The holiday season is a time for celebration, but it can also bring increased health and social risks when it comes to alcohol and cannabis use.  

Associate Professor Gary Chung Kai Chan and Associate Professor Janni Leung from UQ’s National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research outline six tips to help keep yourself and loved ones safe over the holiday period.
 

1. Be cautious with festive marketing

Alcohol marketing intensifies around Christmas with bulk-buy promotions and targeted advertising designed to make you buy and consume more. 

Dr Chan said being aware of these tactics can help you make informed decisions around drinking. 

“Watch out for marketing tactics which have been carefully designed to make you spend and drink more” Dr Chan said.  

2. Limit alcohol consumption, especially around kids 

2 in 3 Australians drink alcohol, but a recent survey found that almost half of those who do drink want to reduce how much they drink or quit completely. 

The festive season brings social events in abundance, which can lead to increased alcohol consumption. Successful strategies to limit alcohol use include eating before and during social events, drinking non-alcoholic beverages between alcoholic drinks, avoiding ‘pre-drinking’ before events, choosing lower strength alcoholic drinks, and setting a limit on the number of drinks before you arrive at the venue. 

The Australian Government’s leading health agency guidelines for low-risk adult drinking are no more than 10 standard drinks a week and no more than 4 standard drinks on any one day. The less you drink, the lower the harm. These guidelines also highlight that people under 18 years of age should not drink alcohol.

Dr Chan said it’s also important to remember that children notice adult behaviours. 

“Drinking around kids can normalise alcohol use from a young age. They model your behaviour,  so it’s important to be mindful of what you consume when children are around,” Dr Chan said. 

“It’s also important not to encourage underage drinking.

“Some parents think that supplying teens with alcohol may teach responsible use, however, the evidence consistently shows that the opposite is true. 

“Adolescents supplied with alcohol by parents are more likely to develop problem drinking.”

3. No amount of alcohol is “safe”

Dr Chan said it’s important to understand that alcohol consumption, no matter the amount, should not be considered as ‘safe’.

“There is clear evidence that any amount of alcohol increases health risks and that alcohol has no genuine health benefits despite persistent myths,” Dr Chan said. 

“The best gift you can give yourself is health and you can always choose something from the non-alcoholic menu to enjoy.

4. Cannabis is often seen as a ‘softer’ drug, but harms still exist

Dr Leung warns that while cannabis is sometimes perceived as less harmful than other substances, it can still lead to significant health and social problems. Cannabis use for recreational reasons remains illegal in Australia, but the recent introduction of medical cannabis prescribed by doctors has arguably blurred the boundaries about safety and community acceptance.

"In some cases, cannabis use can trigger psychosis, particularly in people with underlying vulnerabilities,” Dr Leung said. 

“Cannabis products nowadays are also much more potent than that in previous decades. 

“Potency varies widely, and this can make it difficult for people to know how strong a product is. As a result, this can increase the risk of adverse effects.”

5. Drug-driving is both problematic and under-recognised 

While there is strong public awareness surrounding drink driving, there is less communication around driving under the influence of drugs. 

“Research shows that cannabis impairs cognitive skills, coordination, and reaction time, which are associated with increased risk of motor vehicle accidents” 

“Cannabis can also be detected in your system up to several days since your last use and Police do not distinguish between recreational and medical use” Dr Leung said. 

“While the safest option is not to become intoxicated, if you have used cannabis, going home with a trusted friend who isn’t under the influence is a simple step that can protect everyone.”  

6. Edible products pose unique risks

In Canada and the United States, emergency departments and poison centres have reported increases in presentations linked to cannabis edibles. These products can include lollies, gummies, chocolates and biscuits, often infused with high potency cannabis. 
Dr Leung said this is a trend that we will likely see in Australia. 

“Edible effects are delayed, leading some people to consume more when they ‘don’t feel it’ yet, resulting in unexpectedly intense intoxication when the effects do kick in,” Dr Leung said. 

"Parents should also be cautious to keep any edibles out of reach of children.

“Given they can often look like regular lollies or cookies, there have been instances of children requiring hospital care after accidentally ingesting cannabis edibles.

“It can be easy to get carried away when the festive fun kicks off but understanding the risks associated with drinking or using cannabis, and making mindful choices, makes for a much safer festive season.