Your body absorbs alcohol through the stomach lining, so anything you have in there to slow down that process is going to help. If your stomach is empty alcohol gets processed into the blood stream very quickly which, while making you a cheap date, will also throw off your ability to decipher just how tipsy you are becoming.

The best things to eat before going out are foods that will act like sponges and soak up the liquid you send down there. Breads and pastas are excellent choices.