How to drink more

Going out tonight with some buddies to a dance club/bar. I don’t get the opportunity often so I am looking to have a good time but also put a lot down. I love alcohol soooo much (that’s a scary thing to admit). But I can only go 7 down before I’m feeling really drunk. I’m thinking of starting early like 5pm and extending the drinks across the night so I can drink as much as possible, without getting completely wasted.