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Problems With Over Drinking Alcohol on Holidays!
FOR those used to indulging in alcohol maintaining abstinence during the holidays can be challenging. Here are some helpful tips;
Plan Ahead: Create a strategy for holiday events, including “escape routes” if you feel overwhelmed.
Seek Support: Reach out to support groups such as the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A), friends, or family members who can provide assistance and encouragement.
Avoid Triggers: Identify and avoid situations or people that may trigger your desire to drink.
Focus on Non-Alcoholic Options: Enjoy non-alcoholic beverages to participate in the festivities without alcohol.
Practice Self-Care: Prioritize self-care by getting enough rest, eating well, and managing stress.
Develop Coping Strategies: Learn healthy adaptive coping mechanisms for dealing with stress, anxiety, and cravings.
Alcohol’s Effects Begin Quickly, Before You Know It!
People may not recognize that critical decision-making abilities and driving-related skills are already diminished long before they show overt signs of intoxication.
Initially, alcohol may appear to act as a stimulant, so people who drink may feel upbeat and excited. then Alcohol decreases inhibitions and judgment and can lead to reckless decisions.
Even When Drinking Stops—Alcohol’s Effects Do Not Stop
During an evening of drinking, it’s easy to misjudge how long alcohol’s effects last. For example, many people believe that they will begin to sober up—and be able to drive safely—once they stop drinking and have a cup of coffee. The truth is that alcohol continues to affect the brain and body long after the last drink
Plan Ahead
Of course, we don’t intend to harm anyone when we celebrate during the holiday season. Yet, violence and traffic fatalities associated with alcohol misuse persist, and myths about drinking live on—even though scientific studies have documented how alcohol affects the brain and body.
Because individuals differ, the specific effects of alcohol on an individual will vary. But certain facts are clear—there’s no way to make good decisions when you are intoxicated, and there’s no way to sober up faster.
“Standard drink” is a measure of how much alcohol is contained in a beverage. Drinks like beer, wine, and distilled spirits often contain very different amounts of alcohol. This means the size of an alcohol-containing beverage alone does not determine its alcohol content.
In the United States, one standard drink contains about 14 grams, or about 0.6 fluid ounces, of pure alcohol.
That is the amount of alcohol in:
A 12-ounce can of beer at 5% alcohol by volume
A 5-ounce glass of wine at 12% alcohol by volume
A 1.5-ounce shot glass of distilled spirits at 40% alcohol by volume
Even within a beverage type, the alcohol content can differ significantly. While a 12-ounce bottle of beer at 5% alcohol by volume contains one standard drink, a 12-ounce bottle of beer at 10% alcohol by volume contains two standard drinks.
Knowing the number of standard drinks in alcohol-containing beverages can help you understand how much alcohol you are consuming and make informed decisions about your health.
Serve Non-Alcohol Beverages at Celebrations
In all celebrations and gatherings with family and friends where alcohol-containing beverages are served, make sure that non-alcohol-containing beverages are also available. Many individuals may not wish to drink alcohol at any given time for a variety of reasons. Support their decision not to drink—don’t question or criticize—and further decrease stigma by offering attractive non-alcohol alternatives. Studies show that individuals choosing not to drink alcohol have just as much fun as those who choose to drink alcohol, so focus on enjoying the holidays and not on who is drinking what.
So Next time when you host a holiday gathering;
Offer a variety of alcohol-free drinks—water, juices, sparkling sodas. Alcohol-free drinks help counteract the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Also, the other fluids may slow the rate of alcohol absorption into the body and reduce the peak alcohol concentration in the blood. They also provide your guests with alternatives to alcohol.
Provide a variety of healthy foods and snacks. Food can slow the absorption of alcohol and reduce the peak level of alcohol in the body by about one-third. Food can also minimize stomach irritation and gastrointestinal distress the following day.
Help your guests get home safely—use designated drivers and taxis. Anyone getting behind the wheel of a car should not have ingested any alcohol.
Always Remember That ;
Overindulging in alcohol during the holidays can lead to health problems and may hinder the fun of the festivities.
Health risks
Digestive issues: Stomach ulcers and other digestive disorders
Liver disease: Alcohol can damage the liver
Brain damage: Alcohol can cause brain damage, stroke, and dementia
Mental health conditions: Alcohol can contribute to mental health conditions and suicidal behavior
Cancer: Alcohol can increase the risk of cancers like breast, bowel, mouth, throat, esophageal, and liver cancer
Fertility issues: Alcohol can reduce sperm count and testosterone levels in men
Tips for Moderation;
Plan ahead: Decide which days you'll abstain from alcohol
Limit alcohol: Avoid stocking up on alcohol, and use smaller glasses to portion out your drinks
Drink slowly: Drink more slowly and top up your glass less
Set realistic goals: Consider cutting back on alcohol, rather than trying to abstain completely
Alcohol is often consumed at holiday celebrations, so it's important to be mindful of your drinking and to make choices that support your health.
Drinking alcohol while driving is extremely dangerous and can cause serious injury or death to you and others. Alcohol affects your judgment, reaction time, and coordination, and can impair your vision.
How alcohol affects driving:
Reaction time: Alcohol slows your reaction time, making it harder to act in an emergency.
Vision: Alcohol can impair your vision, making it harder to see clearly and control your eye movements.
Coordination: Alcohol can adversely affect your hand-eye coordination.
Judgment: Alcohol slows down your brain, impacting your judgment and reason.
Confidence: Alcohol can make you feel more confident, which can lead to risk-taking behavior.
Driving under the influence
Driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal and can result in jail time.
Even small amounts of alcohol can increase your chances of causing a crash.
Alcohol can continue to enter your bloodstream for up to two hours after your last drink.
The best approach is to avoid driving altogether until you're sure the alcohol has completely left your system.