For this session, use the preceding article on seasonal ailments and overindulgence, as well as other sources of information and practical experience within the pharmacy team to strengthen your knowledge of the common health issues covered in the article. This will give you more insight and information to pass on to your customers.

You can use information sources you may have in the pharmacy, such as other articles, OTC medicines guides and manufacturers' literature or websites. We've given you some ideas to start you off in the 'information sources' box (above, right). At this time of year, the health pages of magazines and newspapers are likely to have articles on seasonal health. Look out for those too and think about what your customers may be reading. Is it useful? Does it suggest helpful approaches? 

You will find plenty of information in our article. In order to make it useful and relevant
to your work:

• What points would you make to encourage a customer to go easy on alcoholic drinks over Christmas? What are the benefits for them? 
• What information could you give and what suggestions could you make to a person who wants to be careful about how much they drink at the office party? What preparations could they make before and during the party? Remember to consider calories as well as alcohol content of drinks
• What are the current alcohol guidelines? 
• What are the current alcohol guidelines during pregnancy?
• What advice would you give to someone with a hangover? 
• Make a list of medicines that you think should be in a first aid box over the festive season. Can you explain the importance of each item and how to use it? Consider making a festive first aid display in your pharmacy window.