Your best man has every angle covered (so he tells you) and lots of stag night ideas, and you think all you are called upon to do is turn up, with toothbrush. Think again!

Read on, please do, you need all the advice that is available. Fore-warned is fore-armed - appropriate cliché in this instance.

With more than a little training and sound counseling you will survive the ultimate test of manhood - the stag night.

Lets start with alcohol consumption. Adjectives such as vast, copious and obscene would be used to best describe how much you will be expected to consume over the stag weekend. From the innocent pint of beer to the vomit-inducing cocktails, you will be drinking the lot.

How can you prepare for this in advance should be your question. Trips down to your local ale house, get friendly with the landlord and taste all he has to tempt you with, the aim to build up your tolerance levels.

Try to remember the old wives tale: a glass of milk will line your stomach and eating will act like a sponge to soak up the alcohol.

Obviously your so-called mates will be out to stitch you up at every available opportunity. Be on your guard, never let it slip and watch out for the married ones - they have revenge in mind!

If anyone is to be in for an unplanned swim, no prizes for guessing it'll be you - fully clothed. Pack wisely!

Finishing on the packing theme, don't forget your sense of humour. It is a must for any stag to be 'up for it' and if you have left your S.O.H. at home it will be an uphill struggle.

Good luck, black cats crossing your path and four leaf clovers ... maybe just maybe you can return home with both eyebrows intact, nursing a minimal hang-over having had a blast.

Stag Essential Advice

If you are the bestman, then as soon as this "esteemed" position is made known to you, it is not too soon to be directing your thoughts to stag night ideas and all your energies to the key areas outlined below.

1. Consult with Groom
Your first move should be to approach the VIP and ascertain what he wants from his party. Stag parties have gone ahead with the groom kept completely in the dark as to the scheme of events and gone fantastically well. However, in most cases, this is not the most appropriate course of action. You need to sit down and come up with some stag night ideas together.

The two of you should decide what form the celebrations are to take, e.g. go-karting, beer, meal, B&B etc. Think about: timescale, activities, food, accommodation and alcohol.

2. Date
Traditionally, this has always been the weekend prior to the wedding. These days its normally about a month before to make sure everyone involved has recovered in time! Get the key personnel committed to one date as soon as possible and aske them to start thinking about some good stag party ideas.

3. Guest List
Only the groom can help you with this one. However, to aid you in your task you need to know key factors such as:
how many
where they live
who knows who
special requirements, i.e. vegetarian, teetotaller

4. Cost
It is important to bear in mind that there will be a variety of budgets to cater for. It is all too easy to get over-enthusiastic only to find that the groom's closest friend cannot afford to join you. Perhaps get all the boys to the pub and get the stag night ideas flowing, its as good an excuse as any!

5. Location
A hasty word of warning, this area may very well cause you the biggest headache. Put yourself in the shoes of the Hotel Manager, receiving your telephone call enquiring about the vacancies for 20 men on a stag night.

Allow yourself extra time when deliberating location. Also bear in mind that very often the groom wishes to be away from home territory making your task harder due to unfamiliarity. The internet can provide some good stag night ideas around the area and give you information of what places are like.

6. Activities
The cries of "BUNGEE" ring out loud and clear but the volunteers are not forthcoming.

The options are now so extensive from pot-holing to pot-making. You have to do the research. You have determined the location, now find out what is available - remember the budget.

7. Communicate with Guests
Now starts the paper chase. Access to a computer could prove to be a must. You need to write to all those included, extending an invitation. Outline the proposed itinerary, date, cost and location. Provide a tear-off slip with a "return by date" - this ensures that you have a firm idea of numbers.

8. Deposits
Whatever plans you have made, deposits will be required from the guests. This also helps to cut down the knock-on effect of the inevitable "non-attendees".

9. Make the Bookings
Confirm all bookings, i.e. for accommodation, activities, transport, evening entertainment, food and send required deposits.

10. Confirmation with Guests
Write back to all guests confirming arrangements. Outline where they need to be, at what time, what to pack, what to wear, and how much they still owe.

Remember any maps and any special little requirements, i.e. "superman" outfit for the groom.

Ten steps to guide you through organising the perfect stag party.

A very daunting prospect but there is help at hand in the guise of a company called freedom whose key word is "effortless" - music to your ears.

One telephone call to a freedom event coordinator and they can give you some great stag night ideas and take over the organisation, the research, the paper chase - in essence they take off the stress. freedom has a database of venues, activities, entertainment and can fit together a party to suit your needs. However bizarre.

It gets better, not only is the stress removed, you get more for your money. freedom receives discount packages that you alone organising a stag party would never be offered.

So ... 10 steps to organising the perfect stag party, or one telephone call to freedom (0870) 787 5959.