Student Union Campaigns: 12 Days of Christmas…Staying Safe Day 10 – Drinkaware

Most of us like a good drink at Christmas. But we also need to know how much too much is, and when to stop. Drinkaware is a great website, where you can get lots of information and calculate how much is too much for you.

There is a Unit and Calorie calculator and a Drinking Assessment.
Here is 9 practical tips to avoid seasonal excessive drinking, from off of their website:  /https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/make-a-change/stay-on-track/9-practical-tips-to-avoid-seasonal-excess

1. Understand what’s in your glass
The best way to avoid excess to drink within the government’s lower risk daily guidelines of 2-3 units for women, 3-4 for men.
But understanding what’s in your favourite Christmas drinks can be difficult. Seasonal drinks can have a surprisingly high unit and calorie content. A 175ml glass of mulled wine contains around 2.3 units and 134 calories.

2. Downsize your drinks
If you’re a beer drinker order a half instead of a pint. Rather than a large 250ml glass of wine, opt for a smaller 175ml or 125ml glass.
The amount of units in a glass of wine varies depending on the size of the glass. An average 125ml glass of wine would be around 1.5 units, but a 250ml glass could be over 3 units. So, just one large glass and you’ve already drunk the equivalent of the government’s lower risk guidelines

3. Try low alcohol or alcohol-free wine
The alcohol content in normal wine ranges from 9 to 16%; however, lower alcohol and no alcohol wines are readily available. Have a look next time you’re in the supermarket.

4. Don’t drink on an empty stomach
A healthy meal before you go out, and snacks between drinks can help to slow down the absorption of alcohol, helping you stay in control. It’s best to eat before or during your work drinks. Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach means the alcohol is absorbed into your system quicker. That’s why missing dinner when going straight out from work is one of the main reasons after work drinks can get so messy.

5. Avoid getting into buying ‘rounds’
Drinking in rounds may be a British tradition, but they can be expensive, dangerous if it means keeping pace with the fastest drinker in your group and a nightmare if you’re trying to cut down on alcohol. Try giving them a miss, or if you want to drink in rounds opt for smaller one with only a couple of friends.

6. Control your home measures
If you’re planning on having a drink at home this Christmas, invest in a spirit measure. Normal pub measures are 25ml, which doesn’t look that much in a glass. Free-pour at home and you’re likely to lose track of how much goes in the glass.

7. Use a bottle stopper
Open a bottle of wine at home and you can feel obliged to finish off the bottle. Buy a bottle stop and your wine will stay fresh for a couple of days. You can finish it later or use leftovers in cooking. Alternatively use an ice cube tray to freeze leftover wine which can then be used as an instant ingredient to flavour your cooking for weeks to come.

8. Resist the top-up temptation
Top up your glass before it’s empty and you’ll quickly lose track of how much you’ve had. Avoid this by only topping up your glass when it’s empty.

9. Have a soft drink or water
Sipping a soft drink between alcoholic drinks will slow down the rate of your drinking. Try a non-alcoholic mocktail, soft drink or glass of water. If you’re starting out early, have soft drinks for the first couple of hours before you start on the alcohol. If it’s nearing the end of the night move onto water so you consume less units.

Thank you for reading,
Have a safe/fun Christmas.

Emily (Campaign Officer)