Not everyone who drinks is addicted to alcohol. However, everyone who drinks is at risk of drinking too much and putting themselves and others in danger. On average, more people engage in holiday drinking than during other times of the year. Holiday drinking typically begins at Thanksgiving and continues until New Year’s Eve. While some find themselves checking into an alcohol addiction treatment program, like Midwest Detox, others need to implement holiday-safe drinking practices during the holidays.
Remember, drinking alcohol can inhibit your judgment and cause you to engage in dangerous behavior that you may not otherwise engage in sober. Holiday drinking combines alcohol and celebrations that make it more challenging to control your behavior and make wise choices. However, it is possible to practice safe drinking during holidays so that you and others can create positive memories instead of the alternative.
Here Are Some Holiday-Safe Drinking Tips
For individuals in recovery, the holidays can present a serious challenge to sober living. However, there are ways to lower the risk of encountering triggers and overcoming them when encountered. If you are struggling with alcohol use disorder, you can follow some simple tips to reduce your risk of developing an addiction.
Go on an Alcohol Fast
Perhaps the best solution for drinking safely is not to drink at all. You may want to go on an alcohol fast during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. There are several benefits to saying no. First, you can be the DD for others who choose to drink. Second, you may enjoy the holidays more sober than drunk. Putting down the alcohol can keep you from gaining a few pounds that you weren’t counting on before your New Year’s resolution. In addition, the money you will save can be put towards more meaningful gifts for friends and family or for treating yourself to something.
Know Your Limit
Most men can drink up to five alcoholic beverages within two hours before being declared legally drunk. For most women, two to four glasses of alcohol are the limit. However, each person is different depending on their body’s reaction to alcohol. Knowing your limit can help you decide how many drinks you will consume in a sitting and how far out you need to space your drinks. Knowing your limit is more important than many people imagine.
If you are an occasional drinker, the increased drinking that accompanies the holiday season means you might find yourself more inebriated than usual. This is dangerous because you may undertake activities that you can pull off at your usual level of intoxication but not realize how much more impaired you are until it is too late. If you are a frequent drinker, it can be worse because you have a tolerance to alcohol that allows you to function while intoxicated. While your tolerance to alcohol might indeed mean you are capable of functioning, it does not change your biochemistry. Blood alcohol level and alcohol tolerance are not the same; you may feel in control while being far over the legal limit to drive.
Leave the Driving to Someone Else
Today, there are more options for transportation than ever, so there is no excuse for drinking and driving. Some of the sober driving options, even in small towns, include:
- Cabs
- Limousine services
- Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft
- Community-sponsored designated driver programs
These are available to keep you and others from driving. This is a perfect opportunity to enlist that teenage niece or nephew that can legally drive but not legally drink. Put yourself in a position where you are not tempted to drive after you have been drinking.
Get Help for Your Drinking Problem
If you notice that you have a problem with drinking, the best way to stay safe over the holidays is to check into an alcohol rehab center. Rehab centers in Ohio offer lots of options for getting help for alcohol use disorder, such as:
- Professional detox
- Residential and outpatient rehab
- Individual or family therapy
- Alumni programs
- Support groups
The sooner you do something about your drinking, the safer you make the holidays for yourself and others.
Stay Away from the Bars
You should indeed watch your drinking no matter where you go. However, you may want to stay away from bars and clubs this holiday season. Safe drinking includes staying away from others who drink excessively. People often drink more than they should in bars and clubs because there is little else to do. Instead of going to drinking establishments, try to plan your social gatherings around other activities and places.
Need Help for Addiction? Contact Midwest Detox Center
Are you unable to practice safe drinking every time you consume alcohol? If so, end your holiday drinking today. Contact Midwest Detox Center at 833.647.0392, or contact us online to get help for alcohol or drug addiction. Let our treatment professionals help you achieve lifelong recovery without relapse. Call us today to learn more about our addiction treatment therapies and get started with your treatment plan. We can help you get on the road to recovery from alcohol addiction.
