One in 12 fans leave pro football, baseball games drunk

That's the finding from a study published last month in the journal Alcoholism in which researchers tested the blood-alcohol levels of 362 adult fans after 13 professional baseball games and three football games. Younger adults turned out to be the biggest drinkers—those younger than 35 were nearly eight times more likely to have blood-alcohol levels over .08, the legal limit for driving.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota used a breath-alcohol tester on 264 adults after baseball games and 118 adults after football games. They also conducted a survey that asked their drinking habits before and during the games. Eight percent had blood-alcohol levels over the legal limit. The vast majority of attendees drank while tailgating before the game—those with the highest level downed, on average, 6.6 drinks—and about half said they drank during the game. Super Bowl Sunday is one of the biggest beer-drinking, beer-advertising days of the year. If you're one of the millions who will quaff this weekend, do so responsibly. These safety tips can help:

• Don't have more than one alcoholic drink per hour, and alternate alcoholic drinks with club soda, soft drinks, or just plain water. Alcohol is a diuretic; water will help ward off dehydration, headaches, and hopefully, the dreaded hangover.
• Never drink on an empty stomach. Food can help delay the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream. Chicken wings, anyone?
• If you know you tend to overdo it during sports events, set a drink limit and ask a friend to help you stick to it.
• Keep out of "chugging" contests and other drinking "games."
• Follow the stadium rule. Many stadiums stop serving alcohol at least an hour before closing. Cut yourself off at third quarter, or even at half-time.
• Never, never drink and drive. If you're with a group, always have a designated driver. If you're alone, call a taxi or a friend. The Insurance Information Institute reports more drivers are involved in alcohol-related accidents on Super Bowl Sunday than any other day of the year, with the exception of New Year's Day.

—Ginger Skinner, web associate editor

Read more on the pros and cons of alcohol. And get relief from the Super Bowl food coma—see our report on herbal stomach remedies.