(NBC) — You may be surprised to hear that Americans drink more on Thanksgiving Eve than on any other night of the year.
If you’ll be gathering for cocktails with family and friends tonight, be safe and don’t overdo it.
Experts say you should always be mindful of how much alcohol you are consuming, remembering the general rule of thumb that one drink is equal to 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine or just one and a half ounces of hard liquor.
Limiting yourself to one drink per hour, or having some water or a soft drink between beverages, can be helpful.
Despite the popularity of alcohol on nights like this, experts suggest being mindful of those who do not drink or who have struggled in the past with alcoholism.
“When you are really with loved ones who understand the ramifications of drinking for you and how it gets out of control and how it can affect your life, more often than not I’ve found a lot of families will be supportive of doing an alcohol-free or very limited alcohol themed holiday so I would not be afraid to ask for that if it feels like a good fit for your family or the people that you’re going to be surrounded with,”said Dr. Suzette Glasner, a doctor from UCLA.
And remember, especially, no matter your imbibing, don’t drink and drive.