Drinking Mindfully into the New Year

Enjoy your night out and the morning after when you drink in moderation.

In part two of this miniseries on healthy holiday drinking habits, wine-industry pros offer these tips for ringing in the new year without overdoing it and feeling like a bell is clanging in your brain the next morning.

AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION. Drink in moderation and make sure you drink a glass of water or something non-alcoholic for every alcohol-based drink you consume. Remember to eat! Drinking on an empty stomach is a recipe for a quick trip home and missing most of the party or a big hangover in the morning. —Alexandra Cherniavsky, brokerage director, SWIG Partners, Philadelphia

Set parameters for yourself for the night before you head out. Be realistic, but also gentle with yourself. Tell a friend your drinking parameters, if you need an accountability buddy for the evening. —Robin Hinson, sommelier and beverage director, Ephemera, Colorado Springs

WATER: Drink it. A small glass between drinks will not only keep you hydrated, it will slow your consumption of alcohol so you can think about just drinking what you will enjoy. —Amy Gross, national president of Women For WineSense and CEO of VineSleuth/ Wine4.Me, Houston

My healthy drinking tip… water, water, water, water. And I have learned to always ask for a spit bucket or cup of some sort. These days, I find I’m actually tasting wine much more than I am drinking it.—Christy Frank, owner, Copake Wine Works, Hudson Valley, New York

I always put out a big ice water dispenser in easy view with compostable cups. It reminds me to do a water fill, but also gives guests an option if they don’t want to dump their glass. I put it close to the bathroom so people could drink water on the way to or from. I think it was a great success. I’ve had wildly unsuccessful nights and rough mornings without my water dispenser. —Kira Ballotta, winemaker and partner, Olivia Brion Wines, Napa

GIANT glass of water on arrival before accepting any wine to satiate any thirst, then 1:1 glasses (if not, at least sips) water to wine; keep a water glass nearby. Only take wine with food to slow down BAC absorption and never liquor after dinner – it spikes blood sugar and alcohol. —Rebecca Hopkins, founder, A Balanced Glass, San Francisco

KNOW THY ABV. Choose something lower in alcohol if you know you’ll be drinking over several hours. You can consume an equal amount of drinks, but reduce the alcohol so you can manage your consumption and won’t feel the effects as much. —Alexandra Cherniavsky

Remember to keep changes in ABV in mind. If your hosts are wine lovers, the percentage alcohol will creep up as the wines get richer and the night grows longer. —Ellisa Cooper, wine educator and owner of the Decanted Diva, New York City

Low-ABV is the way to go. I reach for a spritz or a chilled red around the holidays just as much as I do in the summer. The word “sessionable” comes to mind. For chilled reds, I look for alcohol levels at or under 12.5% and if I’m asking for a recommendation, I always say “light, fruity, dry, little to no tannin.” —Katie Shrout, senior brand manager, Kobrand Fine Wine & Spirits, New York

CHOOSE WISELY. The old adage of “never mix, never worry” holds true for me. If the wines are going to be stellar, and I know it could be a three-bottle day, then no cocktails, spirits, shots or mystery punch. —Ellisa Cooper

Never assume healthier options will be available at a party, so bring them with you! Aperol for spritzes, Topo Chico or non-alcoholic ginger beer are all great ideas. Someone else at the party will be relieved you brought other options. [Also,] pretend you’re Italian for the evening: Stick to drinking a couple glasses of wine or Aperol Spritzes, drink a ton of bougie sparkling water. Your fancy “European” self will thank you the next day. —Robin Hinson

Moderation …done to death, I know, but indispensable. Invest in a $60 breathalyzer from a pharmacy. It’s not accurate enough to make decisions on whether you should drive or not, but it’s useful to get to know your buzz. Pay attention to how much you’re drinking, measure your blood alcohol levels, and note how you feel every time you measure. It helps create awareness of your consumption and how it affects you. —Julieta Acevedo Correa, sommelier/manager, McCarthy and Schiering Wine Merchants, Seattle

I’m a health nerd—I am very conscious of what we consume. This has perfectly coincided with the sober curious and NA beverage trends. I usually suggest the following: Old World wines tend to have more strict laws, so you’ll often find less or no crazy hangover-inducing additives. Sustainable and organic farming practices abound if you look. The Co2 in bubbles causes quick infiltration into your blood stream. It catches up fast! —Karen Jensen Hatcher, food and beverage manager, The Pell, Middletown RI.

No matter what the alcohol level, style of wine, the size of the glass you’ll want to drink responsibly—in moderation and monitoring your intake—and make arrangements for safe transport from the party. A bonne santé!