It IS possible to enjoy yourself during the holidays without indulging in alcohol. Think how much better you’ll feel when you don’t have a hangover. The benefits are numerous:
- You’ll save calories.
- You’ll have uninterrupted sleep.
- You’ll be sharper when you drive home from a party and be more aware of hazards on the road.
So you don’t get sucked up by pressure to “eat, drink, and be merry” by your cronies, have a plan BEFORE you go to a party.
- Tell them you’re on a diet.
- Bring your own beverage such as a non-alcoholic beer. There are hemp-infused drinks that can give you energy throughout the day but won’t get you high.
- If you feel self-conscious about not drinking, you can substitute the following:
- A diluted drink made with cranberry juice can pass as a cosmopolitan, especially if mixed in a martini glass. A seltzer or sparkling water with a lime could pass as a vodka drink.
The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025, of legal age suggest no more than 3 drinks a day for men, and 2 for women. During the Covid epidemic, women, in particular, drank more and research showed that they consequently developed fatty liver disease.
Have you ever thought if you need a drink to enjoy yourself at a party, perhaps you’re at the wrong venue?
Wesley Cullen Davidson
Wesley Cullen Davidson is an award-winning freelance writer and journalist specializing in parenting. Currently, she is targeting her writing about recovery to parents whose children have substance abuse disorders.