Reducing alcohol
People often use an alcoholic drink to relax and unwind when things are getting tough. For many, it is a source of pleasure and enjoyment, particularly if meeting up with friends and family socially. Drinking within safe limits does not affect mood, but it can if we drink too much.
Alcohol is a depressant. That means, drinking too much can cause you to feel sad or anxious. You can also feel anxious if you are hungover or having the effects of withdrawal. Drinking too much alcohol can also disturb the quality of your sleep, which will affect your energy and mood.
The NHS recommends a maximum of 14 units of alcohol per week for adults, the equivalent of 6 medium (175ml) glasses of wine. If you are concerned about your drinking, you may wish to discuss with your GP, cancer nurse or other health care professional.
It is important to note that certain medications mean that you cannot drink at all. If you are unsure about this, it is recommended you discuss this with a health professional.
Here are a few tips people have found helpful you may wish to consider:
- Keep track of your drinking. Set a goal for how much would want to drink. You can record progress using apps, such as www.nhs.uk/better-health/drink-less
- Have drink-free days. Pick days of the week to not drink and keep to it.
- Alternative between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. Have a glass of water between alcoholic drinks. This will help keep you hydrated.
- Try not to stock up on alcohol. You will be encouraged to drink more if you have it in the house.
- Use smaller glasses. Simple though it seems, smaller glasses can help reduce the overall amount of alcohol you drink.
- Do not top up your glasses. It is hard to keep track of how much you are drinking if it is regularly topped up.
- Try not to buy rounds of drinks for friends if you are socialising with them. This will encourage you to keep up with everyone else.
- Have a buddy you can go out with. You could plan to do things that don’t involve alcohol, such as go for a coffee.
If you want to change your drinking, it is better to be realistic over the goals you set rather than making a decision that would be hard to stick to.