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The most merry time of year leads to increased alcohol use

By Joanie Dugan

Posted December 21, 2023

Drinking tends to increase during the holidays with social events, but also from holiday anxiety. (TerriC / Pixabay)

When it comes to holidays, alcohol is almost always part of the festivities.

So, it’s no surprise drinking tends to increase during the holidays. But for some, increased alcohol use can cause more problems than holiday joy.

“The holidays are a stressful time in general, because we have a lot of activities that we are doing and a lot of things that we need to check off on our to-do list,” said Julia Chester, a professor of psychological sciences at Purdue University. “So, that can cause a physiological reaction in the body where we have stress activation and that can lead to a craving for alcohol.”

Social expectations can also lead to increased drinking, either from pressure to socialize with a drink in hand or general anxiety around holiday get-togethers. Having a few drinks might feel like it’s taking the edge off, but Chester said it might actually be more harmful than helpful.

“It can actually exacerbate anxiety, because initially, it may feel good, but then the anxiety and stress activation is worse the next day, and then that can turn into a continuous cycle,” she said.

Alcohol affects coordination, memory and social awareness. Over-consumption can lead to uncomfortable situations.

“A general danger is that alcohol can cause problems with interpersonal relationships,” Chester said. “And oftentimes the holidays is a time anyway when we may be visiting family members and have strained relations, and so that aspect of alcohol is important to consider that oftentimes we may make decisions that we regret later.”

Chester said increased drinking isn’t only a concern for those who struggle with addiction. Casual drinkers should also be aware of the risks that heavy alcohol use poses.

“Oftentimes, it’s during the times when we’re drinking a lot of alcohol that sets us on the path towards a cycle of heavy drinking that may lead someone to develop an alcohol use disorder,” she said.

But it doesn’t mean you need to stop drinking entirely. It is possible to enjoy alcohol in a safe way.

Chester said to pace yourself and avoid binge drinking.

The Center for Disease Control defines binge drinking for women as drinking four or more standard drinks during a single occasion. For men, it’s five. A standard drink contains .6 ounces of pure alcohol.

Chester said part of the problem is not understanding what a “standard drink” is. Restaurants, for example, may serve one drink that contains enough alcohol to count as two by the CDC’s standards.

She recommends drinking water between alcoholic drinks, or to opt for another non-alcoholic beverage. Non-alcoholic drinks are becoming more popular, so you can still treat yourself with a fancy mocktail or sparkly beverage to satisfy your holiday spirit.