Reducing Alcohol Consumption During the Holidays

Data suggests alcohol consumption spikes considerably in the U.S. during the holidays. This article covers those findings and provides advice on how people can reduce or, ideally, eliminate their alcohol consumption during the holidays and beyond.

The holidays are often said to be alcohol’s busiest season. People drink more alcohol during this time of year, which escalates the risk for alcohol-related health problems, addiction relapse, drunk driving, and even alcohol-related deaths.

Research Suggests the Holiday Season Ranks Highest for Alcohol Consumption

According to a 2018 survey of 2,000 Americans conducted by Morning Recovery and published in Beverage Daily:¹

• The average American sees their alcohol intake double during the holiday season (between Thanksgiving and New Year’s).
• About 69% of Americans are more likely to overindulge in alcohol during the holidays than during any other time of year.
• The most popular seasonal alcoholic beverages during the holidays are eggnog, coffee with Baileys, Christmas beer, and cider.
• Americans typically attend one social event per week, but during the holidays, they attend three social events per week, spending an average of $537 on social events per month during the holiday season.
• Americans, on average, consume four alcoholic beverages per week. But during the holidays, they consume an average of eight per week.
• About 36% of survey participants said they noted having “rough mornings” as a result of their alcohol consumption during the holidays and that their consumption notably dampened their holiday spirit.
• The average American is late to work three times during the holidays and calls in sick twice as a result of drinking.

Based on the survey results, not only is it clear Americans drink more during the holidays, but it’s also clear they suffer more from the harmful effects of alcohol during the holidays than they do during other times of the year.

Three Reasons Why People Drink More During the Holidays

There are as many reasons why people drink more during the holidays as there are people who drink. The problem is that consuming alcohol includes harmful side effects, some that manifest in the short term and others that develop over time. Reversing the spike in consumption during the holidays and helping people enjoy a healthier holiday season begins with understanding why people drink more during this time of year.

According to counselor Jeanette Hu, one of the primary reasons why people drink more during the holidays is because it has become culturally and societally accepted to do so. “More and more people have come to believe that alcohol is a vital ingredient of the holiday spirit,” says Hu. “In recent years, alcohol has more and more become an ‘essential’ part of holiday celebrations. Although certain drinks may have been a part of the holiday tradition for centuries, many festival drinks have become a part of the celebration as a result of the billion-dollars-investment of big alcohol companies.” Humans tend to respond to social cues, so a constant nudge of alcohol-related marketing and promotions from alcohol companies could feasibly, if gradually, bring the rate of alcohol consumption up during the holidays.

Despite never addressing the source of stress, people drink more during the holidays to cope with the stress of the season. “The stress related to holiday time is another reason people fantasize about or gulp down more liquor this time of the year,” says Hu. “Social gatherings and family reunions leave many people feeling tense and exhausted. Many people count on the wine to help them get through the evening.” However, Hu also points out that alcohol doesn’t actually help people address and overcome the source of their stress, and they often end up feeling more stressed afterward, as they are attempting to avoid or cover up stress with alcohol rather than tackling it at its source.

Finally, people often increase their alcohol consumption during the holidays because they feel depressed or sad. The “holiday blues” result from missing certain loved ones who are not present or digging up old grievances with those who are present. People cite the holiday blues as a reason for drinking more alcohol, yet 64% of survey participants say alcohol consumption worsens their mental health symptoms, as opposed to improving them.

Strategies for Curbing Alcohol Consumption During the Holidays

According to Dr. George F. Koob, the Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol sales are at their highest between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. As alcohol sales rise, so does consumption, yet drinking often, whether to excess or “in moderation,” puts one at risk for unwanted side effects. Further, millions of Americans who are in recovery from alcohol addiction must not drink at all during the holidays despite added stressors and risk factors for relapse.²

“Even a short-term increase in alcohol use can have adverse health effects, including changes in blood sugar control and blood pressure…”

Notably, even for those who are not addicted to alcohol, increasing one’s alcohol consumption in the short term (during the holidays) puts people at risk for unwanted and harmful health effects. “Even a short-term increase in alcohol use can have adverse health effects, including changes in blood sugar control and blood pressure,” says Dr. Elizabeth Ko. “It can also lead to changes to mood and mental health, lowered resistance to risky behaviors, increased risk of trips or falls, and dangerous driving. Statistics show that during the winter holidays, the chances of being involved in an alcohol-related crash increase.” Depending on how much one drinks during the holidays, they could suffer from alcohol poisoning and require emergency medical services.

Thankfully, there are ways people can reduce or eliminate their alcohol consumption during the holidays:

• Craft a plan. People who go into the holidays with a plan for how they will avoid alcohol are more likely to succeed. Whether creating a strategy to have other fun and interesting beverages on hand or avoiding places where alcohol is consumed to excess, creating a step-by-step plan sets one on the right path for a healthy and sober holiday.

• Avoid peer pressure. Peer pressure is harmful and deleterious, and it is often the culprit that leads people to consume alcohol when they do not want to. “Get your nonalcoholic drink served in a wine glass or a flute, and you can head off uncomfortable conversations,” says Dr. Ko. “Offers of more alcohol may come your way, so it’s also a good idea to prepare a gracious or funny way to refuse.” It also helps to inform people that one intends not to drink. That way, peer pressure may be halted before it even begins.³

• Enlist the help of an “accountabilibuddy.” It is also helpful to implement the buddy system in one’s strategy for reducing alcohol consumption during the holidays. That can be as simple as finding a family member, friend, or loved one who does not want to drink and bringing them to family gatherings, work parties, social outings, and holiday events.

The Need for Treatment for Those Addicted

Unfortunately, the holidays represent the time of year when people who are in recovery from alcohol addiction are most likely to relapse. For those who have suffered from alcohol addiction in the past, there is no safe amount of drinking they can engage in. If they relapse during the holidays, they need to immediately seek help at a qualified residential alcohol addiction treatment center.

Sources: