HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – The holidays are the season to be merry and enjoy food and drinks with family and friends. However, sometimes spirits can get too bright.
Centered on festive meals and cocktails, the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day are among the most high-risk periods for alcohol-related incidents annually. Base and local officials urge everyone to drink responsibly.
According to Own Your Limits, the official responsible drinking campaign of the Department of Defense, responsible drinking means knowing your alcohol limits and sticking to them. That means staying within not just legal limits, but personal limits too.
Additionally, it means having control over how much alcohol you drink to protect yourself and those around you.
In 2004, officials from Francis E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, developed a formula to encourage responsible drinking, minimize alcohol-related risks and keep people within their limits. The formula, 0-0-1-3, means zero underage drinking, zero drinks if driving, no more than one standard drink per hour, and no more than three drinks per occasion.
The 0-0-1-3 rule helps eliminate the risk of driving while intoxicated and potential binge drinking while allowing those who choose to consume alcohol a guideline to enjoy holiday festivities.
Beer, wine and liquor all contain different amounts of alcohol, so a standard drink of each can seem very different. A “standard drink” is considered:
• 12 ounces of beer (5 percent alcohol)
• 8 ounces of malt liquor (7 percent alcohol)
• 5 ounces of wine (12 percent alcohol)
• 1.5 ounces, or a “shot,” of 80-proof (40 percent alcohol) spirits or liquor
If the holiday stress becomes too much, or other issues such as financial, family, relationships, mental, etc., seem linked to your drinking, help is always available.
• Military One Source 800-342-9647
• Hanscom Mental Health/ADAPT 781-225-6392
• Employee Assistance Program 866-580-9078 / www.afpc.af.mil/EAP
• Wingman Advocates 801-777-2255
• VA/DoD Crisis line 800-273-TALK
• Alcoholics Anonymous 888-459-5511
For more information on responsible drinking visit www.ownyourlimits.org/.