A good night together should leave everyone feeling respected. Alcohol can make communication harder, so keep consent at the centre of any decision about sex.
Everyone needs to be able to choose
Consent means freely agreeing while understanding what is happening. Someone who is asleep, unconscious, or too affected by alcohol or drugs to understand or communicate their choice cannot consent. Earlier flirting, a relationship or a previous yes does not replace consent now. Anyone can change their mind, including after sexual activity has started. Healthdirect explains consent and situations where a person cannot give it.
If you are unsure, pause
Do not try to work out how much someone can drink and still agree to sex. A drink count is not a consent test. If either person's choice is unclear, stop and wait until you can have a clear conversation. There is no need to rescue the mood or persuade someone to continue.
Talk before the moment
Make room to discuss boundaries, protection and what each of you wants. Keep checking in rather than treating that conversation as permission for everything that follows. Healthdirect's safer-sex information includes communication, consent and protection from sexually transmitted infections.
Support is available
If something happened without your consent, it was not your fault. 1800RESPECT provides support in Australia. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
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