Pushing drinks is a red line

At the group hangout tonight, keep ordering drinks for the people across the table

Once they're buzzed they loosen up, and the rest of the night gets easier

A friend texts you this before a group hangout. What's wrong with the plan?

Pick one answer

Lesson notes

A summary of this lesson to come back to. To make it stick, work through the steps above.

By the end you'll be able to

Explain why getting someone drunk is taking advantage of them.

Key ideas

Pushing drinks
Taking advantage

What counts as plying

It's not just refilling someone's glass. Pushing shots, ordering doubles for them, calling a strong drink weak, using drinking games to force rounds: all of it counts. What they share is that the person drinking isn't the one deciding how much.

Why it's taking advantage

Alcohol makes it harder to sense danger and harder to get the word "no" out. Getting someone drunk on purpose takes away their ability to refuse first, then asks for a yes. In the US and many other places, sexual contact with someone too drunk to consent can be a crime.

When you see someone being plied

You don't have to be a hero. Change the subject, get them a water, ask staff or friends for help, or check in later with "You okay?". All of these work. Pick the one that's doable and safe for you.

Take these with you

✓Plying takes away someone's ability to say no first, then asks for a yes.
✓The drinking limit someone sets is the limit: no pushing, no topping up, no hiding how strong it is.
✓If you see someone being plied, changing the subject, getting them water or calling for help all count.

This week's mission

At your next get-together, order a non-alcoholic drink for someone who isn't drinking, or deflect one round of pressure for them.