Sippin’ Smart During the Holidays

What are you sippin’ this holiday season? Americans have been profoundly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, both mentally and physically. With disruptions in work, school, health, and relationships, this pandemic hasn’t just affected individuals, but the family dynamic as a whole. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), 8 in 10 adults say the coronavirus pandemic is a significant source of stress in their life. Additionally, nearly half of parents with children under 18 years report higher levels of stress in 2020. With rising rates in stress in 2020, we’re also seeing rising rates in alcohol consumption. According to the American Addiction Center, the period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve accounts for the most extreme cases of alcohol consumption.

How Much is Enough During the Holidays?

Armed with this knowledge, how much is safe to drink? The American Heart Association and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends that men should have no more than two drinks per day and women should have no more than one drink per day. 

With the Holiday season right around the corner, it’s more important than ever to evaluate you and your loved one’s drinking habits as well as the impact it may have on your whole family.

Ask yourself, “How can alcohol be enjoyed as part of a healthy holiday season?”  

Below are some tips that can help you achieve just that! 

• Enjoy in moderation! 
  • Remember the American Heart Association guidelines for alcohol consumption is 0-1 drinks per day for women, and 1-2 drinks per day for men
  • A standard drink= 12 fl. oz beer, 4-5 fl. oz wine, or 1.5 fl. oz of liquor
• Hydrate!
  • Remember to alternate drinking alcohol with water
• Don’t forget to eat.
  • When there is food in your stomach, alcohol is absorbed more slowly.
• Enjoy a mocktail, a.k.a. a delicious non-alcoholic cocktail.
  • The internet is your “mocktail recipe” oyster…so to speak!
• If you’re using alcohol to manage stress, find new ways to cope, such as:
  • Meditation
  • Breathing exercises
  • Physical Activity 
  • Family dance party
  • Family baking party
  • Choose a new, or work on an existing hobby
• Remember you are a role model! Your kids and loved ones are always watching
  • Save your adult beverages for after the kids are in bed, or
  • Demonstrate the healthy drinking practices listed above in front of your family

Not sure where to start? Schedule a discovery call with Michelle to learn more! Prefer email? Email her here!

Sources: 

JAMA Netw Open. 2020;3(9):e2022942. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.22942

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/05/200521151919.htm

Alcohol Consumption Increases during the Holidays. (December 2015). Statesman Journal.