Illustration: Luo Xuan/GT

It is the season to be jolly! Holiday season is in full swing, and whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, it is the perfect time to pour yourself a cup of holiday cheer!

From spiked eggnog to mulled cider, there is no better way to get through the stress and fun of the season than enjoying your favorite adult beverage. However, before you begin sloshing your way into KTV to sing "Silent Night," there are a few things to remember while "tying one on" this year.

There is nothing more annoying than someone getting obnoxiously drunk at a holiday party or dinner.

Living in Beijing, you may not have to worry about family gatherings, as a video chat with loved ones often suffices. Yet drinking at events with friends and not turning into a drunken grinch can be a bit tricky. Most expats are seasoned vets if not full on alcoholics, but when you are invited to a holiday party, it is not always easy to keep your game face on during a time where excess and indulgence reign supreme. Make a real fool of yourself and you might find there is no room at the inn for you this holiday season.

There are a few easy tricks to keep your head out of the clouds. Wait at least 30-45 minutes before having your first drink if you plan to make a night of it. Indulge yourself with food during this time so you are not drinking on an empty stomach, and more importantly so you do not end up trying to kiss your best friend's mate! Be the person you will want to see in the mirror the next day, because the last thing you want to do is have your holiday shenanigans land you on the naughty list!

If you are stressed, do not use alcohol as a way to ease your anxiety. We have all tried to self-medicate from time to time, and the holiday season is a big culprit for writing ourselves a boozy prescription. Using alcohol to decrease stress and anxiety is like using English to give directions to a Chinese taxi driver, useless! Let the alcohol compliment your experience not complicate it.

During the holiday season, people who are much lighter drinkers tend to amp it up. If you usually get tipsy off two drinks, this is not the time to beat your own personal record of how many you can drink before you drop. Choose a number of drinks that will keep a smile on your face and what you really think of your co-worker out of your mouth.

Since this is the season of giving, remember to help your friends if you see them coming dangerously close to crossing the line from holiday cheer to the nightmare before Christmas.

Grab them a glass of water or a plate of food to help them get back to their holly jolly selves. There is nothing wrong with celebrating and relaxing during the holidays.

After all, you deserve it after all the hard work and crowded subways you have suffered through during the year.

So deck the halls, rock around the Christmas tree and have yourself a merry little Christmas even if you can't be home for the holidays. Just remember, everything in moderation.

This article was published on the Global Times Metropolitan section Two Cents page, a space for reader submissions, including opinion, humor and satire. The ideas expressed are those of the author alone, and do not represent the position of the Global Times.