Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, December 29, 2023 How to Avoid Excessive Alcohol Use During the Holidays T he run-up to Christmas Day and days between then and New Year’s Day can seem like an endless drinking session. There seems always to be an excuse to crack open a bottle of booze. Whether at family gatherings, work parties, or any festive gathering, people are drinking, often in excess. Even social drinkers tend to find themselves consuming more alcohol than usual. It can be challenging to avoid the pitfalls of excessive alcohol use during the holidays and refusing alcohol in social situations. Yet, it is not impossible, and there are practical approaches anyone can use to turn down a drink, whether you are young, middle-aged, or a senior. In Massachusetts, the state ranks 14th highest among the states for binge drinking. Roughly 59% of Bay State adults (18+) drink and 26% binge drink. It’s no secret that people tend to drink more during the holidays. The key to success is to practice saying no to alcohol; whether it is a legitimate reason or a wild made-up excuse, it all works. Try being direct and honest at first, and say things like “No thanks, I don’t drink anymore,” “Alcohol does not mix well with me, “I can’t drink because my alcohol use gets out of hand sometimes,” or “I’ve decided I feel better without alcohol in my life.” If you cannot be straightforward, invent clever excuses, such as “I am taking a prescripMarcel Gemme Aquarium to welcome guests during school winter vacation week with extended hours and new animals Spend the holidays with sea lions, sharks, documentaries and more T he New England Aquarium is excited to welcome guests this holiday season to see two newly arrived California sea lions, a new film in the Simons Theatre and a free outdoor photo exhibition called “Voices of the Waterfront.” The Aquarium will extend its hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from December 26 to January 2. Guests are strongly encouraged to purchase tickets online in advance at neaq.org, as timed ticket slots may sell out. Highlights for the week: Meet Gio and Farley: The Aquarium recently welcomed two California sea lions: Gio and Farley. The 15-year-old sea lions are now permanent residents in the Aquarium’s New Balance Foundation Marine Mammal Center, and they join three other California sea lions: Zoe, Sierra and Tipper. Daily presentations have returned to the Marine Mammal Center at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. and are a great way for visitors to see the sea lions interacting with their trainers. Nurse shark feedings: Continuing its decades-long commitment of caring for and protecting sharks, the Aquarium is welcoming a new nurse shark, named Cirri, to its Caribbean coral reef exhibit. Guests can view daily feedings at the top of the Giant Ocean Tank with Cirri and other animals at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Simons Theatre films: The Aquarium’s Simons Theatre is now showing “Arctic: Our Frozen Planet,” a 45-minute documentary filmed on a scale nevtion I cannot mix with alcohol,” “I am training for a marathon, I can’t drink,” “Drinking is against my religion,” “No thanks, I get really belligerent when I drink,” or “Before I accept, I should warn you I brought a guitar with me.” Another successful alternative is to bring your own non-alcoholic beverages. This can be the perfect time to try some holiday mocktails. For many of us, having a drink in hand makes us feel more comfortable in social situations. It also makes it less likely that someone else will pressure us to drink alcohol. Or step into the designated driver role. This is one of the easiest excuses for not drinking at a holiday party. If you are the designated driver, you will have no explaining to do. Most people use the responsibility excuse; the average person will not argue with obligations, whether you say you have to work or have an early morning or another responsibility. Most adults have places to be and things to get done, especially if they have kids. Christmas is a joyous time of year; never lose sight of the true meaning. Take this time to create new memories and traditions without the influence of alcohol. Marcel Gemme is the founder of DRS and has been helping people struggling with substance use for over 20 years. His work focuses on a threefold approach: education, prevention, and rehabilitation. BBB shares your guide to giving end-of-year tips to service professionals T he end of the year is a time to show appreciation for those Female sea lion Gio stuck out her tongue during a recent training session. (Photo credit: Vanessa Kahn/New England Aquarium) er attempted before. The film captures a year-long adventure across the seasons in the Arctic – and the subsequent impact our changing climate has had on it. Tickets and show times are available at all Aquarium ticketing locations by calling 617-9735206 or by visiting neaq.org. Also showing are “Blue Whales: Return of the Giants” (3D), “Great White Shark,” “Incredible Predators” (3D) and “Secrets of the Sea” (3D). Voices of the Waterfront: In partnership with the Coalition for a Resilient and Inclusive Waterfront, the Aquarium created “Voices of the Waterfront,” a free exhibition of 27 large-scale photos wrapping around the Aquarium’s exterior along Central Wharf. The exhibition celebrates the creative ways that people and organizations are accessing Boston’s waterfront, and it encourages more involvement to bring about more change to it as a public good amid environmental challenges. The Aquarium gift shop will have extended hours of 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the week of December 26, and the Harbor View Café will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the exception of December 31, when it will close at 3 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit neaq.org or call 617-973-5200. About the New England Aquarium: The Aquarium is a nonprofit research and conservation organization that has protected and cared for our ocean and marine animals for more than 50 years. The Aquarium provides science-based solutions and helps shape policies that create measurable change to address threats the ocean faces. It inspires action through discovery and helps create engaged, resilient communities. who provide necessary services and little luxuries in your daily life. But this year, the increased cost of goods and services means you may need to pay extra attention to your tipping budget. Even if you are limited in what you can give, there’s no need to feel uncomfortable. A little extra thoughtfulness can go a long way. Determining who to tip and how much to give can be confusing. To avoid extra holiday stress, BBB recommends the following tips to help you tip confidently while staying within your budget. Tips for holiday tipping • Consider your budget. Begin planning your tips by looking over your holiday budget, or creating one, if you haven’t already. Tips aren’t obligatory, so if you don’t have the extra cash, consider other ways to show your gratitude. According to the Emily Post Institute, homemade gifts or a simple thank you note are perfectly acceptable ways to say “thank you” when funds are short. • Start planning tips early. You don’t want to be scrambling through your purse to find some extra cash when you see your regular delivery driver pull up. Once you set your tipping budget, make a list of who you plan to tip and how much. Do this as early as possible, keeping in mind that tipping before the holidays are officially here means the recipient will have extra cash for holiday spending. • Tip with cash when possible. Cash is usually the best way to give a tip. It means the recipient has access to the funds right away and won’t have to pay any fees to use the money. That said, if you regularly pay someone via an app and want to tip that way, you can. Just make sure you include a brief note letting them know the extra money is a tip for their excellent service. • Make the tip attractive. For a classic tip, The Wall Street Journal says crisp bills in an envelope that reads “Thank You” on the outside is ideal. You can even write a brief thank you note to express your gratitude when appropriate. • Tip according to the depth of your relationship. Match your tip amount to the quality and quantity of work the person does for you. If you hire a babysitter occasionally, an appropriate tip might be the equivalent of one evening’s pay. On the other hand, if you have a live-in housekeeper, an entire week’s pay would be suitable. • Know whom not to tip. Some professionals can’t accept tips because of ethical reasons, including doctors, lawyers, and government officials. Some companies don’t allow their emBBB | SEE PAGE 15
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