Unfortunately, St. Patrick’s Day this year falls on a Monday (today, if you so happened to forget) - so what? That doesn’t mean you can’t go all out like you would on any given Saturday.

Play your cards right and follow these simple steps to make the night go in your favor, all the while avoiding a dreadful hangover tomorrow. Nobody wants to wait for drinks at a crowded bar on a Monday, let alone wake up early Tuesday morning for work hungover.

First off, never, ever, ever wave your money around while cat-calling the bartender. That’s obnoxious and will only lessen your chances of getting service. Plus, the bartender will probably hate you and loathe the next time he/she has to serve you, if they do at all.

I suggest tipping handsomely very early, grabbing your bartender’s attention without being overbearing. Don’t make a big deal out of it or you’ll look like an annoying prick with a need to flash your wealth. Respect them and they will respect you; even if they’re being a**holes, empathize with their stressed selves and be on your way - they’ll appreciate it in the long run.

Work the bar, kiddos - don’t be afraid to cheers a few patrons. People are in a particularly jolly mood on St. Patrick’s Day (the Irish mostly, for some reason), and good tidings go a long way to getting you an extra drink or shot. Don’t look at it like whoring yourself out for drinks - let the girls take care of that - it’s more about being a stand-up guy and getting treated for it. Good job!

If you’re gonna drink constantly, pace the amount per hour. Starting early in the day is fine, but don’t forget about tomorrow’s hangover if you go overboard. Not saying you should be thinking of work while you’re out; it’s more about facing the consequences if you overdo it. You don’t want to call it a night at 7:45, do you? Then calm down a bit and enjoy the odd Monday at hand.

Don’t drink and drive. So obvious and so important.

When you get home (if you get home), down 3 full glasses of water. You’ll thank yourself tomorrow.