help you relax a bit, travelling while drunk can pose many
dangers. While drinking can be dangerous, of course, even at home; the threat
becomes magnified when you are in a city or town where you are unfamiliar with
your surroundings and know few or no people. An Indian ad campaign warns travellers to remember that there is ‘another side to paradise.’
Here we have listed some of the dangers that can occur when you
drink in excess while on holiday.
1. Traveller’s medical insurance
may not cover you.
Many people do not realise that most travel
medical insurance companies will not cover claims that involve your
intoxication.
The clause may read like this:
“We will not pay
under any circumstances if you were under the influence of any intoxicating
liquor or drugs, except a drug prescribed to you by a Medical Adviser, and
taken in accordance with their instructions.”
What this means is that if you get drunk at a full-moon party in
Thailand and decide to give the burning jump rope a try and proceed to burn the
flesh off your arms and legs, you may have to cover those medical bills by
yourself.
Of course, each case is looked at individually and every
insurance company has different policies, but it is better to be safe than
sorry and limit your alcohol intake while travelling to ensure that your travel
medical insurance will be there if you need it.
2. Loss of important documents
and belongings.
Losing your purse or wallet is something that can happen
anywhere, and it often does for those who drink excessively. Losing important
items such as money, credit cards and passports while travelling abroad can be
devastating.
Imagine a situation where you are in a foreign country, and you
have no passport and no access to money. You will have to first get yourself to
your local embassy and then find a way to financially support yourself while
you wait for your new passport, which in some countries can take weeks. One
night of ‘fun’ can easily ruin the rest of your vacation, or worse.
3. Getting in to fights or
arrested.
Unfortunately, after having a few too many drinks, being polite
and in control is not in the forefront of some people’s minds. Being
intoxicated while amid your own culture is one thing, but it is important to
remember that different cultures may find your drunken behaviour obnoxious and
even insulting, which can lead to problems.
While travelling abroad, you can never be sure exactly who you
are dealing with (let alone offending) and what they may be capable of. As for
getting arrested, it is important to remember that foreign laws may be far
stricter than what you are used to, or expect. You may receive a sentence that
could drain your bank account or worse, leave you stranded in a foreign jail.
This will not exactly be the holiday you had in mind.
4. You become vulnerable to crime
and violence.
When intoxicated, your ability to use logical reasoning
diminishes. Taking a ride from a stranger or sharing drinks with locals you do
not know may sound like a fun way to get some cultural experience, but it is
also an excellent opportunity for criminals to take advantage of you.
Maintaining your sobriety is a better way to ensure that you always make
educated and reasonable decisions that leave you less vulnerable to scams,
crime and violence.
5. Spiked drinks.
This is a serious threat all over the world, so always keep your
drink covered and within eyesight to ensure that nobody spikes your drink with
anything that can render you drugged up or unconscious. The more you drink, the
more likely you are to forget about doing this, and you may leave your drink
susceptible to being spiked.
6. Dehydration.
Especially when travelling in hot climates, getting drunk can
quickly leave you dehydrated, resulting in severe medical risks. If you are
going to drink while travelling, be sure that you consume adequate amounts of
water.
7. Increased risk of developing
addiction.
While addiction does not exactly
happen overnight, extended periods of travelling, where getting drunk is
a frequent activity, can rapidly increase your chances of developing alcohol
addiction. This is especially true in the case of extended travel
that lasts one to several months. Many travellers find it very difficult to
stop drinking even after returning home – setting themselves up for alcohol
addiction.
Avoiding
the Urge to Travel Drunk
When buses or planes are delayed, you
may feel that cracking open a few beers or travelling drunk will make the
journey more enjoyable. Instead of drinking, explore some alternatives. Sit
back and enjoy the moment; take in the scenery and live in the now. Getting
impatient for that next bus? Try a bit of mindfulness meditation to clear your mind. Think you need to have a beer (or two or
three) at every meal? Try a delicious local smoothie or fresh juice instead.
Not only will you avoid the dangers associated with being drunk
while travelling in a foreign country, you will avoid the hangovers and will be
able to fully appreciate the scenery, culture and excursions that you paid so
much money to experience.
If you or someone you know is
currently dealing with an addiction, we at Shafa Home strive to provide effective integrative addiction
treatment. Trained addiction specialists provide advanced and
comprehensive addiction treatment through our unique Recovery Zones model. This
ensures holistic emotional repair and growth that will allow you to live a life
of long-term addiction recovery.
Remember that addiction is a disease
and is nothing to be ashamed of. If you would like more information about
addiction treatment, or are interested in a free and no-obligations assessment
for you or someone close to you, contact us to get started on the path to the freedom of long-term recovery.
Shafa Home is country’s premier organization for treatment of
alcohol/drug problems, de-addiction, rehabilitation, counseling, treatment for
females, nasha mukti , psychiatric disorders and secondary addictions like
gambling, internet etc.
( These Articles are the sole property
of “ The Cabin Chiang Mai “ ,
they are its original authors )
