Stay in control of your drinking this spring
- Opt out of rounds. Drinking in rounds can make you drink a lot faster than you’d like or realize. Opt out or try buying drinks with a smaller group of friends instead.
- Watch out for cocktails. They can contain more alcohol than you might think.
- Spread out your drinks throughout the night. This will help your units go further. Try not to exceed one drink per hour.
- Try smaller measures. Rather than sticking to pints, go for a bottled beer or if you are drinking wine, opt for a small glass.
- Go diluted. Try a more diluted alcoholic drink such as a spritzer or add ice to your drink to dilute it.
- Rotate drinks. Have a soft drink or water with each alcoholic drink to help you stay hydrated.
Five benefits to cutting back on alcohol
Keeping an eye on what you drink can have a positive effect on your overall health and well-being. It can help you:
- Watch your weight Alcohol is heavy on calories. And with 150 calories in an average 12 oz. bottle of beer, cutting down is a great way to stay in shape.
- Sleep soundly Drinking less means that you get more high quality shuteye because alcohol interferes with the normal sleep process.
- Reduce stress Some people say that they drink to relax, but in fact excess alcohol can actually make you feel more stressed because it’s a depressant.
- Avoid hangovers Keep to the daily unit guidelines and you can kiss goodbye to a sore head, dry mouth and that dreaded “what on earth was I thinking last night?” hangover feeling.
- Stay healthy for longer Cutting down can be great news for your long-term health. Drinking less alcohol reduces the risks of alcohol-related cancers, diabetes and heart disease. It puts less pressure on the liver too.