JUST ONE DRINK … Staying Safe During the Holiday Season
THANKSGIVING Thanksgiving didn’t become a national holiday until over 200 years after the first Thanksgiving! Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman who actually wrote the classic song “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” convinced President Lincoln in 1863 to make Thanksgiving a national holiday after writing letters for 17 years campaigning for this to happen. Historians say that no turkey was served at the first Thanksgiving! What was on the menu? Deer or venison, ducks, geese, oysters, lobster, eel, and fish. They probably ate pumpkins, but no pumpkin pies. They also didn’t eat mashed potatoes or cranberry relish, but they probably ate cranberries. And no, turduckens (a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken) were nowhere to be found during that first Thanksgiving. Each year, the president of the United States pardons a turkey and spares it from being eaten for Thanksgiving dinner. The first turkey pardon ceremony started with President Truman in 1947. Celebrating with friends and family is a big part of the holiday season. But these merry gatherings can come with a dark side: In the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, more people consume alcohol than at any other point during the year. This means the last several weeks of the year can be the most dangerous on the road because alcohol-related accidents and fatalities are at their peak. The increase in social drinking is one of the biggest reasons more people get into alcohol-related accidents during this time of year. More people are casually drinking with dinner, as they watch football, and even to cope with the stress of the season. Another thing to consider is that many people who drink during Thanksgiving or the December holidays don’t drink often. As social drinkers, or “holiday drinkers,” they are more likely to underestimate their level of impairment and may end up driving when they shouldn’t. Of course, anyone who drinks should never drive. You should always allow enough time after drinking to make sure you’re completely sober before getting behind the wheel. One rule of thumb is to wait at least 45 minutes to an hour per drink. FUN FACTS
Here are a few more tips to help you safely enjoy the holiday season:
• If you don’t want a drink, just say, “No, thanks.” Don’t feel you have to give in to peer pressure.
• Have nonalcoholic drinks available for guests — and keep a glass of water or another nonalcoholic drink within arm’s reach for yourself.
• Always designate a driver.
• Keep a taxi or car service, such as Uber or Lyft, on standby.
• Drink responsibly, and decide how many drinks you’ll have in advance. A blood alcohol chart can help you understand the relationship between drinks, blood alcohol content, and level of impairment. • Don’t let drinking become the main focus. Remember that the holidays and the social events that come with them are really about having fun with family and friends!
A SIMPLE BRINE FOR SUCCULENT TURKEY
Ingredients
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons kosher salt • 3/4 cup sugar • 1 carrot, peeled and diced • 1 large onion, peeled and diced
• 2 bay leaves • 1 tablespoon black peppercorns • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes • 1/4 teaspoon fennel seeds (optional)
• 1/4 cup celery, diced • 2 large sprigs thyme
Instructions
1. In a large stock pot, bring salt, sugar, and 4 cups water to a boil. Stir until all ingredients are dissolved. 2. Turn off heat and add remaining ingredients. Place brine in the fridge, uncovered, until cold. 3. Add 6 quarts cold water to brine. Add turkey and submerge completely. Brine chilled for up to 72 hours.
Inspired by Bon Appétit magazine
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