There are many drinking games you could play with your friends this summer. But while a Beer Pong win could earn you some pats on the back at a party, is a temporary win worth the consequences you could face?

Although you might hang out with people who think you are more fun when you are drunk, drinking games may contribute to various health concerns. And unless you have a designated driver to get you home, they almost certainly put your driving and criminal records at risk. Before accepting a challenge, you might consider how playing a drinking game could affect your ability to win at life.

Sometimes winning a game results in a loss for your health and well-being

Virtually everyone loves to win, but there are some cases where it may not be wise to do so.

Drinking games come with potential consequences, which include:

  • An increased potential for alcohol abuse. Playing games with alcohol is no laughing matter when your consumption increases your risk for alcohol abuse.
  • Alcohol poisoning. Drinking games lead to a large amount of alcohol consumed within a short period of time, so you can easily lose track of how much you have had to drink. Alcohol poisoning could make you throw up, faint or have a seizure, and if your friends are drunk, they may not notice you need help or understand how to assist you.
  • Drunk driving charges. Since alcohol affects your ability to drive, law enforcement officers may pull you over and ask you to submit to a field sobriety or preliminary alcohol screening test. An arrest for driving under the influence (DUI) can lead to financial penalties, license suspension, an ignition interlock device and time in jail.

There is no doubt that playing games can be fun. However, when you weigh the potential consequences of drinking games against the amount of temporary enjoyment they could bring, you might agree you would rather stay free of the alcohol and focus on winning in your life.