In this post I discussed briefly what effects kava may have on your body upon consumption, and what to expect in regards to combining kava with other substances. Kava itself is a relatively exotic tea, though (as with anything), it is important that every individual who decides to consume kava be wary of their own health and physical limitations.

Now, that’s all great – kava is a fun little drink that plenty of people enjoy for their own reasons. Not much else to be said about that, right? Well, that kind of depends. Many people like to enjoy their kava in kava bars, which are scattered all over Tampa Bay as well as many other regions. I would dare to infer that kava bars are typically less of a dangerous environment than alcoholic bars because of the culture that tends to encompass the kava scene, and because sobriety is a requirement when entering most kava bars. That being said, many kava bars are assumed to be so safe that people tend to neglect the potential for dangerous experiences to ensue.

Here are a few things to be weary of:

1. Understanding what exactly it is that you’re drinking

• Many people are eager to drink kava and kratom for the first time. It’s a wonderful experience, especially when you are eager to understand what all of the hype is. Even still, it is best to be careful! Be sure to ask your kava tenders questions about the drinks you are looking forward to trying. And if you’d like, you can always take it a step further and do some research of your own to ensure that you know what to expect. Many people who drink kratom for the first time make the mistake of overdoing it, which can make them feel sick. Kava has a reverse tolerance effect, but kratom does not, and it’s easy to get the two confused if you’ve never tried them before! You may want to be especially careful about asking the right questions if you have any allergies, even if you think it is unlikely that you will encounter them on your kava endeavors.

2. Recognize that not all drinks are created equal

• I have heard of plenty of kava bars that make questionable decisions regarding the drinks they are providing. One good thing to do, especially when visiting new kava bars, is to ask how much product you are consuming. It is not recommended that you consume more than 250 mg of kava on any given day. The amount of kava in a shell (a serving of kava) can vary vastly from place to place. It is not recommended that you consume more than 15 grams of kratom at the very most every day, or you can become ill. If you are visiting a kava bar for the first time, your kava tender should be able to inform you about the dosage of kava and kratom you are being sold, and if they are not, that is definitely something to take into consideration when consuming kava.

3. People can be dangerous anywhere

• I know that this may go without saying, but I’m saying it anyway. I spend a lot of time in kava bars, and I feel at home in a few of them. Certain kava bars make me feel secure and safe, and as such I’ve learned to trust the community I am in to have my best interest at heart. Although this is a beautiful thing, this sense of security that can be fostered in such a lovely community can most definitely come back to bite you. I hate to admit that it happens, but more than once I have met some not-so-savory people in kava bars. Creeps are creeps, no matter where they are. In case of a situation in which you are not feeling safe, the vast majority of the time, all you have to do is tell your kava tender what is going on, and the situation will be carefully addressed. The same applies for stealing and violence. Trust is a beautiful thing to have, but it is always important to remember that people do not always have your best intentions, and in that regard, my advice would be to treat yourself and your belongings the same way you would if you were entering any other bar, regardless of what kind of beverages they serve.