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5 Tips to Stay Safe During the Holidays
It’s the time of year especially set aside for families to come together and spend time with those who are only able to see each other once every year. But the holidays aren’t just about family, they’re about fun too! Alcohol and the Holidays are two things that go better together than apple pie and ice cream, well at least that’s the mentality your aunt (three times removed) has while she lurks by the wet bar. Although this is a time to relax and enjoy the time spent with family, safety is by far the most important aspect of any holiday get-together whenever alcohol is involved. Here are 5 tips that can help you and your loved ones stay safe this holiday season.
- Plan an Accommodation Ahead of the Party
Any individual that chooses to partake in drinking, regardless of the amount, should not be operating a vehicle. This not only puts their life in danger, but others as well. Before heading to a party, figure out how you are going to get there and get back. This will help to relieve the stress about who’s driving home and to maximize enjoyment at the party. Call your Executive Ground Transportation Company prior to going out. If you cannot find a ride with a friend, ride-share companies like Uber and Lyft are widespread across the United States in addition to traditional taxi service. If that isn’t an option, just crash! Chances are, the who person invited you over in the first place won’t mind you staying over until the morning if that ensures your safety.
- If you See Something, Say something.
No matter how many precautionary measures you take as a host or attendee, there will always be one individual who tries to drive themselves home when they clearly are not able to. If you see a person attempt to grab their keys STOP THEM. “I’ve only had a couple of drinks I’m good to drive,” is a line we often hear tossed around at holiday functions too frequently. Regardless if it’s one drink or a couple (or multiple followed by an entire bottle), don’t let your loved ones behind the wheel. A taxi fare is nothing compared to the consequences that come with getting behind the wheel after drinking.
- Eat!
Drinking on an empty stomach is a recipe for disaster, or maybe a recipe for the perfect night depending on the type of person you are? (only kidding) For those who want to remember their night, proper hydration and eating a substantial meal will help you stay safer while partaking in your holiday festivities and remedy that nasty hangover the next day. It’s not going to eliminate the hangover completely, but it’ll help to limit its severity. So, fill up before you drink up! You’ll thank yourself later.
- It’s a Marathon, “NOT” a Sprint.
One thing many fail to do when indulging with alcohol is to pace themselves. Yeah, I know that as the night goes on, it gets exponentially harder to listen to your cousin’s stories about their honeymoon to Fiji without going for the entire bottle of prosecco on the dinner table, but trust me, pacing yourself will prevent you from overindulging. The key is drinking smart, not fast. By consuming your alcohol at a moderate pace, your body gets a chance to absorb the alcohol at a slower and more safe space. Additionally, it helps to go slow because if you go too fast, you might end up hugging the porcelain thrown instead of hugging the relatives’ goodbye.
- Enjoy Yourself!
For many, the holidays bring about a sense of anxiety rather than joy. It’s important that you put yourself first. Don’t feel pressured to drink at any engagement if you don’t want to. That extra stress could result in your putting yourself or others in harm’s way and that’s no fun at all.
Aim to destress, not to impress. If that means not overbooking yourself or taking a couple of days to spend alone to catch up on sleep, do it! It’ll help you to keep yourself calm and collected, and more importantly, ready to beat the buzz.
