How to Survive Holiday Boozing

By Ted Loos, Epicurious.com

None other than Dorothy Parker, that ultimate wit, said: "I wish I could drink like a lady / I can take one or two at the most / Three and I'm under the table / Four and I'm under the host"

See also: The Rules of Regifting

These are wise and cautionary words if you are facing a gauntlet of holiday parties this time of year, as I am. You want to have a few drinks and have fun, but you don't want to have an evening that could be the subject of the forthcoming movie The Hangover III.

Herewith, 5 tips:

Lots of water
Ideally you'd drink a glass of water between each alcoholic beverage, but since that's not always practicable, I drink at least a glass upon arrival and departure from a party. It helps you keep from dehydration, which is the main cause of hangovers.

Don't drink as much as you brought
People frequently bring a bottle of wine to a party--and that holds 4 or 5 generously sized glasses of wine. For most people that's too much unless it's spread over several hours (and it's definitely too much if you're driving).

Related: Easy Holiday Cocktail Party Bites

Chow down
Eating one cube of cheese is not going to help you absorb all that alcohol. You're going to need to lay down a nice base of carbs to help you out. Your diet doesn't start till January 1 in any case, so time to dig into those pita chips.

Try a new drink
I find I'm a little more thoughtful about my drinking when I'm paying attention to what's in my glass, as with an unfamiliar wine or cocktail. If it's an old favorite, it's much easier to guzzle down without thinking about it.

Quit while you're ahead
A pleasant buzz--just to that stage where vexing social barriers come down, but before you're swinging from the chandelier--is one of life's great pleasures. Once you've reached that point, however, more booze is not going to make you more fun.

And if you have not heeded these tips and have left good judgment far behind, there's no shame in it. Just keep smiling and hand over those car keys.

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