Alcohol Concern’s Top Tips for Christmas Survival

3th November 2004

Everyone likes to let their hair down at Christmas and enjoy the extra socialising that comes with it.

However, it?s easy to get carried away and have one tipple too many, undoing any good intentions you had of having all things in moderation!

Alcohol Concern has come up with these top tips to safer drinking for Christmas partygoers - whether you?re going out on the town or hosting your own celebrations.

Tips for the partygoer

What you need to know:

The government advise that women can drink 2-3 units of alcohol per day and men 3-4 units a day without damaging their health.

As a rough guide to what you?re drinking:

- 1 pint of normal strength beer contains 2 units
- 1 25ml measure of spirits contains 1 unit of alcohol
- 1 175ml glass of wine (12% abv) contains 2 units and a 250ml glass contains 3 units.
- 1 330 ml Alcopop (4.5%-5.5% abv) contains one and a half units to 2 units
- 1 440 ml can of strong lager (4.6%-6% abv) contains 3 units

Home measures are often larger! Watch the size of your drinks.

How much you drink is your own business but so is your personal safety and wellbeing. So:

Decide your limit

If you?re out for the night ? decide on a limit of how much you plan to drink and stick to it.

Avoid rounds

Round buying often means you drink more than you want. Skip some rounds by drinking more slowly. You could say you?d rather get your own drink.

Pace Yourslef

Slow down and take smaller sips ? or choose smaller drinks such as a half instead of a pint. Drink water or soft drinks in between alcoholic drinks to dilute the alcohol.

Know what you?re drinking

Stronger drinks and larger pub measures can make it difficult to know just how much you?re drinking. Learn the strengths of your drinks so you can stick to your own limits.

Go for less alcoholic longer drinks

Top up your spirits with more mixer, try spritzers or choose shandy rather than beer. Darker drinks like red wine, brandy and whiskey give worse hangovers because of higher concentrations of chemicals called congeners.

Don?t just drink

Find something else to do while you drink, like darts, or pool, dancing or pub quizzes. This will distract you from drinking and help you to drink slowly.

Say no to top ups

You won?t be able to keep track of how much you are drinking. Also, don?t let anyone pressurise you into having another drink ? have excuses planned such as ?No thanks, I?ve had enough ? I?ve got a lot on tomorrow.?

Leave your car at home if you?re planning to drink.
Don?t walk home alone ? get a taxi.

Staying in ? tips for the party host

Food first

Alcohol on an empty stomach makes people drunk more quickly. Always offers something to eat ? dips and pitta bread, cheese and crackers are good alternatives to salty snacks which make people more thirsty.

Something alternative

Have non-alcoholic drinks available and make sure they are just as visible as the alcoholic drinks. Mention them to guests when offering a drink

Appoint a bartender

Have one person dish out and, if possible, measure the drinks. People normally pour themselves larger drinks than they would get in the pub, making it hard to keep check of how much alcohol they?ve had.

Don?t push it

Wait until your quest?s glass is empty before you re-fill it. And if someone says no to a re-fill, don?t insist.

One too many?

What if someone arrives or gets really drunk at your party. What if they try to drive home? Just in case, be prepared:

- Have phone numbers for taxis ready
- Have a designated driver ? someone sober to drive people home
- Make up your spare bed to let someone stay if they need to

None for the road

Put the kettle on and offer some tea or coffee or hot chocolate before guests go home. It won?t sober them up, but it will give a little more time for their bodies to deal with the alcohol they?ve had.

Help and advice

A handy pocket booklet called ?Say When?How Much Is Too Much?? offers suggestions on cutting down and is available by calling Alcohol Concern on 020 7922 8667, Mon to Fri 1-5pm.

If you are worried about your drinking or someone else?s drinking visit www.downyourdrink.org.uk or call Drinkline on 0800 917 8282.

Date: 30 November 2004