It’s Christmas party season, and most of you will be enjoying a good deal of festive cheer. Office parties, however, are not offering the copious amounts of alcohol that they have done in the past, and many of them are avoiding mistletoe too. It’s part of a business initiative to cut back on binge drinking and messy behavior!

Research shows it can be impossible to stop at just one drink, so beware. There are some things you can do to slow down your alcohol consumption,and the main one is to be mindful of your drinking at all times. You can overdo it without realizing, and research shows that heavy drinking can damage the liver and cause depression. The brain contains neurons to let us know when to stop eating and drinking, but alcohol suppresses these neurons.

51% of companies this year are choosing not to serve alcohol, compared to 38% last year.

Drinking a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar before you go out can help. If you have food, and some water too, it will help to soak up the alcohol.

Pace yourself with the number of drinks you have; a glass an hour will be more than enough. Using a straw tends to make you drink faster, so sip from the glass, and put your drink down in between sips.

Healthier drink options mean staying away from sugary drinks, and perhaps opting for vodka or red wine.

Try to avoid drinking shots, as you will get drunk more quickly. Drink plenty of water before, during and after, to stay hydrated and avoid that awful hangover the next day.

75%  to 80% of us suffer from hangovers, and ask yourself is one evening’s drinking worth being ill for the whole of the next day.

Have a fantastic Christmas and a very happy and healthy New Year.