Cut back on booze

With the festive season, MidCentral District Health Board (MDHB) is encouraging anyone planning to drink to do so responsibly.

MDHB health promotion adviser Martin Macmaster is urging people to encourage friends and family to drink in moderation, and not pressure others to drink.

“There’s all sorts of reasons people may be taking it easy. They might be thinking of their health, their head or their commitments. We should always support people, especially pregnant women as not drinking is the safest for unborn children,” says Martin. With thought and planning, individuals can look after themselves, friends and families. Taking it easy on alcohol can make a huge difference to how you feel and function the next day, and avoids expensive, embarrassing or dangerous problems. Eating first, drinking water between alcoholic drinks or drinking low-alcohol beverages can all help.

If you’re hosting drinks at work or at home, make sure there’s plenty of food and non-alcoholic drinks and think about how people are getting home. Encourage drivers to leave cars behind and take taxis or organise sober drivers.

If there are young people at your place, it’s only legal to supply them with alcohol if you do it responsibly, and with parent or guardian consent.

If it’s hard to stop drinking or cut back, talk to someone or call the Alcohol Drug Helpline on 0800 787 797.