Benefits of resetting your relationship with alcohol

Dry January is a distant memory, so July’s Alcohol Awareness Week is an important opportunity for us to think about drinking and ensure we have a healthy relationship with alcohol.

Drinking is ingrained in British culture, although it seems the younger generation is being weaned off it. According to a recent survey carried out by Alcohol Change UK into the public’s views on alcohol and its effects, respondents aged 18-24 had a much more negative view, with 57% believing alcohol played a ‘mainly negative role in society’.

Currently, the UK guidelines for low-risk drinking is no more than 14 units a week, spread over three or more days, split by drink-free days and no bingeing. Drinking more than this exposes you to a range of alcohol-related health problems and can impact your well-being, relationships and your ability to succeed and thrive.

Benefits of resetting your relationship with alcohol

Better sleep: People often think that alcohol helps them sleep, but it disrupts the sleep cycle, reducing the amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep you get. You are more likely to wake up early and find it hard to go back to sleep. You are also less likely to snore or need to get up to go to the toilet if you abstain from alcohol before bedtime!

More energy: Lack of sleep has the knock-on effect of making you tired the next day, negatively impacting your energy and concentration levels.

Brighter mood: People often turn to alcohol to cope with stressful situations, but excessive drinking can cause both short and long-term anxiety. As well as a sensation of increased anxiety the next day, dubbed ‘hangxiety’, alcohol’s effect on the delicate balance of chemicals in the brain can have a damaging impact on your mental health in the long term.

Clearer skin: Alcohol is a diuretic which causes your body to dehydrate. It also causes you to lose valuable vitamins and nutrients, causing the skin to look dull and wrinkles to appear more pronounced.

Smaller waistline: Alcohol contains seven calories a gram, which is almost as much as pure fat, so cutting down on what you’re drinking will also make you much less likely to have a beer belly.

Reduces related health risks: Alcohol is a powerful chemical which affects every part of your body. Cutting back on your alcohol consumption will lower your risk of severe health conditions such as heart disease, liver disease, stroke and cancer.

6 strategies for mindful drinking

Mindful drinking is about paying attention to why, what and when you drink, and it can lead to a healthier relationship with alcohol and less consumption. Strategies that can help include:

• Recording how much you’re drinking
• Planning ahead
• Removing triggers
• Embracing new, non-drinking activities
• Experimenting with non-alcoholic drinks
• Being kind to yourself

If you’d like to discuss making positive lifestyle choices, call +44 (0)20 4580 1152  or email [email protected] to arrange an appointment with one of our doctors.