A glass of wine with dinner at your family celebration. A couple of cocktails at your work holiday party. A shared bottle of champagne on New Year’s Eve.
They can all be party of a festive and social holiday season (for those who have not previously struggled with addiction, of course).
It’s when two or three drinks turns into five or six that you begin to compromise your health and also increase your risk of addiction.
True low risk drinking, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, is no more than three drinks on any single day and no more than seven drinks per week for women, and no more than four drinks on any single day and no more than 14 drinks per week for men.
What does that equate to?
For women, it looks something like two parties where you have a maximum of three drinks, as well as maybe a glass of Baileys by the fireplace on Christmas Eve.
For men, it’s more like two parties where you have four drinks each, a football game with friends and a few bears, as well as that glass of Baileys with your wife.
Let’s face it: Drinking can be fun and social. But it also kills an estimated 88,000 Americans a year, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Everyone who drinks owes it to themselves—and their loved ones—to set limits. That means coming up with a plan for the holidays and sticking to it.
When Drinking During the Holidays Goes Too Far
The truth is that, despite our best intentions, many of us overindulge during the holidays. For some, that means too many cookies. But for many of us, it means too many days of too much drinking.
Once that has happened, you have two choices. You can keep going with the “good times” and foggy mornings. Or you can get back on track with your low risk drinking plan.
If you can’t control your drinking, that’s a sign that you may have crossed the line and should consider seeking professional help.
Denver Alcohol Rehab and The Raleigh House
The Raleigh House takes a whole-person approach to recovery. That means we don’t just get the alcohol out of your system. We work with you to help you recover psychologically, mentally, spiritually and socially as well. Recover isn’t about giving something up; it’s about getting your life back. Fill out our form or contact us today to learn more about the alcohol addiction treatment program at The Raleigh House.
