Detty December Survival Guide: Enjoy the Season Without Burning Out

TL;DR: Pace yourself, drink water between drinks, keep alcohol within the NHS low-risk guideline of 14 units a week spread over three or more days, and protect your sleep. Pack condoms and period products, know that emergency contraception works best the sooner you take it, set a money plan, and never leave a friend alone at the end of the night.

December in Lagos and Accra is a whole season, not a month. Flights fill up with returnees from abroad, the concert calendar is stacked, there is a wedding every Saturday and a beach party every Sunday, and someone is always asking if you are coming out tonight. It is joyful, and it is also a lot. By the second week, plenty of people are running on three hours of sleep, small chops and vibes.

This guide is here to help you enjoy every bit of it and still arrive in January with your health, your money and your friendships intact.

What is Detty December?

Detty December is the name for the packed festive season in Nigeria and Ghana, especially in Lagos and Accra. "Detty" is a playful twist on "dirty", a nod to how wild and non-stop the celebrations get. According to CNN, it has grown alongside the yearly holiday wave of diaspora returnees and now draws tourists too, for concerts, festivals, parties, weddings and family gatherings that run right up to New Year.

Pace yourself like it is a marathon

You do not have to go to everything. Look at the month as a whole and choose your big nights, the ones you would be sad to miss, then let some of the rest go. Build in at least one quiet evening a week where you stay in, eat a proper meal and go to bed early. Your social battery has limits (and so does your liver), and planning rest is how you get to enjoy the 31st instead of sleeping through it.

How much water should I drink in the heat?

The NHS suggests aiming for 6 to 8 glasses of fluid a day, and more when you are in a hot environment or active for long periods, which describes a Lagos afternoon or a night of dancing pretty well. A simple check is the colour of your pee: pale yellow is the goal. Carry a refillable bottle, have a glass of water between alcoholic drinks, and add something salty and filling to your plate if you have been sweating a lot.

Is there a safe amount of alcohol?

The short answer from the World Health Organization is that no level of drinking is completely safe for your health, since alcohol is linked to at least seven types of cancer, including breast cancer. That does not mean you cannot have a drink at a wedding. It means less is better.

If you do drink, the NHS low-risk guideline is no more than 14 units a week, spread over three or more days. To put that in party terms:

• A standard 175ml glass of wine at 12% is about 2.1 units.
• A pint of beer is 2 to 3 units, depending on strength.
• A single small 25ml shot of 40% spirits is 1 unit, so a cocktail with more than one shot adds up quickly.

So 14 units goes faster than you think over a weekend of owambe and Champagne toasts. A few things help: eat before you go out, alternate alcoholic drinks with water or soft drinks, say yes to the mocktail, and be wary of a cup that keeps getting topped up so you lose count.

Know the signs of alcohol poisoning, too. The NHS says to call for emergency help if someone is confused, vomiting, has slow or irregular breathing, has a seizure, has pale or blue-tinged skin, or cannot be woken. Stay with them, and do not leave them to "sleep it off". Wherever you are, call your local emergency number or get them to the nearest hospital straight away.

Protect your sleep

Late nights are part of the fun, but stacking them up night after night can leave you foggy and irritable. Sleep in when you can after a big night, keep your room quiet, dark and cool, and go easy on large meals close to bedtime and on caffeine and alcohol, as the NHS suggests. An eye mask and earplugs are worth packing if you are staying in a busy family house. Our post on sleep and hormones has more tips.

Sexual health, without the awkwardness

Holiday romances, reunions and situationships are all part of the season. Look after yourself:

• Carry condoms. They help protect against both pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, and having your own means you are never relying on someone else.
• Get tested. Many STIs have no symptoms at all, so a test is the only way to know. Book one before you travel or when you get back, and know that some infections take a few weeks to show up, so a clinic may suggest testing again later. Our guide to STI symptoms, prevention and treatment explains what to look for.
• Know your emergency contraception options. According to the NHS, the copper IUD can be fitted up to 5 days after unprotected sex and is the most effective option. The levonorgestrel pill works up to 3 days after sex, and the ulipristal acetate pill up to 5 days, and the sooner you take either, the better it works. Our full emergency contraception guide walks through each one, and contraception methods compared can help if you want something longer term.

If you feel unwell, notice unusual discharge, sores or pain, or anything happened that you did not consent to, please see a clinician or go to a clinic as soon as you can.

Will my period ruin my plans?

Not if you plan for it. Check when your next period is likely to land and pack more products than you think you need, since your favourite brand may be hard to find or pricier when you are away. Periods do not always arrive on schedule, so pack a few just in case even if you are not due. Our guide to every period product option is handy if you want to try something new for long days out. If you track your cycle in Asele, you can see your predicted dates before you book that beach trip.

Money: decide before the vibes do

Detty December is famously expensive, especially if you are converting from pounds or dollars and everyone assumes you are rich. Set a budget for the month before you land, decide in advance how much you will give to family and how much is for fun, and keep a separate card or account for spending so you can see it go down. It is fine to say "I'll skip this one" or to suggest a cheaper plan. Your January self will thank you.

Stay safe on nights out

Go out in a group and leave in the same group. Agree a meeting point if you get separated, share your location with a friend, and plan your ride home before you leave. Keep your drink with you, and if it tastes odd or you suddenly feel very drunk, tell a friend straight away. Keep some cash and a charged phone, and save emergency numbers before you need them.

Look after your mind, too

All the joy of December can sit alongside grief, family pressure or loneliness, and that is normal. Step outside when you need to, and do not feel guilty about leaving early. If the season brings up something heavy, our post on talking about mental health with an African family may help.

This post is education, not medical advice. If you are worried about your health at any point, talk to a doctor, pharmacist or sexual health clinic.

Enjoy every minute, and we will see you on the other side of New Year.

Sources

1. CNN. Detty December: how Nigeria's biggest city became the world's hottest winter party destination. cnn.com
2. NHS. Water, drinks and your health. nhs.uk
3. WHO Europe. No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health. who.int
4. NHS. Calculating alcohol units. nhs.uk
5. NHS. Alcohol poisoning. nhs.uk
6. NHS Every Mind Matters. How to fall asleep faster and sleep better. nhs.uk
7. NHS. Sexually transmitted infections. nhs.uk
8. NHS. Emergency contraception. nhs.uk