As we gather with friends and loved ones during the holiday season, drinking alcohol may be on the menu. Oregon Health Authority’s Rethink the Drink initiative encourages us to find ways to enjoy the season safely.  

Alcohol ads and marketing can seem to be everywhere   

Many of us cross the line into drinking too much, partly because society makes it easy. We know the holidays are a time when we’re all exposed to more alcohol advertising.  

Rethink the Drink is not telling people to quit drinking. Rather, the initiative asks people living in Oregon to start a conversation about drinking alcohol and consider how it affects our daily lives and the communities where we live.  

People may drink more than they think  

The number of Oregon adults who drink excessively is more than 1 in 5. Most people in this group are not affected by alcoholism or an alcohol use disorder. There are two kinds of excessive drinking:   

• Binge drinking is when a man has 5 or more drinks in one setting or occasion. For women, it’s 4 or more drinks.   

• Heavy drinking, the kind that can harm your health long-term, is 15 drinks or more a week for a man. For a woman, it’s 8 or more drinks.    

Some surprising health harms  

Many people may have heard that alcohol use is connected to liver disease. But excessive alcohol use can lead to cancers, heart disease, depression, crime, domestic violence, vehicle crashes and other health harms. For some types of cancer, most notably breast cancer, consuming even small amounts of alcohol can increase risk.   

Stay safe when you travel 

When we attend and host celebrations or events where alcohol may be present, it can be easy to drink more than we intend to.  

If you’re driving, it’s critical that you be sober and clear-headed. Across the U.S. and in Oregon, alcohol is involved in more than one-third of motor vehicle crashes. If you do intend to drink, make a plan ahead of time so you can get to and from your event safely. That could mean having a designated driver or taking a rideshare service. It can also include counting your drinks, setting a limit and considering non-alcoholic alternatives.    

Helpful resources  

There are several great resources at RethinkTheDrink.com to help people who want to drink less, or to support individuals or their loved ones who have an alcohol use disorder. You can also find Rethink the Drink on Facebook and Instagram.