The Christmas office party was in full swing when Miss Smith — a pseudonym since she doesn’t want her name revealed — had one cocktail too many.

“There I was, having a great time and not getting drunk,” she says. “I hadn’t been eating much, and then I had one more little drink. All of a sudden, I started slurring my words and telling horrible jokes with four-letter words.”

She shakes her head and closes her eyes as she recalls, “And I don’t even remember most of it. I was told about it only later. I was the laughingstock of the office and felt like an idiot.”

The holiday season is full of fun gatherings and parties, so making prudent decisions about alcohol consumption is critical during this time of good cheer.

“Celebrating the season with a cocktail among family and friends can be a very enjoyable part of the holidays but moderation is the key,” said Lisa Hawkins, vice president of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), a national trade association representing the leading brands of distilled spirits.

Hawkins added that DISCUS has launched a new website — www.DrinkInModeration.org — that provides tips and other invaluable information for entertaining and drinking responsibly during the holidays.

The Federal Dietary Guidelines define a standard serving as 1.5 fluid ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (40 percent alcohol) such as rum, vodka, gin and whiskey, 12 fluid ounces of regular beer (5 percent alcohol), or 5 fluid ounces of wine (12 percent alcohol).

During the revelry of the holidays, many also question whether one alcohol drink is better or worse than another.

According to DrinkInModeration.org, it is the ethanol alcohol that is found in all types of beer, wine and distilled spirits, not just red wine as previously had been believed, that, when consumed in moderation, is associated with the lower risk of cardiovascular disease.

DISCUS recently hired Dr. Sam Zakhari, former director of the Division of Metabolism and Health Effects at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the country’s lead agency on alcohol and health, to lead an enhanced moderation initiative.

“I have dedicated my career to a better understanding of the science of alcohol and health,” says Zakhari of joining DISCUS. “The Distilled Spirits Council has been a leader in advocating responsible alcohol consumption and good science, so this is an opportunity to advance policies that promote moderation for Americans and discourage alcohol abuse.”