Alcohol and the Holidays
Problems can often arise during the holidays due to alcohol consumption. At what point does moderate “holiday gathering” drinking become “problem” drinking? One unfortunate consequence of the holidays is a large increase in alcohol-related accidents and deaths. Many partygoers don’t drink very often, leaving them with low alcohol tolerance and more vulnerability to alcohol‘s effects. However, at the other extreme, there are “problem” drinkers who find plenty of social occasions to drink and may feel less inhibited at parties where alcohol is being liberally served.
Each individual tolerates alcohol differently and metabolizes alcohol differently according to the size and weight among other factors. According to federal standards, “moderate drinking is defined as 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 level on a daily basis is considered to be heavy drinking.” (www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu)
For most individuals, these standards make sense. Alcohol is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, first causing disinhibition, then acting as a depressant. A hangover from the night before indicates that the body is withdrawing from alcohol. While moderate drinking has been shown to have some health benefits, drinking more than one to two drinks a day can lead to major health problems, most notably liver damage and heart disease.
If you know you have an alcohol problem and are planning on attending a holiday party where alcohol will be present, prepare yourself mentally before the party. Decide ahead how much alcohol you will drink, then tell a friend or relative to help you stick to your plan. Don’t believe that abstaining from alcohol for a few days before a holiday party entitles you to extra drinking while at the party.
If you’re a guest at the holiday party, don’t bring a bottle of alcohol as a gift to the host. Instead, consider bringing an assortment of teas, hot chocolate, cider and coffee mixes so you know that a variety of non-alcoholic drinks will be easily available.
Further, many parents forget their responsibilities in relation to alcohol consumption during the holidays. For parents, the holiday season offers an excellent opportunity to model appropriate alcohol-related behavior. Children are great observers of adult behavior and will be more influenced by their actions more than their words. Don’t give the message to children that alcohol must be present for good times to abound. Give your children safe and happy holiday memories by being responsible about alcohol consumption during the holidays.
Reference: www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu