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How can you reduce your risks?
Options for reducing alcohol-related risks
include --
- Staying within
low-risk drinking
limits.
If you need to
cut down, see
Tips
to try.
- Taking steps
to be safe when
you drink (see
box, below).
- Quitting drinking
altogether. See Choose
your approach.
For some people, staying within low-risk
limits will be sufficient,
whereas for others, it's best to quit.
To help decide which route is right for
you, see To
cut down or quit.
If you sometimes drink more than the
low-risk limits, but
don't feel ready to make
a change, see Pros
and cons and Ready… or
not. Don't wait for
an injury or a crisis,
however. When it comes
to changing risky drinking,
sooner is better than later.
![](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130214204105im_/http://rethinkingdrinking.niaaa.nih.gov/images/layout_box1_leftcorner.jpg)
Take steps to be safe
Alcohol is a factor in many motor vehicle
crashes, falls, burns, drownings, suicides,
homicides, sexual assaults, and transfers
of sexually transmitted diseases. If you
choose to drink, then stay within the
low-risk limits and take whatever steps
necessary to avoid putting yourself or
others at risk for harm.
- Pace yourself. Sip
slowly so that you
have no more than
one standard
drink with alcohol per hour.
Have "drink spacers"—make
every other drink
a non-alcoholic one,
such as water, soda, or juice. Note
that it takes about 2 hours for
the adult body to completely break
down a single drink.
- Take precautions. Have
a designated driver
or take a cab. Use protection
for sex. Don't use machinery,
walk in a dangerous area, swim,
or drive a boat during or after
drinking. Don't drink if you're
pregnant or could
become pregnant. You get the
idea: Be safe.