How the French Avoid Getting Too Wine-Drunk at Dinner

Wine pairings with dinner seems like such a lovely concept, but is there any way to drink merrily without getting too drunk? A French winemaker recently let me in on a little trick he's been doing for years, something he claims is very commonplace in France. Here it is: before consuming alcohol, eat bread dipped in about a tablespoon or two of olive oil. According to this Frenchman, the oil helps coat the stomach and slows the absorption of the alcohol into your bloodstream. While I don't have any scientific evidence to back up this claim, it does seem like a harmless hack I'm willing to try out!

Please note, this tip is isn't to encourage drinking and driving. Vintners, restaurateurs, and US law discourage driving under the influence under any circumstance.