Hallmark Christmas movies are full of sentimentality that appeals to some family members, but not everyone. So how do you persuade your spouse to sit through the made-for-TV film “A Royal Christmas”?

The solution posed by one Texas woman: The Hallmark Christmas Movie Drinking Game. The rules are simple. You take a drink when you hear a reference to a dead relative, if a main character's name is related to Christmas (Nick, Holly, etc.), or mistletoe appears on the screen. You get the drift.

Americans double their intake from Thanksgiving to New Year's, and that's a major health hazard, upping the risk for breast cancer and other cancers, as well as liver damage.

Evidence that moderate alcohol consumption is heart-healthy isn't rock solid, and hardly anyone knows what “moderate” means.

Do you think your 6-ounce glass of whisky is one drink? Think again: It counts as four.

Plus, what may be harmless for you can change as you age. For instance, if you are taking a beta blocker or nitrates for high blood pressure, or an alpha blocker for enlarged prostate, mixing it with alcohol can cause perilously low blood pressure.

And if you're over 65, you don't metabolize alcohol as efficiently as before. That means your blood alcohol level increases more dramatically with each drink, making you vulnerable to falls.

Here are some changes to make for safer drinking:

• If you don't give up alcohol, make wine spritzers.

• Drink a glass of water between servings of alcohol.

• Only drink with food.

• Set a limit of two drinks on any day.

• Establish alcohol-free days.