St. Patrick’s Day is the perfect time to go out and have a few drinks with friends. But if you will be spending a few hours in a bar on the holiday, be sure to think about safety before anything else. St. Paddy’s Day falls on a Thursday (March 17) this year, so before the big day arrives, here are a few safety tips for celebrating the holiday.

Transportation: figure out how you will be getting to and from the bar on St. Paddy’s day. Do not wait until the last second to figure this one out. Get a designated driver, walk, get an Uber, just know how you will be getting home without driving that night.

Be prepared: the line between buzzed and flat out drunk can be crossed very quickly, so instead of winging it, prepare your body. Have dinner before going out and be sure to match a cup of water for every two beers you drink.

Stop drinking: don’t’ start chugging drinks during last call, and instead wind down during the last hour before the bar closes. Be sure to drink some water and check on your friends.