How much is too much?
Make this festive season one to remember, and not one to forget.
As it is with the festive season, drinks will be flowing at times, but how much do you need to drink to be over the legal limit?
We asked RTI’s Dave Steele to give us a guideline:
Castle Light: A man can have one and a half Castle Lights in the first hour and thereafter one every hour.
A woman can have one Castle Light in the first hour and thereafter one every hour.
A man and woman can have one 200ml glass of wine every hour.
The amount of alcohol that is safe to consume to stay under the legal limit varies depending on the type of alcohol consumed.
He suggests that groups of friends make turns amongst each other to be the designated driver or to make use of a taxi service.
From DrinkIQ wich is aBrandhouse initiative gives the following tips:
Plan for everything: You know how you are going to get to the party, and what you are going to wear. But the one thing that people forget is to plan how you are going to get home safely. Always have cash set aside for your taxi ride home; or get a designated driver, or better still – be the designated driver yourself.
Eat before you drink: Drinking on an empty stomach can be a recipe for disaster. Food will help to slow the absorption of alcohol into the circulatory system.
Pace yourself: Alcohol will dehydrate you so drink plenty of water or soft drinks beforehand and during the night to make sure you stay refreshed.
Don’t ever accept drinks from strangers: Make sure you get your drinks from the barman directly, and make sure you watch the barman open the drink in front of you. This ensures that you know where your drink is coming from and nothing is spiked.
Sip your drink: It’s all about quality and not quantity. And your head will feel better in the morning.
Know your limit: Most people find that no more than a drink an hour will keep them in control of the situation and avoid drunkenness.
Respect the rights of individuals who do not wish to drink: It is considered impolite to attempt to get people to drink who do not wish to. They may abstain for religious or medical reasons, because they are recovering alcoholics, or they just may not like the taste and effect it has on them.
Don’t drink and drive: Whatever you do, always ensure that you don’t drink and drive.
Good to know:
If you have an alcohol dependence or suspect someone else needs help, you can call Alcoholics Anonymous on the national helpline: 0861 435-722 or visit https://www.aasouthafrica.org.za/Home.aspx.
Alternatively you can call the South African National Council on Alcoholism & Drug Dependence (SANCA) on the toll free number 086 14 72622 or visit https://sancanational.org.
For more information on DrinkIQ and alcohol related facts, please visit https://www.drinkiq.com/en-US/pages/home.aspx.
South Africans Against Drunk Driving (SADD) on (033) 347 0103 or www.sadd.org.za or Caro Smit, SADD’s director on 082 821 3673.
