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In
the Spotlight
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| December
30, 1999 |
Drinking
and Driving: Ringing in the New Year Safely
By
Thomas Booth MD, MS
V.P., Medical Affairs, PersonalMD.com Editor-in-Chief
Diane
Schweisguth, RN, BSN
Editor,
PersonalMD.com
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Its
the New Year - The New Millennium. There are parties and celebrations
galore! You want to celebrate, but can you celebrate safely
and still have fun? Most adults can drink a moderate amount
of alcohol up to two drinks per day for men, and one drink
per day for women and older adults and avoid alcohol-related
problems. So, whether you are hosting a party, or you are a
guest, keep these simple, but safe tips about drinking and driving
in mind:
| One
drink = 5 oz of 12% wine, OR |
| One
drink= 12 oz of 5% beer, OR |
| One
drink= 1.5 oz of 80 proof liquor |
Be
a Responsible Host
-
Dont
serve alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. ·Have non-alcoholic
drinks available.
-
Ask
who is the designated driver and make that person feel special.
-
Serve
food whenever serving alcohol. Foods that are high in protein
or carbohydrates, such as cheeses and meats, stay in the stomach
longer. This slows the rate at which the body absorbs alcohol.
-
Dont
force drinks on your guests or rush to refill their glasses
when empty. Engage them in conversation instead.
-
If
youre serving an alcoholic punch, use a non-carbonated base
such as fruit juice or eggnog rather than a carbonated base
as the body absorbs alcohol faster when mixed with carbonation.
-
When
you take their coats, take their keys too.
-
Close
the bar or stop serving alcoholic beverages about two hours
before the party is over. Guests then have time for their
bodies to absorb the alcohol consumed. Serve coffee or other
non-alcoholic beverages then. However, remember that neither
coffee nor a cold shower will help sober someone up. Only
time can do that.
-
Dont
let your guests drive after drinking. If one of your guests
has had too much to drink , be a friend, not a buddy. Dont
give him or her their car keys. Call a taxi and pay for it
yourself; its difficult to object to a free ride. You may
also arrange to have another guest drive him or her home,
or have them stay overnight. Whatever you do, dont give in.
Friends dont let friends drink and drive!
-
Dont
drink if you are under the age of 21.
-
Offer
to be the designated driver, and drink only non-alcoholic
beverages.
-
Eat
foods that are high in protein or carbohydrates if you are
drinking alcohol.
-
If
another guest is having too much to drink, engage them in
conversation to help slow their rate of drinking.
-
Stop
drinking alcoholic beverages about two hours before the party
is over. Your body will then have time to absorb the alcohol
you have consumed.
-
Be
a friend. If another guest has had too much to drink, help
your host not let them drive. Offer to drive them home. Whatever
you do, dont give in. Friends dont let friends drink and
drive!
What
is the difference between alcoholism and alcohol abuse?
 So,
you enjoy drinking a glass of wine, or having a bottle of beer,
but how do you know when you might have an alcohol problem?
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
(NIAAA), nearly 14 million Americans, 1 in every 13 adults,
abuse alcohol or are alcoholic. More men than women are alcohol-dependent
or experience alcohol-related problems and the rates of alcohol
problems are highest among young adults age 18 to 29.
Alcoholism,
or alcohol dependence syndrome, is a disease. Its characterized
by the following:
-
Craving:
a strong need, or compulsion, to drink
-
Loss
of control: the frequent inability to stop drinking once a
person has begun.
-
Physical
dependence: the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms, such as
nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety, when alcohol use
is stopped after a period of heavy drinking. These symptoms
are usually relieved by drinking alcohol or by taking another
sedative drug.
-
Tolerance:
the need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to get
high.
Alcoholism
has little to do with what kind of alcohol one drinks, how long
one has been drinking, or even exactly how much alcohol one
consumes. But it has a great deal to do with a persons uncontrollable
need for alcohol.
Alcohol
abuse on the other hand, differs from alcoholism in that is
does not include an extremely strong craving for alcohol, loss
of control, or physical dependence, and is less likely to include
tolerance. Alcohol abuse is defined as a pattern of drinking
that is accompanied by one or more of the following situations
within a 12-month period:
-
Failure
to fulfill major work, school, or home responsibilities.
-
Drinking
in situations that are physically dangerous, such as while
driving a car or operating machinery.
-
Recurring
alcohol-related legal problems, such as being arrested for
driving under the influence of alcohol or for physically hurting
someone while drunk.
-
Continued
drinking despite having ongoing relationship problems that
are caused or worsened by the effects of alcohol.
| Do
You or Someone You Know Have an Alcohol Problem? |
| To
find out, answer the questions that were developed by Dr.
John Ewing. Note that the first letter of a key word in
each question spells "CAGE." |
- Have
you ever felt you should Cut down on your drinking?
- Have
people Annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
- Have
you ever felt bad or Guilty about your drinking?
- Have
you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady
your nerves or to get rid of a hangover (Eye opener)?
|
| A
yes answer to even one question suggests a possible alcohol
problem. One "yes" answer suggests a possible alcohol problem.
More than one "yes" answer means its highly likely that
a problem exists. |
If
you think that you or someone you know has an alcohol problem,
get help. See your doctor or other health care provider right
away. There are treatments available, as well as counseling
and support groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA).
During this time of celebration and the welcoming in of the
New Year and New Millennium, enjoy and have fun just do it
safely!
HAPPY
NEW YEAR!
Reference:
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
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