1: Aim to have at least two alcohol-free days a week
It's easy to get used to having a drink to unwind every day, so why not try to break the habit by staying off the booze once or twice a week?
You may notice certain things like headaches or indigestion easing on the days you don't drink. On top of that, you may wake up feeling more refreshed, because despite what you may think, alcohol can actually disrupt your sleep.
Go on give it a go, set a note in your DrinkCoach app to remind you to take a day off.
2: When bored or stressed, have a workout instead of drinking
You don’t have to join a gym to ‘workout’, here are some alternatives:
Do a spot of gardening
Try a web workout
Join a running club
If you don’t have a dog, see if a neighbour or friend has one that needs walking
Get that bike out of the shed!
Go for a swim
3: Plan activities and tasks at times you would usually drink
Get that pesky ‘to-do’ list sorted, catch up with friends, get out and about all while cutting down on your drinking!
Here are some ideas other ideas:
Book a class at the gym
Visit a gallery or museum
Treat yourself - go get a coffee or book a spa treatment
Organise a basketball game with friends or co-workers
Call an old friend
“This is your chance to try something new - have a look online for mocktail recipes or see what’s new at your local supermarket.”
4: Explore other interests
Use the time you’d usually spend drinking to try something new. Here are some ideas:
Pick up a craft such as crocheting or woodworking
Master a difficult recipe
Learn how to create and maintain a website
Introduce friends and family to a new board game
Do a photography course
Expand that record collection
Try your hand at some amateur astronomy
5: Quench your thirst
Drink non-alcoholic drinks BEFORE and INBETWEEN alcoholic ones
Thirst can make you drink more alcohol than you need, so quench it with a soft drink rather than guzzling down another pint!
Watch out for salty snacks, they will make you thirsty and encourage you to drink more.
6: Switch to lower strength alternatives
Have your cake and eat it…
Switch from a typical 5% lager to a 4% version
Cut down units by trying a shandy or spritzer
Ask for a single measure of spirits in your drink
Keep an eye out for low alcohol wine and beers at the supermarket
Try one of our mocktail recipes!
7: Restock the fridge
Here’s your chance to try something new.
There are lots of non-alcoholic options available - have a look online for recipes or see what's new at your local supermarket.
Smoothies
Cordials
Iced coffee or tea
Low-calorie fizzy drinks
Fruit juice
Herbal teas
Milkshakes
8: Avoid going to the pub straight after work
Eating is never cheating!
We all know drinking on an empty stomach is a bad idea, but missing dinner because we’ve gone straight to the pub after work is a classic scenario.
If you do have to go out after work, try and have something to eat first or stick to soft drinks.
9: Avoid drinking in rounds
Drink less and spend less…
Drinking at the pace of the fastest drinker, or wondering if you're ‘getting your money’s worth’, is not a helpful tactic to drinking healthily. Avoid rounds and not only could you drink less, but you’ll spend less too.
10: When you do drink, set yourself a limit - and stick to it
Decide ahead of time how much you want to drink.
Be realistic and set a reminder in your DrinkCoach app to help you stick to your goal. Share this goal with a friend so they can help you stick to it too!
Our DrinkCoach Tools
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