December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, which “drives home” the message that driving impaired too often leads to deadly consequences. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that 210 people died just in the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day in 2019 in alcohol-impaired crashes, and 10,000 throughout the year. That annual total climbed 14% higher the following year to 11,654. Whether you are hosting a celebration or enjoying one as a guest, consider some of these helpful tips and pieces of advice to keep you and your fellow partygoers safe, without dampening the merriment!

Offer Thoughtful and Inclusive Drink Options

If you’re hosting a celebration, make sure you have plenty of non-alcoholic options available – not just for designated drivers and non-drinkers, but also as a courtesy for health-conscious, recovering, and underage guests. Take a few moments to explore some fun, creative options that are easy to make, likely to appeal to a number of palates, and make those guests feel like part of the celebration, without the dangers of impairment. Some examples of appealing “mocktails” include:

• Pomegranate soda, which is fresh pomegranate juice with club soda and sugar, topped with a maraschino cherry.
• Mulled cranberry cocktail.
• Ciders: Apple pie, cranberry, and mulled.
• Hot chocolate – plain and peppermint.
• Non-alcoholic eggnog.

Don’t Fall Prey to Common Drinking Myths

Alcohol won’t keep you warm, beer isn’t harmless, and eating, taking a cold shower or drinking black coffee will not “sober” you up. Eating prior to drinking can delay absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream, but be aware that drinking can also slow digestion and lead one to eating more than they otherwise would. Also, alcohol is high in calories, which can cause your body to store calories from food as fat, leading to weight gain.

Be Mindful of Mental Health

The holidays don’t always mean merriment for everyone, even among your guests. Private and personal losses and struggles with year-round depression can appear magnified during the holidays. It can be tempting – particularly in the presence of others’ joy – to “disguise” those feelings with drinking. However, alcohol is a depressant, not a stimulant. Losing inhibitions is not a sign of joy – it’s a chemical reaction alcohol creates in the cerebral cortex of the brain.

If you have recently experienced loss and have concerns about the holidays, or simply can’t put your finger on why you’re feeling uneasy about the season, remember that your Transocean EAP benefits are available for times like these. It’s free and confidential, and you can log in any time here (access code RIG). There are also a number of other tools and resources available to you in the Healthy Mind section of My Journey.

Transocean wishes you and your circle of family and friends a celebratory, memorable, and safe holiday season!