You may be looking forward to the various holiday parties you will be attending in the upcoming weeks. You may an office party to attend, multiple gatherings with friends and a few family events in New Jersey or out of state to go to. At some of these get-togethers, alcoholic beverages may be available, and you may decide to indulge yourself while having a good time.

Of course, you do not plan to go overboard or to even try to be the life of the party. You may simply want to have a drink or two in order to relax and enjoy yourself. Of course, plans do not always work out the way many people intend. You may have others encouraging you to drink more, or you may get caught up in the fun and have a few more drinks than anticipated.

Staying on track

Because alcohol consumption can cause people to act in ways that they might not normally and can contribute to other issues, it is important that you do your best to maintain control of your faculties. Even if others around you are drinking, remember that good friends will not force you to drink. If you do want to consume alcohol but have a few concerns, keep the following tips in mind:

• If it is the empty calories you are worried about, opt for low-calorie mixers and swap out certain ingredients for mixed drinks.
• Remember to drink water between your alcoholic beverages to help yourself stay hydrated and keep your alcohol consumption at a reasonable pace.
• Focus on the time spent with family and friends and try to enjoy their company as much as possible without making alcohol the center of your good time.
• Drink in moderation. Have a couple of drinks that you sip on all evening instead of drinking quickly and risking having too many.

You may have many concerns when it comes to consuming alcohol, and not just during the holidays. In addition to calories, you know that alcohol consumption can sometimes come with bad decisions, and those bad decisions could easily lead to criminal charges, especially if you get behind the wheel of a vehicle after drinking. If your holiday festivities do end with you facing a DUI charge, you may want to remember that you have legal options to defending against any allegations that you face.