Halloween is a great time to get out and experience Fall in the US. But without the proper knowledge of law and culture, your night of fun may turn into a night of horror.

And note that it is completely fine if rowdy partying is not your thing. Sometimes people think everyone in the US is celebrating the way you might see on television, but this is not the case. Plenty of people celebrate quietly or not at all. Whatever you like and feel comfortable with is what you should be doing. That said, some people also want this kind of experience, even just once. If you do decide to head to a party, here is how you can have fun safely. Check out the end for some bonus tips for hangovers.

About the Alcohol

1. Drink Legally: Your visa may depend on it.

First and most importantly, you should know the law. The legal drinking age in the US is 21 even though it may be legal for you to drink in your home country. If you are under 21 and involved in a party that gets the police called, you could be charged with underage drinking. It is not a serious charge for US citizens which is why so many college students ignore the law, but it may affect your visa, particularly if you are F-1 or J-1. The charge alone may be enough to affect your visa. This is also true if you are over the age of 21 and purchase alcohol for your friends who are under the age of 21.

A more serious charge is a DUI (driving under the influence). This is when you drive while you are intoxicated. To drive, you must be under the legal limit, which is about 1-2 servings of alcohol depending on the type, how fast you drank them, how long ago you drank them, and how fast your body processes alcohol. There is no law that says if you will be deported or can’t receive a green card if you have a DUI, but immigration officers may reject your application if they feel you do not have good moral character. If you cause an accident and receive additional charges, you may have your visa or green card applications denied and may even face deportation. While there is no guarantee that this will happen, it is not worth the risk. Some countries do not have laws regarding drinking and driving, so familiarize yourself with US law if you drive.

Once you know you are drinking legally, make sure you are drinking safely. There are cultural things that most Americans know that international students may not. Protect yourself from harm by following the rest of these tips.

2. Don’t drink alone.

If you are at a party, bring a friend and watch out for each other. Make sure you each get home to bed safely. Once while driving we followed a young man home who was obviously drunk and alone, concerned he would pass out in the snow. He declined a ride but did not even notice that we were following him. If our intentions had been to hurt him rather than help him, he would have been helpless. To this day, he probably does not know how vulnerable he was. And in 2021, Iowa State student Olivia Chutich passed out in the parking lot in front of her building where she sadly passed away from hypothermia after a party. Check on your friends to make sure they make it all the way home safely, particularly in bad weather.

3. Don’t accept drinks from people you don’t know.

If English is not your first language, then here is your slang term for the day: to spike (a drink). Sometimes people with ill intent put drugs in drinks, aka, spike the drink. If you don’t know the person, don’t accept the drink.

4. Don’t leave your drink alone.

For the same reason, don’t walk away with your drink unattended. If you must leave to use the restroom or talk to someone across the room, either leave your drink with a trusted friend or just get a new one when you return.

5. Know your limit.

Know how you act when you’ve had enough to drink and don’t go any further, especially if you are in unfamiliar surroundings. If you want to continue drinking, do it at home with a smaller group rather than at a huge party with a bunch of people you don’t know. A similar tip can be given if you don’t have enough experience with drinking to know your limit. Experiment safely in a small group you trust.

6. Hydrate before drinking.

Drink plenty of water and eat something before drinking to help prevent the alcohol from hitting too fast. Hydration can help with hangovers, too.

7. Have a safety person as a back-up you can call if things get weird.

Sometimes you get to a party and it is not what you thought it would be. If you are uncomfortable at any point, trust your instincts and bail. Before going to the party, find a friend or family member who will be available to come get you if you are incapacitated and can’t leave safely on your own. Setting up a code word as a signal that they need to come get you or call the police is a bonus. That way if you are in a situation where you can’t safely call and tell them exactly what is going on, you can still get a message out.

8. If you are at a stranger’s house, don’t fall asleep.

Falling asleep at a stranger’s house isn’t safe if you are sober. Why risk it when you are vulnerable?

9. Know your comfort zone.

Know what you want and what you don’t. It’s okay to say no. If you are in a situation where people are encouraging you to do something you don’t want to, leave. There are plenty of supportive-type friends you can find who will not try to make you do something you don’t want to.

10. Take a taxi or a designated driver, not a stranger

If you have had too much to drink to drive, don’t accept rides from strangers. Call a taxi or an Uber. If you meet someone at the party that you like, offer to meet up when you are both sober.

If you have a friend who does not want to drink, they can be what is known as the “designated driver.” A designated driver is a group member who agrees to not drink so they can drive everyone home safely.  They kind of serve as the “mom” or the “dad” of the group. Occasionally, the designated driver breaks their word and do wind up drinking. In this case, politely decline to ride with them and call an Uber, taxi, or your back-up friend instead.

General Safety Tips

11. Be aware of your surroundings.

If you need to call a friend to come get you, do you know the address to tell them where to go? If you wander away from the party because something went wrong, do you know where to tell someone to get you? If you need to call 911, where will you direct them? Know where you are. The address is best, but landmarks around you also work.

12. Make sure someone knows where you are.

If you leave a party, go to a party, or wander off to the gas station for some aspirin, make sure someone you trust knows where you are at all times.

13. Watch out for your friends.

Especially watch out for those who may not be entirely sober or familiar with American culture. For example, if you see a friend leave a drink, tell them to get a new one or watch it for them.

14. Make sure your phone is charged.

You can’t follow the safety tips to call a friend or an Uber or 911 in an emergency if your phone is dead.

Hangover Tips

15. Electrolytes, electrolytes

Alcohol dehydrates. Choosing to drink a beverage with electrolytes before, during, and after drinking can help. Drinks such as Pedialyte or Gatorade are good options. Most of those little packets of drugs that advertise they cure hangovers are just more expensive versions of electrolytes that you pour into water. Time and hydration are the main ways to cure a hangover, though everyone has their own preference for how to receive that hydration.

16. Choose aspirin over acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Tylenol is processed through your liver, just like alcohol. NSAIDs (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen and aspirin are processed through your kidneys. Aspirin is also a mild anti-coagulant (blood thinner), so it can help when you are dehydrated. Follow package directions.

Hopefully, you will have a fantastic time with fun stories to tell you friends. Stay safe and have a great Halloween!