ANN ARBOR, MI - Whether you'll be hoisting a pint of green beer or tipping back a wee bit of whiskey this St. Patrick's Day weekend, it's sure and begorrah that you'll be taking part in one of the nation's most alcohol-soaked holidays.

But the annual March ritual is also prime time for unhealthy binge drinking, alcohol-related emergency room visits, and deadly auto crashes caused by drunk driving. In fact, on a holiday like St. Patrick's Day, research shows that all drivers have a 23 percent increased likelihood of being injured or killed by a driver who is impaired by alcohol.

A University of Michigan Health System alcohol counselor says there are a few simple steps that everyone - Irish or not - can take to keep the holiday happy.

"It's very easy to drink too much, and this is especially true on a holiday like St Patrick's Day," says Teresa Herzog Mourad, M.S., who offers counseling to people who want to moderate or end their alcohol use through the U-M's DrinkWise program. "So why not plan ahead to avoid trouble, instead of pressing your luck?"

She adds, "The best way to celebrate safely is simple -- don't drink. There's no such thing as risk-free drinking." But if alcohol-free celebrating is not for you, here are some things to know before you drink your first green beer this St Patty's Day.

• As few as one or two drinks can significantly impair your driving ability. With law enforcement patrols out in droves, as well as eight to ten times more impaired drivers than usual, it's more important to drive without any alcohol in your system.
• If you are going to drink, designating a non-drinking driver before you head out for the evening is the way to go.
  
• Decide on a limit for the number of drinks you'll have in an evening and stick to it. (A list of recommended maximum drinking levels follows below.)
  
• Pace your drinking, to keep your blood alcohol level (BAL) low and to prevent it from rising quickly.
  
• Before each alcoholic drink always have a non-alcoholic beverage first. This not only quenches your thirst but it sets the pace for slower, safer celebrating.
  
• Have no more than one standard measure drink per hour. A standard drink is probably smaller than you think - 12 ounces of beer is one bottle, 5 ounces of wine doesn't fill most glasses more than halfway, and 1.5 ounces of hard liquor doesn't quite fill a single shot glass.
  
• If you're pouring alcohol from a pitcher, pour your own, and only after you have emptied your glass. Do not let others decide how much you will drink.
  
• Avoid shots and drinking games.
  
• Be prepared to say "no thanks" to offers for more to drink, so that when it's offered you will stick to your limit.

DrinkWise Alcohol Use Guidelines

These guidelines are for those over 21 years who have no physical or psychological conditions/symptoms or medications for which alcohol use is contraindicated. They use the "standard drink" amounts listed above.

Men: maximum of 3 drinks in any day, on a maximum of 4 days per week, or a maximum total of 10 drinks per week

Women: maximum of 2 drinks in any day, on maximum of 4 days per week, or a maximum total of 8 drinks per week

People over age 55 years: Do not have more than one drink/day and do not drink daily on a regular basis.

UMHS DrinkWise is a program that assists individuals in either cutting down on their drinking or eliminating their alcohol use altogether. For more information on DrinkWise, visit www.med.umich.edu/drinkwise or call 800-222-5145, extension 258.

Written by: Kara Gavin

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