Key points
- Cannot give valid consent while intoxicated
- Judgment and reaction time impaired
- Pain perception altered
- Increased injury risk
- Negotiate and play sober only
In detail
- Why it matters: Consent requires full capacity to understand and agree
- Impairments: Judgment, coordination, pain perception, emotional regulation, communication
- Risks: Cannot accurately assess limits, delayed reactions, cannot properly safeword
- Legal issues: Consent while intoxicated may not be legally valid
- Both parties: Top and bottom must be sober for safe play
- After scenes: Celebratory drinks should wait until aftercare is complete
- Medical emergencies: Intoxication complicates treatment and diagnosis
Warnings
- Intoxicated consent is not valid consent
- Accidents are more likely when impaired
- Cannot judge safety properly
- Mixing substances with subspace is dangerous
- Relationship damage from intoxicated scenes
- Legal consequences possible
Resources and next steps
- Establish a rule: no play while drinking or using drugs
- Plan scenes for clear-headed times
- If drinking at event, no heavy play
- Save celebration drinking for after all play and aftercare
- Support partners in staying sober for scenes