One of Health4U’s latest websites, thinkingaboutdrinking.msu.edu, asks you to think about your drinking throughout the year.

Employee Assistance Program Counselor Jonathon Novello said the site was created as a way to reach faculty, staff and alumni. He said the site doesn’t discourage drinking, but asks visitors to take a look at their drinking habits, which can become more noticeable during the holiday season.

“The amount of alcohol that people consume goes up as much as 27 percent between the week before Thanksgiving and the week after New Year’s,” Novello said.

The site provides resources for those who think they may have a problem and tips for how to become a more responsible drinker. Novello suggested a few tips to keep it safe over the next few weeks.

• If you’re going to a party, don’t bring alcohol with you. Limit yourself to what may or may not be provided at the party and make a plan for the night.
• Intersperse your drinks with a glass of water or pop. It will spread out the amount you are actually drinking and slow your pace.
• If you’re going out to the bars, bring only cash with you. Less money on hand will cause you to buy less drinks for yourself and will help you avoid buying rounds for your friends.
• Take a break! The body was not meant to drink night after night, so make a conscious choice not to drink each night.

View more tips and resources on our previous post or visit the site!