Alcohol Consumption Recommendations
If you are the average adult you probably have alcoholic drinks from time to time. Drinking alcohol is seen as a very social thing to do. Many of us don’t realize it but we are probably drinking far too much and don’t really realize it. As we drink we tend to forget just how much we have had.
Here is what the average man and woman should have in one day:
- Men 2 drinks per day (14g)
- Women 1 drink per day (14g)
These numbers seem pretty normally and you might make the excuse that if you can have one drink per day that you can save up seven days and drink seven drinks at one party and still consider it normal. It’s recommended that people have no more than a couple of drinks at any one sitting and often its better rot have less per day or through the week. Here are the standard sizes you should be thinking of.
- 5 fluid ounce of wine or 100 calories
- 12 fluid ounce of normal beer or 150 calories
- 1.5 ounce of spirits or 100 calories
These are every small drinks and this is the recommended daily serving of these beverages. The more you drink the worse your impairment will become. It’s simply not safe to drink anything over this amount if you’re going to be driving a motor vehicle after you leave a party or a gathering. Here’s some ways you can enjoy a gathering with a drink but still do so in a safe manner.
Drink Water
Start the party of gathering by drinking plain ice water. Having plenty of water in your system is going to dilute any alcohol you have in your system. If you have a beer for example you should have two glasses of water afterwards to reduce how the alcohol impacts you after you drink. By drinking water you’ll naturally reduce the number of alcoholic beverages you consume in a night. Try to limit your alcohol consumption to one or at the most two drinks during the evening. At the table have water at your side along with your drink and sip the alcoholic drink while having water at the same time. You’ll drink less alcohol and stay hydrated
Eat Food While You Drink
Your alcoholic beverage should be consumed with your meal. The food will fill you up and reduce how the alcohol impacts your system. Keep eating through the night and reduce your alcohol consumption in the process. Make the meal and the conversation the main event not the drinks. When someone offers you another drink decline and ask for water instead.
Other Beverages
Tea, coffee, fizzy drinks, fruit juices, and other beverages can replace an alcoholic drink at a party. Once you have had your alcoholic drink then you can switch to the other beverage or just your water so you drink less alcohol. You can also buy non-alcoholic beer and wine which are suitable for parties.
Dilute Your Drinks
Another way you can enjoy alcohol but reduce your consumption to safe levels is to dilute your drinks. For example some fruit juice and carbonation can be added to wine while ginger ale can be added to beer to dilute the beverage and make it safe for you to drink. Drinking alcoholic beverages this way doesn’t mean you can have a ton of them but you can spread out your consumption over a longer period and get less alcohol into your system.
Reduced Alcohol Beverages
Consider using light beer or the alcoholic beverages with reduced alcohol content. This will allow you to enjoy your beverage but not put too much alcohol in your system. There are many products on the market with reduced alcohol which are perfect.
Watch your Consumption
It’s important to follow the recommended guidelines for alcohol consumption. It’s too easy to drink too much and this can lead to abuse and alcohol dependency. Watch how much you drink and consider alternatives to reduce your consumption to safe levels. If you feel you can’t handle your alcohol or have problems with it, there are places where you can go for help.
Change Your Life With Alcohol
You can learn how to moderate or give up alcohol using the Give Up Alcohol Course we have developed and offered since 2007.