With Christmas Day fast approaching, many families will be looking forward to exchanging presents, eating turkey, and perhaps indulging in a drink or two.
A poll by Talker Research for Newsweek has revealed what time most Americans will start drinking on the big day.
The survey asked 1,000 U.S. adults what time they would swap their water for wine and enjoy their first alcoholic beverage on Christmas. While the majority of drinkers, 11 percent, prefer to wait until between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., others choose to start much earlier. Two percent of Americans drink before 8 a.m., and 4 percent between 8 and 10 a.m.
In contrast, 45 percent of respondents said they don't drink at all on Christmas Day.
The results, collected between December 2 and December 6, reveal that men are more likely than women to open the drinks cabinet early on Christmas morning. Twelve percent of women typically favor having their first alcoholic drink between 4 and 6 p.m.
Comparatively, 12 percent of men prefer to start drinking between noon and 2 p.m.
Alternatively, 4 percent of men would drink before 8 a.m., whereas just 1 percent of women would do the same.
Starting early was also favored by millennials (born between 1981 and 1996), as 4 percent would drink before 8 a.m., and 6 percent would drink before 10 a.m.
Meanwhile, not a single person from the Silent Generation (born between 1928 and 1945) would have a drink before midday. As for younger folk, Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) prefer to wait for their first drink, as 13 percent have their first tipple between 4 and 6 p.m.
Drinking in the morning is generally discouraged, yet some see Christmas Day as an exception. Jo Hayes, an etiquette expert and lifestyle consultant, told Newsweek that people should remain cautious and recommends a general rule not to drink alcohol before midday.
"While pre-midday drinks (in moderate consumption) may be permissible for special events, such as Christmas, this is not a healthy lifestyle practice," Hayes, the founder of the website EtiquetteExpert, said.
"Pre-midday drinking increases the [risk] of overindulging, with the more time in the day to continue drinking, compared with starting in the afternoon or evening," she said.
Hayes, who rarely drinks alcohol, added that she's "regularly amazed" to see people drinking in the morning, often in airports.
She believes that the celebratory atmosphere of Christmas can encourage people to indulge in habits they wouldn't usually follow -- sometimes due to social pressure or stress caused by the holidays.
Hayes tells Newsweek that the festivities can cause some people "to turn to alcohol to dull their pain."
She urges people to know and respect their limits, whether it's Christmas or a normal day.
"People have different limits for what they can handle, and wise people know their limits. I would suggest people err on the side of caution and stick to 1 or 2 drinks on Christmas Day," she said. "Choose light beers and lower alcoholic wines or champagnes. Drink plenty of water in between and ensure you don't eat on an empty stomach."