Contributed by: Jet on Wednesday, February 29 2012 @ 09:15 am
Last modified on
Most people are aware of general safety precautions they should take before heading out on a first date, whether it’s someone they’ve met in person or someone they found through an online dating site: have your own transportation, be in a public place, leave your information with someone, and trust your gut instincts. One that might go overlooked, however, is alcohol.
We’ve all heard the jokes about “beer goggles” and how they make your conversation partner more attractive, but since dating and drinking go so frequently hand-in-hand, we don’t always remember that impairment of judgment isn’t necessarily something you want when out with someone you don’t yet know. It’s easy to remember such rules when you’re in college, going to parties and pretty much expecting to be irresponsible; but when you’re an adult who’s left wild parties behind, old bits of wisdom may slip through the cracks.
But there’s another reason why you might not want to involve intoxication on a first date: respect for you and your date. Remember, if you’re looking to find a long-term partner, a first date is chance for you both to evaluate your chemistry, whether you make each other laugh, whether you have the potential to become close friends. You owe it to yourself and your date to make the right decision, and to be as clear-headed as possible.
What if you’re not clear-headed? Think of it this way: if you do get a little tipsy, and you and your date do have more chemistry than usual, and you decide to go on a second date... what then? What if you simply don’t click when you’re not inebriated? You’ve just delayed the inevitable, and wasted time for the both of you.
Now, does this mean you can’t have a single glass of wine, or a beer? Of course not. Just remember: keeping your wits about you is far more important to the well-being of your relationship in the long run than temporarily washing away your nerves.