How To Drink Responsibly

You count your calories and your reps why not count your drinks?

There’s something you need to know about counting your drinks to help you continue your efforts on staying healthy and safe: Not all drinks are created equal. The Domino Strategy takes the guesswork out of healthy, safe alcohol consumption, and has recommendations for responsible drinking. Drinking alcohol affects your blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Knowing the number of drinks, size of drinks and what’s in your drinks will help keep you healthy and safe.

The USDA encourages us to count our daily servings of fruit and veggies, the American Dental Association recommends the number of times a day we should brush our teeth, weight loss experts suggest we count our calories and trainers persuade us to exercise regularly…why not learn how to count our drinks responsibly?

-0- Alcoholic Drinks for anyone:

Under 21

Women who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding

Operating any type of vehicles or machinery

Using certain over-the-county or prescription medications

Anyone advised by their physicians not to consume alcohol

Anyone who can not restrict the alcohol consumption to a healthy safe level

Recovering dependent or recovering addicts or alcoholics

Anyone under legal restrictions for alcohol

No more than one standard alcoholic drink for women and no more than two standard alcoholic drinks for men.

Here are some tools to help control the number of alcoholic drinks you consume:

Set your limit before you drink and let others know your limit

Don’t binge drink – a pattern of excessive alcoholic use

(More than 5 drinks for men and 4 drinks for women)

Eat a meal before you drink

Drink water or other non-alcoholic beverages between alcoholic drinks

Snack while drinking

When you lose count you lose control…Stay in control of your life and others by knowing your limit.

The Richland/McCone County DUI Task Force members represent a diverse cross-section of our community, including concerned citizens, government officials, law enforcement, health professional, prevention and treatment specialist, business professionals and others. The DUI Task Force is dedicated to promoting a healthier and safer environment for the residents of Richland & McCone Counties by reducing injuries and fatalities related to over consumption of alcohol and impaired driving. Please contact Mary Friesz, DUI Task Force Coordinator at the Richland County Health Department to make a difference and for resources or information.