Whether it’s sipping mulled wine at a cozy winter gathering or toasting the New Year with champagne, alcohol is a common part of many holiday traditions. For most of us, drinking is a simple pleasure. But when alcohol becomes the focus of a party, it’s a sign of a real problem.
At what point does moderate drinking transform into a problem? The answer varies due to individual tolerances and how people metabolize alcohol.
According to federal standards, moderate drinking is one drink a day for a woman and two for a man. A drink is defined as 1.5 ounces distilled spirits, 5 ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer. Any more than this on a daily basis is considered to be heavy drinking.
Does this sound extreme? For most people, it’s not. Technically, alcohol is a poison. While moderate drinking has been shown to have a variety of health benefits, drinking more than a drink or two a day can lead to major health problems, most notably liver damage and heart disease.
One unfortunate consequence of the holiday season is a sharp increase in alcohol-related accidents and deaths.
Keep in mind that coffee or a cold shower does not eliminate alcohol from the bloodstream. Time is the only thing that gets rid of the alcohol in a person’s bloodstream.
If you know you have an alcohol problem, mentally prepare yourself before a party. Decide ahead of time how much you will drink, then tell a friend or relative to help you stick with your plan. Don’t delude yourself into thinking that not drinking for a few days before a party entitles you to extra drinking later.
If you are hosting a party and serving alcohol, here are some steps to ensure that all guests are comfortable and that alcohol does not become a problem:
- Never pressure anyone to have a drink.
- Offer a selection of non-alcoholic beverages as well as plenty of food.
- Stop serving alcohol at least one hour before the party ends.
- Don’t serve alcohol to an intoxicated guest.
- Never let anyone who is drunk drive.
Source: www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/welcome/features/20061220_holidaytips/index.html
