Safer and More Inclusive Celebrations
While many of us look forward to celebrating the New Year and other holidays, it is important to be mindful of increased risks this time of year, including impaired driving and underage substance use. During the holiday season, alcohol consumption rises as many activities center around alcoholic beverages, and some turn to alcohol or other substances to navigate holiday challenges such as loneliness, stress, or challenging family dynamics. This can make participating in celebrations especially hard for those working on cutting down or avoiding drinking.
We can all play a role in contributing to a joyful and safe holiday for our friends, family, and community members. Make sure you offer plenty of alcohol and drug-free drink and food options when you are hosting. This is a great way to disassociate celebrations from just about alcohol consumption and make it more fun for the teens and young adults we care about.
Check out these tips for finding a spirit-free cocktail
Our friends at the Howard Center have put together a few quick tips for celebrating sober:
Plan Ahead: Anticipate potentially stressful or triggering situations and develop a strategy to navigate them.
Choose Substance-Free Activities: Spend time with friends and family in settings that focus on connection rather than alcohol or drug use.
Take Care of Body and Mind: Get enough rest, eat well, and prioritize movement to maintain emotional and physical well-being.
Have a Support System: Surround yourself with people who support your choice to celebrate sober.
For some, the holidays can be a time of stress or added triggers ranging from increased socializing or challenging family dynamics. For LGBTQ+ people, this can be even more pronounced in families where queer and trans identities are not respected. Unsupportive families and environments are a strong driver of increased tobacco and alcohol use amongst LGBTQ+ individuals.
Outright Vermont’s Holiday Survival Guide
If you plan on drinking out this New Year's Eve, check out this Vermont attorney who offers ride reimbursement of up to $50 to help improve Vermont road safety. No DWI Sober Holiday Rides Initiative: Sabbeth Law. Please direct all questions about the reimbursement program directly through their website.
Every glass of wine, beer, or cocktail adds up. Each drink puts you at risk for over 200 health conditions, including heart issues, stroke, high blood pressure, dementia, and many cancers. But consistently having one less can go a long way to reducing your risk.
Drinking less alcohol, either on an occasion or over time, can have positive effects on your health, quality of life and safety. Learn more about the health benefits of reducing our alcohol consumption by visiting One Less, by the Vermont Department of Health.
If you have quit using alcohol and/or tobacco or you want to quit and anticipate you will encounter triggers or added stress this time of year, you are not alone, and there is help available. Vermont offers tons of free supports that are just a text or call away.
Find out what’s available at VTHelpLink
Check out our Resource Hub’s Get Help Section
Learn what’s new with FREE tobacco quit support for Vermonters.
What Do We Know About the Impact of Letting Kids Drink at Home?
Most underage drinking occurs in private settings like home parties. While you may be tempted to offer your teen an alcoholic beverage, or you may think your child is safer consuming alcohol under your supervision, the research is clear: alcohol is not healthy for a developing brain. Youth who begin drinking in their teens are at greater risk of developing a dependance on alcohol, or an alcohol use disorder.
