Grapevine: My Personal Guidelines for Drinking Responsibly and in Moderation
Summer is the season when we tend to party more, eat more and enjoy others’ company more than at any other time of year, with the likely exception of the year-end holidays.
It is also the time of year when some of us consume more alcohol. In the interest of protecting you from the many temptations for excessive wine consumption, I offer you below my personal guidelines for drinking responsibly and in moderation.
Wine consumption is one of the more pleasurable components of a healthy diet and a healthful lifestyle. While the Mediterranean Diet has proven that drinking wine will enhance our health, we are also mindful of the terrible effects of excessive consumption.
The key phrase is moderation. However, the effects of wine differ for each of us; therefore, moderation is defined differently for each of us. We must know what our individual limits are and incorporate them into each wine experience we encounter. Factors that contribute to our personal limits of alcohol consumption include age, gender, physical condition (health, fitness, weight), ethnicity, medication and family history of alcohol consumption. But there are general guidelines that you can follow. As you might expect, the U.S. government has provided such guidelines.
In its “Dietary Guidelines for Americans,” moderation is defined as no more than one glass of alcohol for women and two glasses for men in a single day (a glass of wine is defined as 5 ounces).
Of course, it is entirely possible to appreciate life without wine, but in my opinion wine is more than an alcoholic beverage. It is the common gateway to interactive socializing. In moderation, it creates an environment that slows down our otherwise hectic lifestyle, providing a more mellow state of mind and, in the process, reducing stress levels and perhaps relaxing our latent inhibitions. Not to mention enhancing our appreciation of food.
Here are my personal guidelines, based on many years of intense personal research at wine bars, restaurants, family meals and celebrations, holiday celebrations, house parties, tailgating, barbeques and at-home quaffing by the fireplace.
- Don’t start off with a high-alcohol cocktail (or multiple glasses of wine) on an empty stomach (I’ve learned my lesson).
- Consuming food with wine is vital. Food absorbs alcohol; without food, alcohol enters your bloodstream faster and stays longer.
- Be sure the pours are moderate. If I’m sitting down to a meal or attending a long party, I try to limit each pour to three ounces (it takes practice). My rationale: I was raised as a child to finish whatever is placed in front of me – small pours equal small cumulative quantities.
- Sip your wine. Pacing your drinking permits your body to self-regulate absorption without stressing your digestive process (side benefit: your glass has wine in it for a longer period of time; hosts – and servers, bartenders, friends – hate to see you with an empty glass).
- Eat protein whenever possible. Cheeses and meats will absorb alcohol more readily than vegetables and pasta; more absorption equates to slower release of alcohol into your bloodstream.
- For every glass of wine you consume be sure to drink a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Alcohol dehydrates your body, water hydrates. The more dehydrated you are, the faster alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream and goes to your brain (where your “drunk” receptors reside).
- Stop drinking alcohol at least one hour before the end of the function you are attending. Switch to coffee or water. This gives your body ample time to process (mitigate) the effects of the alcohol you’ve consumed.
Wine has been enjoyed for centuries by many cultures, from the Greeks and Romans to modern Western Europeans. By adhering to a few simple guidelines, it can enhance our health, our food and our lifestyle. Using a common sense approach to wine drinking is a responsible way to continually enhance and enjoy the pleasures of life.
Nick Antonaccio is a 40-year Pleasantville resident. For over 20 years he has conducted numerous wine tastings and lectures. He also offers personalized wine tastings and wine travel services. Nick’s credo: continuous experimenting results in instinctive behavior. You can reach him at nantonaccio@theexaminernews.com or on Twitter @sharingwine.
