Have you ever taken a break from alcohol? The benefits of cutting back are many!
- Improve your sleep
- Smooth your mood
- Boost your energy
- Have fresher skin
- Shed some lbs in weight
- Gain some £'s in your wallet
Many of us feel like we’re drinking too much too often, or just that we could do with some time off. Dry January is the perfect way to reset your relationship with alcohol. It only takes three weeks to break a habit, so this could be your route to happier, healthier drinking in the long-term. Celebs Russell Brand, Fearne Cotton, Andrew Flintoff and Adrian Chiles all decided they needed to reset their relationship with alcohol.
"I am 59 years old and I have (almost) completed my first alcohol-free month in over 25 years. It’s quite shocking! For me, Dry January has been all about taking back control... It hasn't been easy, but I feel so much better in myself, both physically and mentally."
How's your relationship with alcohol? Find out now with our short quiz:
Rethink your drink:
Alcohol is linked with more than 60 health conditions, including liver disease, high blood pressure, depression and seven types of cancer. Cutting back on alcohol reduces your risk of developing these conditions.
Tips to cut back:
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Have several drink-free days each week: Try limiting yourself to only drink on non-school, Friday and Saturday nights!
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Pace yourself: Limit the number of units you drink in a typical session.
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Drink spacers: Alternate your alcoholic drinks with alcohol-free options.
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Remember to eat: Eat food before and while you drink to slow its absorption into your bloodstream.
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Track your units: Use an app to monitor the number of units you consume.
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It's fine to say no: Not everyone drinks alcohol, and it's fine to say no, or no to another. You won't be alone, it's a new normal to drink less.
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Do something else: One person we spoke to changed their weekly pub visit with a trip to a DIY store to look at power tools!
Lyn stopped drinking for two months:
LynView full storyNow, I only drink on Friday and Saturday evenings. Getting up in the mornings is much easier.
Join Dry January
4 million people are going dry this January. Join us? If you're ready to reset your relationship with alcohol, take the quiz and make your pledge!
Adrian Chiles"Loads of us drink too much. I used to drink every day and was horrified to find that my consumption was sometimes in excess of 100 units per week... I had to moderate my drinking".