It’s a bit of a worry that you can’t remember how much you had to drink.
Did you just lose count? Or can you not remember anything about the night? Or did you completely pass out? Whatever happened, the next time you drink and pay more attention to how much is going in.
Black or Grey?
A black-out is when you fall unconscious because you’ve had too much to drink. Obviously this isn’t a great scenario.
If you were still walking and talking, but you can’t remember anything much about what went on, this is known as a grey-out. In a grey-out you appear to be functioning normally, but your judgement is badly impaired, which means you are at real risk of doing something you will regret later, or even worse, someone taking advantage of you.
Grey-outs usually happen when someone has drunk too much too quickly. Some people are genetically more prone to grey-outs than others, and women are more at risk than men.
If you have experienced a grey-out you need to take it easy every time you drink. Aim for one standard drink an hour - which is what your body can process - so your system isn’t overloaded with alcohol and your brain doesn’t turn to mush.
Need help?
If you are worried about your drinking, or the drinking of someone you know, contact the Alcohol Helpline on 0800 787 787
