Celebrate the holidays sober!
Here are some things you can do during the holidays without drinking.
Make Mocktails
Mocktails are versions of beverages that don’t contain alcohol. The Hudson County Coalition posts different mocktail recipes on their Instagram every Monday!
Cookie Challenge
Have a cookie decorating competition with your friends and family! The best part about this is the delicious treat when its all over.
Paint Party
Get around the table or on video chat with family to follow an online painting tutorial or create whatever your heart desires! Spending time with loved ones, even virtually, can be a great time!
Talk to Someone
If you are struggling this holiday season, reach out to a trusted person and let them know how you feel. Expressing your feelings and getting help can be a great relief.
In 2019, 25.8 percent of people ages 18 or older reported that they engaged in binge drinking in the past month; 6.3 percent reported that they engaged in heavy alcohol use in the past month.
*SAMHSA 2019
#BeforeYouPour
Excessive alcohol use negatively impacts our society in a myriad of ways. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism causes major damage at the individual, family and community levels. Nearly 88,000 people (approximately 62,000 men and 26,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually and alcohol misuse costs the U.S. an estimated $259 billion. Thanks to research funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), we know more about alcohol and its impacts than ever before.
Economic Burden
In 2010, alcohol misuse cost the United States $249.0 billion. Three-quarters of the total cost of alcohol misuse is related to binge drinking.
Global Burden
In 2014, the World Health Organization reported that alcohol contributed to more than 200 diseases and injury-related health conditions. In 2012, 5.1% of the burden of disease and injury worldwide was attributable to alcohol consumption.
Family Consequences
More than 10 percent of U.S. children live with a parent with alcohol problems, according to a 2012 study.
Underage Drinking
Research indicates that alcohol use during the teenage years could interfere with normal adolescent brain development and increase the risk of developing AUD. In addition, underage drinking contributes to a range of acute consequences, including injuries, sexual assaults, and even deaths—including those from car crashes.
Alcohol & Pregnancy
The prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) in the United States was estimated by the Institute of Medicine in 1996 to be between 0.5 and 3.0 cases per 1,000. More recent reports from specific U.S. sites report the prevalence of FAS to be 2 to 7 cases per 1,000, and the prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) to be as high as 20 to 50 cases per 1,000.
Health Effects
Drinking alcohol increases the risk of cancers of the mouth, esophagus, pharynx, larynx, liver, and breast. In 2015, of the 78,529 liver disease deaths among individuals ages 12 and older, 47.0 percent involved alcohol. Among males, 49,695 liver disease deaths occurred and 49.5 percent involved alcohol. Among females, 28,834 liver disease deaths occurred and 43.5 percent involved alcohol.