Drink alcohol is a part of holiday celebrations for many people, but many organizations are reminding the public to keep certain guidelines in mind during the holiday season.
Alcohol can raise spirits in small quantities, releasing some inhibitions, providing a temporary feeling of excitement and happiness. In greater quantities, alcoholic drinks can lead to lapses in judgment, and greatly slow reaction times.
Calories are part of holiday feasting and alcohol can significantly contribute to the number of calories consumed during the yearly festivities. A typical glass of champagne has around 85 calories, and wine contains about 125. A bottle of beer comes with 150 calories, and margaritas come in around 170. A rich, frothy drink like a pina colada can contain as many as 500 calories per serving.
Revelers who consume alcohol could be more likely to eat rich, calorie-packed foods that they might avoid if they were not drinking, some health official warn.
Prescription medicines could provide additional dangers for those who consume alcohol during the holidays. Many drugs should not be ingested along with alcohol. Drowsiness caused by anti-anxiety drugs, sleeping aids, and prescription narcotics can be made more severe by ingesting alcohol.
Alcohol can only be cleared from human bodies over time. Many home-remedies for intoxication, including caffeine and cold showers, do nothing to lower the amount of alcohol in bloodstreams. They can make drinkers feel more confident, however, which can lead to dangerous behaviors.
Drunk driving takes the lives of around 10,000 Americans each year, around 1,200 of whom die during the holiday season - about 45 each day. Even if no one is injured through the act of drunk driving, the consequences if caught by the police can be severe, including jail time and loss of license.
Alcohol safety begins well before the celebration begins. Guests should always name a designated driver to bring them home safely. People holding parties should also designate a sober host, able to identify and work with visitors who have had too much to drink. Responsible hosts will also have options available to their guests, even an offer to sleep on the floor, with a blanket and pillow.
"Many partygoers don't drink often, leaving them with low tolerance and more vulnerability to alcohol's effects. At the other extreme are problem drinkers who find plenty of social occasions to drink and may feel less inhibited at parties where alcohol is liberally served," the UC Davis Health System stated.
Parents who drink alcohol responsibly during the holiday can also set a good example for their children. Moderate alcohol drinking has been linked to a variety of health benefits, and alcohol can be a complement to - not the center of - holiday celebrations.
