Drinking alcohol often goes hand in hand with the holiday season. Photo: Unsplash/Michael Discenza.
Christmas is a time to eat, drink and be merry, but the amount of grog on the table can be a minefield.
Whether you’ve given up the booze, or you’re worried about how much a loved one is drinking, the many (many) celebratory occasions in the lead-up to Christmas and new year can throw our relationship with alcohol into sharp relief.
It’s not easy to say no to champagne when someone is insisting you have “just one”, and it’s tough to know when – or if – you should say something about how many beers Uncle Jim has had.
The first thing to do is take a deep breath and remember you’re not alone.
Gabi Martinez is a health promotion officer with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Drug and Alcohol Service.
She said the pressure and hype around Christmas could bring up all sorts of difficult feelings – and it could be tempting to push those feelings away with alcohol.
“The ideal of happy families isn’t a reality for most people,” she said.
“Family can be hard work, and people often use alcohol to manage those dynamics.
“Then there are people who are separated or apart from family; it can be really lonely.”
Gabi said alcohol was the number one drug that caused harm in our community, whether it was through health consequences such as cancer, or emotional fallout such as a screaming blue over the Christmas roast.
Despite this, it’s also the most normalised drug in Australia, with TV, billboard and social media promotions ramped up during the holiday period.
If you’re trying to cut down on your consumption, but are uncomfortable with the spotlight that often accompanies choosing not to drink, she said it’s worth flipping the script.
“Cigarettes aren’t normalised anymore but alcohol is,” Gabi said.
“It’s advertised everywhere; you can order it on your phone at any time to be delivered directly to your home immediately.
“Just like no-one has to give a reason for not smoking, you shouldn’t have to give a reason for not drinking.
“It’s no-one’s business, but if you’re pushed, shift the conversation.
“Rather than give an explanation about why you’re not drinking, talk about the fact that alcohol is a carcinogen linked to eight different cancers, including breast, liver and bowel cancer.”
If you’re hosting Christmas this year and you’d like to take the pressure off non-drinkers (and maybe encourage some of the drinkers to apply the brakes too) there are a few strategies you can use.
Provide non-alcoholic drinks that are a bit more grown-up than tap water and fizzy drinks, like non-alcoholic beer, wine or cider.
Even better, make up some mocktails, and encourage people to mix non-alcoholic drinks with their standard fare.
Low-alcohol options are great as well.
Gabi said it was not about stopping people from drinking, but making everyone feel included and slowing the pace a bit.
“Not many people know, but four standard drinks in one session is actually binge drinking,” she said.
“Cocktails especially can be very potent, so it’s a good idea to have low-alcohol options in the mix.”
She encouraged everyone to try to follow the Australian guidelines, which are to drink no more than 10 standard drinks per week, with no more than four in a single session.
In Australia the demographic who drink the most, and are most likely to have a problem with alcohol, are those aged over 55.
If you don’t have a problem with alcohol, but you’re worried about someone you love, Christmas lunch probably isn’t the time to bring it up.
“It’s hard because on one hand in social settings people are often encouraged to drink, but if they drink too much they’re stigmatised,” she said.
“If you’re worried someone has had a bit too much at an event offer them non-alcoholic drinks or a water.
“If you have a close relationship you might pick a quiet time when it’s just the two of you alone to have a conversation, not in the middle of a family event.”
Gabi said it was also not always a safe option to quit cold turkey, especially for long-term drinkers.
“You can go into withdrawal and have seizures,” she said.
“It’s important to get advice, go to see a GP or come and see a drug and alcohol service like ours.”
If you need some support managing your drinking there are a few free support services available.
The NSW Get Healthy Service on 1300 806 258 provides coaching to help you set and achieve your goals.
The 24/7 Alcohol and Drug Information Service provides free counselling at any time on 1800 250 015. Gabi said its counsellors were great for helping to develop strategies around holiday events, or for if you needed a bit of extra support to make it through a party.
The Illawarra Shoalhaven Drug and Alcohol Service is available over the holidays on 1300 652 226 and can also provide support for families and carers of people with a drug or alcohol problem.
