Minimizing your alcohol intake at office holiday parties and industry events is always a good idea.
Advantages… It keeps you and others safe. You stay sharper and perhaps learn more. It reduces the chances of “I love you, (wo)Man” moments. And generally minimizes the chance of becoming company or industry folklore for years to come.
If you have an entertainment situation where you’d prefer not to avoid alcohol altogether, consider…
- Slowing your pace of drinking
- Alternating your drink with seltzer, club soda or water throughout the event
- Eating more food throughout the event
- Consuming drinks or beer with less alcohol
- All of the above
Alcohol quick facts
- Generally… one 12-ounce beer = one 5-ounce glass of wine = 1.5 ounces of liquor (80 proof)
- Wine usually has an alcohol content of 12 – 16%
- Beer in most cases, has an alcohol content of 3.2 – 7% (although can be higher)
- Mixed drinks can often contain more than 1.5 ounces of liquor depending on the “pour”
- As little as 1 – 2 drinks in one hour can impair an individual’s ability to drive and think clearly (depending on weight and alcohol content)
- Only time can sober up someone
- In all U.S. states, driving a car with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or more is illegal (.10 is the old limit)
Christopher Jarrell says:
Or, if you prefer, stick with water or coffee. Years ago I attended an event where I met a local financial service rep from a popular fnational firm. Alchohol was served, but he was holding a glass of ice water. To me, it quietly stated “professionalism and focus.”
Sometimes, abstaining from hard drinks at the event makes a lasting statement. It did in this case.
3 December 2010