Drinking Sensibly During the Holidays

The festive season is upon us. Along with all the cheer and goodwill associated with the holidays however, some people can take things to far. Sadly, enjoying a couple of drinks with friends and family can sometimes lead to misery. Of course, excessive alcohol consumption is dangerous any time of year, but during the festive season, it becomes increasingly prevalent. During the holidays, there tends to be a deluge of drink related incidents. This article will discuss how we can keep those incidents to a minimum.

 

 

First, let us have a quick reminder of what alcohol actually does to the body. As drinking dampens the central nervous system, it causes the following reactions:

There is no reason why alcohol can not be enjoyed during the holidays. The trick is not to make your festivities revolve around drinking. The following are some tips to keep you healthy and safe should you choose to indulge this year.

• While I'm sure you've heard it a million times, the most important tip I can offer you is do not drink and drive. On average, 3,000 people die in drink related incidents every year. Driving or attempting to drive while over the limit carries a maximum 6 month prison sentence, a £5000 fine and 12 month driving suspension. Should you be the cause of a death while drunk driving, there is a maximum 14 year prison sentence. Don't ruin your or anyone else's Christmas. It's not worth it!
• Don't drink on any empty stomach. This increases the rate of alcohol absorption into your blood stream and can also precipitate dangerously low blood sugar. The low blood sugar can cause a hypoglycaemic coma. Enjoy alcohol with a meal.
• If you plan to go out drinking, choose a designated driver beforehand.
• Try and include some non-alcoholic beverages in between alcoholic drinks. This will help reduce your total alcohol intake.
• Appreciate your drink. Savour the experience. Gulping it down means your less likely to enjoy your beverage. This may cause you to drink more and get drunk quicker.
• Drinking alcohol can help you relax and lubricate social situations, but you really don't need more than one drink to do this.
• Many rape cases are alcohol related. Keep your wits about you at all times. Don't allow anyone the opportunity to exploit you.
• Avoid mixing different alcohols, and whatever you do, do not mix alcohol with drugs. This will cause you to overload your system. Often, the effects of many drugs can be enhanced by alcohol... and not in a good way!
• If you are on medication, check with your doctor or pharmacist about potential interactions. Many drugs can have serious interactions with alcohol.
• Don't rely on weight, sex and body frame to determine how someone will handle their alcohol. The metabolism of alcohol is far more complex than some realise, genetic variations also plays a contributing factor. As a general rule of thumb, men should not exceed 2-3 units per day, and women should not exceed 1- 2 units per day. This statistic takes into account that you should be having at least two alcohol free days per week.

Please enjoy the festive season. If you choose to drink, then do it sensibly. Stick to the tips above, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask us.

 

Happy holidays from the DrAdvice team!