Self help
If you’ve decided that you want to cut down maybe it’s worth spending a little time working out how much you actually drink and in what circumstances you find yourself drinking too much. It would be a good idea to have a clear picture of what lower risk drinking would be like for you. Think of the advantages and remind yourself of them when you are tempted to overdo it.
Once you have a clear idea about what you want to achieve you can set yourself goals and objectives to help you get there. Have a look at the following tips which may help:
- Plan activities and tasks at times you usually want to have a drink.
- When you are bored or stressed, go for a walk or enjoy a relaxing bath instead of drinking.
- Explore other interests such as cinema, exercise, etc.
- Avoid the pub after work.
- Have your first drink only after you have started eating.
- Before drinking alcohol quench your thirst with a refreshing non-alcoholic drink.
- Avoid drinking in rounds or large groups. Practice strategies to avoid them or develop the
confidence to say 'no thanks, Im only having a couple'.
- Switch to low alcohol beer/lager or low percentage abv wine.
- Sit down and drink slower. People drink more if they are stood up with a glass in their
hand.
- Avoid or limit the time spent with 'heavy' drinking friends.
- Change your routine.
Not all of these ideas will be right for you but try some out. Also you may have some great tips that others would find useful. If you do sign up to the Forum, tell us all your ideas and let us know what works and what doesn’t.