LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Zoom happy hour trend and virtual holiday celebrations with alcoholic drinks will continue this New Year’s Eve.

Diageo, one of the world’s largest producers of spirits and beer, is sharing tips on responsible drinking, as well as a DRINKiQ quiz to educate people on alcohol and its effects. Dr. Danielle Robinson, the director of Alcohol Policy and Reputation Management at Diageo, said there needs to be more education around the effects that alcohol can have when overindulging. 

“During this season, we normally do see a spike in alcohol consumption with Christmas and New Year’s,” said Robinson. “But, now that people are drinking at home, it is important to realize you are in control of what you consume.”

The safety tips include:

1. Mix it up. While we are physically distancing, plan some fun activities that don’t center around alcohol. For example, have fun playing games with your family or roommates, use online apps to draw, play word games, or even do a virtual karaoke with your friends.
2. Hydrate. Make sure to drink plenty of water and space your cocktails with soft drinks or juice.
3. It’s the amount of alcohol you drink, not what you drink. Remember that the alcohol in beer, wine, and spirits affects you in the same way.
4. Food. Don’t drink on an empty stomach. Eating can help slow the absorption of alcohol.
5. Plan your drinks. Decide how much you will drink before starting a virtual happy hour and share that with your friends and family. It will help you stick to your plan. Or even choose a mocktail.
6. Variety is key. In addition to water, you can explore a range of beverages including non and low-alcoholic alternatives, like Seedlip, Smirnoff Spiked Sparking Seltzer, Ketel One Botanicals, or Smirnoff Zero Sugar.
7. Prepare cocktails using a jigger. Make sure you are using standard drink measures. Remember, standard servings are 1.5 ounces of spirits, 12 ounces of beer, and 5 ounces of wine.
8. No topping off. Help your family or roommates keep track of their drinks by letting them finish instead of topping them off.

1. Mixing alcohols doesn’t get you drunk more quickly. Alcohol is alcohol, and the effects are determined by how much alcohol you drink.
2. Women feel the effects of alcohol more than men. The liver processes alcohol via an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase, or ADH. Women have less of the ADH enzyme in their bodies.
3. It takes one hour for your liver to process one standard drink.
4. It only takes five minutes from the time of consumption to reach your brain with immediate effects appearing in ten minutes.