How to Celebrate Safely This Holiday Season

As we approach the holidays, it’s important to remember that more people are likely to drink beyond their limits during this season than any other time of the year. Some will suffer adverse consequences ranging from fights to falls to traffic crashes. Sadly, we often put ourselves and others at risk because we don’t understand how alcohol affects us during an evening of celebratory drinking.

Scientific studies supported by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism provide important information that challenges widespread, yet incorrect, beliefs about how quickly alcohol affects the body and how long the effects of drinking last. During an evening of celebratory drinking, it’s easy to misjudge how long alcohol’s effects last. For example, many people believe themselves capable of driving immediately after they stop drinking. The truth is, alcohol continues to affect the brain and body long after the last drink has been finished, impairing judgment and coordination for hours.

It’s important not to underestimate the effects of alcohol this holiday season. Here are some tips to keep in mind if you choose to drink:

• Pace yourself. Know what constitutes a standard drink and have no more than one per hour – and no more than 4 drinks for men and 3 for women per day.
• Have “drink spacers” – make every other drink a nonalcoholic one.
• Make plans to get home safely. Remember that a designated driver is someone who hasn’t had any alcohol, not simply the person in your group who drank the least.

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