Letter to the editor: Holiday drinking

A festive holiday cocktail can help make the season merry and bright but only if consumed responsibly. Whether you’re enjoying an Irish coffee after caroling through your neighborhood or enjoying a glass of poinsettia punch at the office party, it’s important to remember the ABCs of ABVs: A — Alcohol is alcohol; B — Be mindful of alcohol content; C — Consume in moderation.

For more than 30 years, the U.S. Dietary Guidelines have defined moderate drinking as up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men based on decades of scientific research. Beer, wine and spirits come in a range in alcohol contents and container sizes, so it’s important to know the alcohol by volume (ABV). An easy tool to determine how many drinks are in a container is the drink calculator at www.standarddrinks.org.

Here’s to the holidays. Stay safe, drink responsibly and let’s make it one to remember!

Kathleen Zelman

Marietta, Ga. The writer is an adviser to the Distilled Spirits Council and former nutrition director at WebMD.