It is very difficult to spend the festive season without festive mood, fun and alcohol. Whether at festive events, or at Christmas and New Year’s Eve, alcohol is probably the common denominator.

There’s no denying that the holidays are synonymous with seemingly excessive drinking and eating that includes the usual suspects: wine, whiskey, turkey, honey macaroons, and custards. However, if you’re looking for hacks to enjoy everything from glühwein to cider cocktails in moderation, rather than resorting to chilly abstinence in the run-up to Dry January, check out a guide to remorse-free holiday drinking below.

  • Keep water close at hand

The first tip is common but also the most important. Start your day by drinking a large glass of water, combining it with a few drops of lemon if you want, to start hydrating your body from the beginning of the day. Then, try every time you drink a glass of alcohol, follow it with a glass of water. This allows your body’s natural detoxification system enough time to filter properly, leading to a more restful sleep that night and less hangover the next day.

  • Prefer balanced meals before and after drinking alcohol

To support your body while drinking and avoid a hangover the next day, it’s important to fuel your body with nutrients, both during and before drinking. Make sure to eat a protein-rich meal or snack, ideally before or alongside your first sip of alcohol. This slows your body’s digestion of alcohol, ensuring better blood sugar control and fewer effects from alcohol.

  • Look for healthier drink options

Ditch the high-sugar mixed drinks and opt for a pure alcohol such as vodka, tequila or gin. The colors and flavors are what make these drinks ‘silent killers’, and it’s these very features that make you want to drink more of them. A good alternative to a sugary cocktail for example is a glass of wine or diluting your drink with sparkling water.

  • Plan it right

Whether it’s abstaining from alcohol or cutting back, make an action plan before the holidays. First and foremost, try not to drink alcohol 3 hours before going to bed. Second, set realistic goals for your maximum alcohol consumption limit. Third, if you know you tend to overdo it when you’re in the festive mood, consider enlisting your friends to check each other up.