Drinking Responsibly

Drinking responsibly means consuming alcohol in a way that avoids harm to yourself and others. It involves sticking to low-risk moderation guidelines, pacing your consumption, staying hydrated, and ensuring you never drive impaired.

The concept focuses on several key principles and actionable habits:

CORE PRINCIPLES

Moderation

Sticking to limits that prevent intoxication. Health organizations generally advise no more than 1 drink a day for women and 2 drinks a day for men.

Intoxication Avoidance

Recognizing your limits and stopping before you become visibly impaired or lose control over your actions.

Safety First

Never getting behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking.

PRACTICAL HABITS

Pacing

Limiting yourself to one standard drink per hour to give your liver time to process the alcohol.

Alternating with Water

Drinking a full glass of water between alcoholic beverages to stay hydrated and slow your intake.

Eating First

Consuming a meal or heavy snacks before and while drinking to slow the rate at which your body absorbs alcohol.

Arranging Transport

Using designated drivers, taking public transit, or calling a ride-share service.

DEFINITION of RESPONSIBLE DRINKING

Responsible drinking means more than just limiting yourself to a certain number of drinks. It also means not getting drunk and not letting alcohol control your life or your relationships.

If you drink alcohol, health care providers advise limiting how much you drink. This is called drinking in moderation, or responsible drinking.

Tips of Drinking Responsibly

The tips in this article are for people who:

Do not have a drinking problem, now or in the past
Are old enough to drink legally
Are not pregnant

Healthy men of legal drinking age should limit themselves to:

No more than 2 drinks a day
No more than 14 drinks a week

Healthy women of legal drinking age should limit themselves to:

No more than 1 drink a day
No more than 7 drinks a week

Other habits that will help you be a responsible drinker include:

Never drinking alcohol and driving.
Having a designated driver if you are going to drink. This means riding with someone in your group who has not been drinking, or taking a taxi or bus.
Not drinking on an empty stomach. Have a snack or meal before you drink and while you are drinking.

If you take any medicines

If you take any medicines, including ones you bought without a prescription, check with your provider before you drink.

Alcohol can affect the way your body uses some medicines.

A medicine may not work correctly, or it could be dangerous or make you sick if combined with alcohol. If excessive alcohol use or problem drinking runs in your family, you may be at a higher risk of having an alcohol problem yourself. Not drinking at all might be best for you.

Can Responsible Drinking Improve Your Health?

Many people drink now and then. You may have heard about some health benefits from moderate drinking. None of these benefits have been definitively proven. None of them should be used as a reason for drinking.

Some of the possible benefits of moderate drinking that have been studied are:

Reduced risk of heart disease or a heart attack
Reduced risk of strokes
Lower risk of gallstones
Lower risk of diabetes

When to Call the Doctor

Contact your provider if:

You are concerned about your own drinking or a family member’s drinking.
You would like more information about alcohol use or support groups for problem drinking.
You are unable to drink less or stop drinking, even though you have tried.