12 Tips For Surviving 12 Pubs Of Christmas

Christmas is here once again, which means it’s time for the beloved tradition of twelve pubs.

Getting your friends together and doing twelve pubs is a great way to spend some time with each other before you all split off to spend time with family at home, but it can be a struggle to actually make it through the whole night.

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks so that you can enjoy your night without any disasters.

1. Plan your route

Your navigation skills are probably going to get worse and worse as the night goes on, so it’s a good idea to know exactly which pubs you’re hitting and in what order before you start. Try to plan a route that requires as little walking as possible, you’ll thank yourself for not choosing the pub on the other side of the city.

2. Eat something proper

This is absolutely essential if you want to make it past pub 5 without being comatose. Add in a few food stops on your journey, even a few slices of pizza will do. Even better if you eat a proper dinner before going out. It’s always important to line the stomach!

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3. Stay hydrated

This one is just as important as the last. Try and drink at least one glass of water in every pub. It won’t make you boring or ruin the fun, it’ll just prevent you from feeling like roadkill on the way home, and it’ll definitely ease that nasty hangover in the morning.

4. Bring cash

It might seem like a cashless society these days, but having a few quid to fall back on if something goes wrong with your card, which is definitely not impossible, is always a good idea. You never know what that €20 note could do for you, whether you end up in a cash only bar or need it for your taxi home.

5. Make sure your phone is fully charged

You’re looking at possibly about eight hours of drinking here, so it’s pretty important that you can use your phone that entire time. Make sure that it’s fully charged before you leave the house, or at least bring a power bank for emergencies.

6. Be mindful about Christmas attire

We totally get it, what a better time than this to wear that ugly Christmas jumper. But some pubs don’t actually appreciate a crowd of plastered young ones filing into their space, and might actually refuse entry to anyone wearing super festive clothes. Not everyone, not even most, but some. If you want to wear that jumper, make sure you’ll be let into the pubs you want to stop at.

7. Choose your drink wisely

Typically, you get one drink per pub, not including forfeit shots. Try to pick a drink and stick to it to prevent mixing drinks and getting sick. We recommend something like a vodka coke, and maybe swap the coke out for a Red Bull mixer if you need the energy at a few pubs. Maybe avoid heavy drinks like cider and beer. Remember, you’re aiming to have twelve of these drinks, so choose wisely.

8. Embrace the rules

This is the most fun part of the night, so don’t act above it! It might be a struggle to go an entire drink in dead silence, or to have a drink with a random stranger chosen by your mate, but these ridiculous rules are what you’ll remember (hopefully) in years to come, so let yourself have some fun.

9. Know when you’ve had enough

The tradition is one drink per pub, but that’s not written in law. There isn’t actually anything stopping you from going non-alcoholic in a few places, or even all of them! If you feel like you’ve reached your limits, respect that. Don’t feel pressured to overdo it just because the people around you are drinking more, the point of the night is to have fun, not turn it into a competition for who can drink the most. If you’re with the right crowd, you’ll be more focused on being safe and enjoying yourself instead of the booze.

10. Watch out for your friends

Nothing’s going to ruin your night more than having to track down your buddy who’s plastered and has wandered off somewhere. Try make a buddy system within your group, give each other one friend to keep an eye out for and stick together. The peace of mind that knowing where all your friends are at the end of the night will be worth it.

11. Don’t be a dick

We get it, you’re having fun, you’re off your head, but you still need to be considerate to the people around you. Twelve pubs is a nightmare as it is for bartenders and bar staff, so don’t make it harder for them just to show off in front of your friends. Try not to break anything or start any hassle, and when you’re coming up with your 12 rules don’t be tempted by rules that are just going to wind up the bartenders. You’ll save yourself a lot of trouble by respecting the people around you.

12. Prepare for the hangover

Finally, take steps ahead of time to prepare for the inevitable Goliath hangover you’ll have in the morning. Have a pint glass of water, painkillers and a Lucozade next to your bed (maybe a bucket too, just in case) and stock up on your favourite low maintenance snacks. You could even order a delivery the next morning, if you’re up for it, whatever helps you get through those rough first few hours of the day.

So there you have it! The most important thing is that you have as much fun as possible, but these are just a few tips that can help you do that in a safe and responsible way.