time for celebration, renewals of faith, and setting goals for the year ahead. During family and social gatherings, champagne corks may be popped and wine passed as family and friends gather. While holiday parties invoke the spirit of the season, unhealthy alcohol use—drinking over the recommended limit of three drinks for women and four drinks for men per day—can lead to dangerous consequences for yourself and those around you. Manyofus like to celebrate during This holiday season, plan ahead to serve or drink alcohol responsibly. 6. Make the holiday season a time for wellness. Help alleviate the stress that ing during the holidays can be done responsibly. Here are six steps you can holidays can bring by focusing on selfcare. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's Eight Dimensions of Wellness can help you identify healthy habits and avoid alcohol misuse during the holiday season: www.samhsa.gov/wellness-initiative/ eight-dimensions-wellness. It may surprise you, but during the holidays, those who do not normally drink alcohol need to be as cautious as associated with overindulgence of holiday drinking: 1. Abstain. You don’t need alcohol to be thelife of the party. Bring a fun, nonal- erance and unfamiliarity with alcoholic drinks are two chief contributors to drinking too much, too quickly. Occasional and heavy drinkers also need the holidays. But the truth is, more peo- ple are likely to drink beyondtheir limits during this season than at other times of the year. Consequences of unhealthy drinking can range from the harmless (but potentially embarrassing) to the destructive, including driving while intoxicated and risky sexual behaviors. Despite the potential dangers, drink- take to prevent and reduce the risks coholic beverage ofyour choiceto celebra- tions where you knowthere will be alcohol so you don't deviate from yourplan. 2. Pace yourself. Know whatconsti- tutes a standard drink and have no more people who drink more often. Low tol- to be on alert since they mayfeel their increased drinking levels are appropri- ate and normal, because their peers, whodrink infrequently, have increased 3. Have “drink spacers.” Make every other drink a nonalcoholic one. Wateris a great choice. 4.Do not make alcohol the cen- their level of drinking. Holidays are a great time to let loose—just remembernotto lose track of what and how muchalcohol you are drinking. Stay mindful by drinking responsibly and safely. If you have a place, engage in other healthier food, your alcohol use or suspect a loved than one per hour. tral focus of the gathering or party. In drink and entertainmentactivities. drinking problem, are concerned with one needs help, you can find treatment Rememberthat a designated driver is securely and anonymously by using the Behavioral Health Treatment Services not simply the person in your group gov or by calling the National Helpline: 5.Make plans to get homesafely. someone who hasn't had any alcohol, whodranktheleast. Locatorat https://findtreatment.samhsa. 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
