- Poll of 2,002 respondents.
- 20% believe holiday cocktails don’t count toward the drink-drive limit.
- Infographic included.
Every December, Americans trade their usual drinks for something a little more “seasonal” – steaming mulled wines, cosy Irish coffees, spiked hot chocolates and candy-cane martinis that feel far more innocent than they are. But a new survey by Bisnar Chase, polling 2,002 adults (21+), reveals just how badly people underestimate the strength of these festive favourites.
Respondents were asked whether they consider a range of Christmas cocktails – including eggnog, mulled wine and hot toddies – to be as strong as low-alcohol beer. The results were surprisingly clear: on average, almost half (46%) of Illinoisans believe these holiday drinks are no stronger than low-alcohol beer – this compares to a national average of 38%.
More specifically:
In Illinois, 48% of adults think eggnog packs no more punch than a light beer, while another 38% say the same about mulled wine. And in the Prairie State, 52% also mistakenly believe that hot toddies count as low-alcohol cocktails.
The wider data shows how deep the confusion runs:
- 20% believe holiday cocktails don’t count toward the drink-drive limit.
- 57% admit they have unknowingly drunk more at a holiday party because the drinks were “festive” or “didn’t taste strong.”
- 46% expect warm drinks (such as spiked hot chocolate, lattes or mulled wine) to be weaker than cold cocktails.
- And when faced with a menu item called Santa’s Milkshake, almost half (48%) would assume it’s alcohol-free.
The misunderstandings don’t end there. When asked which Christmas cocktails they believed they could legally drive after having one:
- 23% chose spiked hot chocolate.
- 10% chose a sugar cookie martini.
- 7% chose a snowball cocktail.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, 77% of Illinoisans think restaurants and bars should label the alcohol strength of these drinks – a sign that people know they are operating with guesswork.
The findings point to a cheerful but risky blind spot. And behind all the cinnamon, whipped cream and seasonal novelty lies a serious issue: misjudging holiday cocktails can quietly push people over the legal limit, exposing them to criminal charges, licence suspensions and long-term consequences that last far beyond the holiday season.
“People don’t set out to break the law at Christmas – they simply underestimate what’s in the glass”, says nationally recognized attorney Brian Chase. “Cocktails look fun and harmless, but their alcohol content doesn’t magically drop because it’s the holidays. Our concern is that this misunderstanding can put otherwise responsible people at serious legal risk. A single misjudged drink can lead to a DUI, licence suspension and consequences that follow you long after the decorations come down.”
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