For many, the end of the year includes celebrating the season and enjoying time with family and friends. Sometimes this may include alcohol.

University faculty, staff and retirees who are looking for tips and guidance on how to be more mindful of their drinking choices, or maybe take a break from alcohol, can sign up to receive weekly emails from MHealthy’s Alcohol Management Program.

Every Tuesday, starting Nov. 14 and continuing until just after the start of the new year, participants will receive a “Holiday Stop and Swap” email that includes:

• Tips to help cut down or take a break from alcohol.

• Tools and resources to help reflect on alcohol use.

• Swap challenge that encourages making one positive change each week.

• Non-alcoholic drink recipe of the week.

“Whether you plan on drinking alcohol or want to abstain, one of the best ways to lower your risk is to plan ahead,” says Bethany Lemm, a health educator for the program. “Each weekly email will arm you with tips and resources you can use right away to help lower your risk and then give you an opportunity to reflect on the previous week to see what worked.”

The Centers for Disease Control recommends no more than one alcoholic drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men. For men and women over the age of 65, no more than one alcoholic drink per day.

In the United States, a “standard” drink contains about 14 grams of “pure” alcohol. That’s equivalent to approximately 12 ounces of regular beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80 proof spirits.

Those seeking help with cutting back on drinking alcohol or quitting altogether can get brief, confidential health education and one-on-one counseling through the Alcohol Management Program.

Tags:

• alcohol
• Alcohol Management Program
• MHealthy