The Do's & Don'ts Of Holiday Drinking

It doesn't take many drinks to be too many drinks. Most people are not aware of the effect alcohol has on decision-making ability, reaction time, and general behavior. Depth perception is greatly affected by alcohol. How many drinks can you have before safely driving? Ideally, NONE. Alcohol continues to affect the brain and body long after your last drink. In fact, your judgment is impaired for several hours after you put down the last glass. Even the hangover the next day can impair your ability to drive.

If a person must drive after a party, have no more than one standard-size drink per hour. This would equal either one 5-ounce glass of wine, one 12-ounce beer, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor (either straight or mixed in a drink). You might try drinking a nonalcoholic beverage in between alcoholic drinks. If you have had more than one standard-size drink per hour, don't get behind the wheel. Your chances of being in an alcohol-related accident increase dramatically with every two drinks you consume.

Drinking and driving carries other costs as well. If you get a DUI (driving under the influence) or DWI (driving while intoxicated) arrest, you can lose either your freedom or a great deal of money hiring an attorney. Many people have paid well over $10,000 to stay out of jail after a DUI arrest. Often it is necessary to go into an inpatient treatment facility to avoid jail time. This type of arrest is most common between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day.

If you do plan to drink at a party, it is always a good idea to have a designated driver. This person should have no alcoholic drinks or any other mind-altering substances, so they will not put anyone at risk when they transport you and others home.

For someone in recovery from alcoholism or any other substance addiction, the holidays can be a special challenge to their continued sobriety. Many family members and friends don't realize that the recovering addict must be completely abstinent from mind-altering substances regardless of whether they were addicted to alcohol or to drugs. Don't offer your recovering friend an alcoholic drink or marijuana (which is now recreationally legal in some states). This will put them at risk for relapse.

If you are in recovery and are attending parties where you will be exposed to alcohol or drugs, take a few precautions such as taking sober support with you, making sure you have a nonalcoholic drink in your hand, and having an escape plan in the event you are triggered to want to drink. Always remember to "play the tape through," which means, think of the end result if you relapse.

When hosting your holiday party, host responsibly. Make sure that you offer nonalcoholic beverages to your guests. Have snack or hors d’oeuvres available, and encourage drinking friends to eat. If you know your party attendee has had too much to drink, don't let them drive. Call a cab, an Uber, a Lyft or have a sober guest give them a ride.

If you know someone who drinks and drives frequently, or abuses some other mind-altering substance, they may need help finding motivation to stop. You can find support from local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, Al-Anon meetings (for the family), a substance abuse treatment center, or a local therapist specializing in addictions.