There are many reasons and opportunities to celebrate this holiday season - holiday parties, your football team is advancing, wedding engagements, reuniting with old friends, etc.
It's important to be in the moment and enjoy those occasions - however, it's important to do so responsibly. To ensure you get home without harming yourself, or others, the Watertown Healthy Youth (WHY) coalition offers the following tips:
- Confirm that you have save ride home, before your start celebrating
- Look for and try a new mocktail recipe
- Make sure you eat throughout the evening - it's easy to get caught up in the holiday hustle, but avoid drinking on a empty stomach
- Remember - only time sobers a person up. Stop drinking at least one hour before you plan to leave an event.
- If you are hosting an event, stay within your limits so that you can help your guests stay within theirs.
Know Your Drink Size
Not all alcoholic drinks are created equal. The number of drinks you can safely enjoy within a certain amount of time depends of the kind of drink you have, the amount of alcohol contained in that drink, and the serving size.
For instance - one 5 oz. glass of red wine contains more alcohol percentage than two 12 oz. wine seltzers.
Know Your Limit
The US Dietary Guidelines recommend 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men if an adult over 21 years of age choses to drink and does not have alcohol-related risks. In addition, The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has determined "heavy drinking" patterns which markedly increase the likelihood of alcohol use disorder (AUD) or other alcohol-related harms.
- For women - 4 or more drinks on any given day
- For men - 5 or more drinks on any given day