By Donal O'Grady for the Leitrim Observer | December 20, 2022
Drinkaware, the national charity working to prevent and reduce alcohol misuse wants to support the public with tips and advice on how to host a merry and mindful Christmas gathering.
Are you planning on hosting a Christmas party? The Drinkaware annual Barometer for 2022 found that:
35% of adults who drink have made small positive changes in their drinking habits.
30% of adults who drink want to drink less.
Additionally, the Drinkaware Drinks Calculator has had over 320,000 visits this year.
Visits to the Drinkaware ‘Explore Sober Curious & Mindful Drinking’ webpage have increased by over 140% this year, and in September the sold-out public webinar on ‘Mindful Drinking and Mental Health’ produced by the charity proved popular with the public.
It’s clear that more and more people in Ireland are wanting to explore sober-curious and mindful drinking and to feel the benefits of drinking less firsthand.
Drinkaware is encouraging the public to be mindful this festive season, with a merry yet mindful festive gathering this Christmas.
If you’re hosting a Christmas get together this month, Drinkaware has some tips for event hosting to ensure you and your guests have an enjoyable, festive and mindful time.
Prepare with Drinkaware’s top tips for event hosting this Christmas:
Serve food:
From mince pies to gingerbread men, don’t forget to keep the Christmas snacks replenished! Eating while drinking alcohol helps to slow down how much you drink, but also slows down how quickly alcohol is absorbed into your body. Your guests won’t feel the impact of the alcohol as quickly as they would if they were drinking and not eating.
Accurate measuring:
Free-pouring drinks can lead to drinking above the HSE low-risk guidelines for alcohol. The guidelines state that men should have no more than 17 and women no more than 11 standard drinks a week and these should be spread out over the week with two alcohol-free days. You can order a free measuring cup from drinkaware.ie to help your guests keep track of what they drink or use whatever you have on hand at home.
Non-Alcoholic:
An increasing number of your favorite drinks have a non-alcoholic alternative. Get the taste without the alcohol and offer these drinks at your party! They’re becoming more popular than ever.
Read full article: https://www.leitrimobserver.ie/news/home/992448/its-the-most-wonderful-time-of-the-year-to-practice-mindful-drinking.html