Making the most of the bank holiday weekend

In England we get fewer bank holidays than any other country in Europe. So it’s no surprise that while some people snigger at attempts to barbecue sausages in the pouring rain, or fit two weeks of DIY into three days, no one can blame us for trying to make the most of our long weekends.

If you’ve had a busy time at work, a bank holiday can be a welcome break from the daily grind. So when bank holidays do roll around there might be a temptation to knock back the booze and use the bonus days to recover. But while a drink or two might help you unwind over the long weekend, too much could leave you feeling more ravaged than refreshed come Tuesday morning.

Heavy weekends

“My May bank holiday last year was a bit too heavy,” admits John, a 32-year-old graphic designer from London.

“My firm were making redundancies, so I’d been racking up the over-time and by the time bank holiday came round I really wanted to go out and forget about it all. I managed to fit a boozy family barbecue, a club night and dinner with my girlfriend into three days. When Monday came around I felt too rough to do anything.”

John says that after his long weekend what he really needed was another holiday to recover. That’s because although in very small amounts alcohol can help some people to relax in the short term, too much can actually exacerbate stress, and increase any feelings of anxiety or depression. Excess alcohol also interferes with sleep patterns – so it can rob you of the quality shuteye your body needs to feel fully refreshed.

The benefits of cutting back

If you fancy a bank holiday that’s more balanced than boozy, then sticking within the government’s daily unit guidelines will help. The guidelines advise that women should not regularly exceed 2-3 units daily and that men should not regularly exceed 3-4 units daily. Three units is the equivalent of a large glass of wine, or a pint of strong premium lager.

Had a look at the guidelines and want to reduce your bank holiday alcohol intake? Then it pays to focus on the benefits that cutting back brings. Remember that playing it right on Sunday night means that Monday doesn’t have to be the day you’re stuck inside with a grinding hangover and that bank holiday Bond film you’ve seen a million times before. And best of all, whatever you decide to do with your long weekend, you’ll enjoy it all the more when you’re not battling against the after-effects of last night’s booze.

Top five bank holiday highlights

1. Take it outdoors (weather permitting!) The clocks have just gone forward which means lighter evenings to enjoy the local park or beauty spot. Making the most of the extended days means you’ll be less tempted to start any nights out you’ve got arranged with your friends early.     

2. Heading out to a club or gig With a bonus day off to look forward to, the long weekend makes the perfect time to catch some late-night music. To help you stay the distance space out alcoholic drinks with soft drinks, and remember to buy soft drinks for friends too if they look like they’re flagging.

3. Having a proper lie in One of the best bank holiday feelings is hitting ‘snooze’ for the tenth time before having a lazy breakfast. And if you stick to the government guidelines the night before you’re more likely to wake up feeling great rather than grotty.

4. Visiting a gastropub for lunch Thanks to the rise of home grown foodie culture, pub grub has moved on from the days when microwaved pies and frozen chips were the norm. Many pubs have earned themselves reputations as real food destinations, which means that alcohol can be a complement rather than the focus of a visit to the pub.

5. Watching the big match Bank holidays are always packed with must-see sport, so seek out friends who are up for watching the match at home or heading somewhere with a big screen. If you do choose to drink, make your units go further by sticking to one drink in the first and second half of the match.

Page last updated by

Unknown, 10 May 2012.

Page checked on

29 Mar 2010