Drinking & the Holidays: Some things to Consider

It’s the holiday season again, and many households are stocking up on wine, beer, liquor and eggnog.  Christmas and the New Year are great reasons for us to celebrate, and after a year as difficult as the last one has been for all of us, we could all probably use some quality time with friends and loved ones, a nice reprieve from work, and maybe even a drink or two.  But before you go lifting that bottle back in holiday cheer, there are some things you should consider about the holidays and drinking.  As it’s the last thing that anyone wants to have a drinking-related tragedy during the holidays, you should give this information some thought.

Why do we want to drink during the holidays?

For some people, it’s just fun to drink.  Having a few glasses of wine or champagne with family while dancing or reminiscing is a great way to spend some quality time together.  But we all know that this isn’t the only reason we drink when it’s Christmas time or New Year’s.  Let’s face it- the holidays can be stressful!  Driving to relatives and friend’s houses, traveling out of state or even out of the country to visit family, and preparing to have guests at your own home has more than its share of stressors.  Additionally, there’s the financial stress of buying gifts (and paying for them) and ensuring that the people you care about have a great holiday season.

But perhaps even more than these things, it’s the social aspect that makes us want to drink.  If we like the people we are with and enjoy their company, then why not have a few drinks to celebrate?!  Conversely, if we’re miserable while at the in-laws or dread the thought of seeing relatives that we just don’t get along with, that’s more than sufficient enough a reason to drink.  Whatever the reason, it’s okay to drink- but it’s not okay to allow any drinking that you do to negatively impact your safety or that of those around you.

What are the risks of drinking and the holidays?

Of all the risks associated with drinking during the holidays, there’s none as embarrassing as making a spectacle of yourself in front of family, friends, or associates.  When we drink, our tongues tend to loosen, our inhibitions let go, and we generally are not the people we are when not intoxicated.  There are few things that are worse than having to be told how we behaved at a party or social gathering the next day because we do not remember.

Of course, being hung-over on Christmas day or New Year’s Day because you drank too much the night before is not an ideal way to spend two of the most important days of the year.  While a hangover might not be that severe of a problem, there are other physical ailments that can result from drinking during the holidays.  The combination of stress, alcohol, and foods that are high in fat and sodium can lead to heart or liver stress, and in some cases can lead to a heart attack or stroke.  There probably couldn’t be many worse ways to end a Christmas party then with the death or hospitalization of a loved one.

When we drink during the holidays, it’s often a pretty good time and no harm is done.  But we also do some pretty stupid things sometimes, too.  Because drinking alters our perception, balance, reaction time, and judgment, it’s easy to become injured doing seemingly harmless things.  If you’ve been drinking, stringing Christmas lights, putting up decorations, wrestling with your kid brother, or a simple slip on the ice could result in disaster.  Every year, emergency rooms around the country fill up with people who are injured while drinking during the holidays.

The biggest risk to everyone concerning drinking and the holidays is drunk driving.  During this time of year, authorities are required to spend time away from their families to help keep the streets safe for everyone else.  Statistics show that when we are celebrating during the holidays, we tend to take more risks- including getting behind the wheel after we’ve been drinking.  This could easily leady to a catastrophe: one too many drinks, one wrong move at the wheel; and lives can be lost in seconds.  The fastest way to forever destroy the holidays for someone is to be responsible for the death of an innocent person.

Alcohol, the holidays, and recovering alcoholics

The holidays can be especially hard for recovering alcoholics.  This is because few people make concessions for recovering alcoholics, and at most Christmas and New Years functions there is going to be alcohol present.  This can make someone in recovery feel uncomfortable and possibly provide too much temptation to risk.  Individuals who are in recovery should avoid places where alcohol is being sold or consumed whenever possible.  If not possible, there are some steps that a person can take to minimize the desire to drink.  These same tips can be used by people who intend to drink but want to ensure that there are no unpleasant complications as a result of doing so.

*Have a plan.  By planning your events on the holidays, you can help to control drinking-related incidents- especially if you are in recovery.  Try to plan to be at events before the “drinking” crowd arrives.  Leave before it gets too late and drunk drivers will be on the road.

*Have an escape plan.  If you don’t want to drink, or you’ve had too much and want to stop, make sure you have a plan to remove yourself from whatever situation you’re in.  You and your partner or friend can develop a signal that says it’s time to leave, or you can request that someone text you with an “urgent” message that you need to leave.  Conversely, you may simply explain to your guest that you’re not feeling well and need to go home to lie down.

*Say no. Most people today will not be bothered if you don’t want to drink, and you shouldn’t need to explain why.  So whether you’re in recovery or you’re simply limiting your intake, just indicating that you don’t want to should be enough.

*Don’t overindulge.  If you do choose to drink, don’t overdo it.  Remember, if you need a friend or family member to monitor you while you’re drinking, you probably shouldn’t be drinking in the first place.  Be certain to eat at regular intervals, and drink lots of water while you drink alcohol.  This way, you won’t regret having relaxed and had a few the following day.

In case you need any further reason to drink responsibly for the holidays, consider this: food traditionally served on Christmas and New Year’s is very high in fat, calories, cholesterol, and sodium.  So is alcohol.  Most drinks are very high in calories- especially beer and liquor.  When combined with fatty holiday meals, you’re packing on a lot of calories in a short period of time.  Additionally, if you have high blood pressure, hypertension, or bad cholesterol, you could be placing yourself at additional risk by drinking and overindulging on holiday foods.

Whatever you choose to do this holiday season, remember to do it safely and responsibly so that you can enjoy next year’s holidays too!