Since the pandemic began, there has been a major increase in the number of alcoholic beverages that customers are purchasing to drink at home. Plenty of people have found a lot of free time on their hands while staying at home, which is one of the main reasons why alcohol sales have risen. However, with bars and restaurants either closed or having to enforce strict Covid-19 regulations to try and reduce the spread of the deadly virus, people have drunk more from home instead of spending their money on booze on a night out.
For most people, a few glasses of wine, a gin and tonic, or a beer now and again won’t make a difference to their lives. However, due to these unprecedented times, it is not surprising that many people have increased the amount of alcohol they drink. With so many people out of work, hospitals full to the brim, and children unable to attend school, alcohol has helped many people deal with the negativity.
However, with the vaccine rollout, the future seems a lot brighter. Although we are not out of the woods just yet, things are certainly looking better. To help lower the amount of alcohol you drink, we have combined these few tips.
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Avoid Places where you are Expected to Drink
It’s hard to say no to alcohol in a lot of social gatherings. With a lot of the lockdowns around the globe lifted, people are getting really excited to socialize again. There are parties and other forms of get-togethers happening all over the world where Covid numbers are low. Of course, it’s a time for celebration, especially when you meet up with family and friends that you haven’t seen in so long. However, if you think you will be forced into drinking alcohol, consider rearranging to meet up with those people at another stage.
If you do plan on going to an event or a party where the booze will be flowing, consider bringing some tasty nonalcoholic beverages with you. Drinks like nonalcoholic beer or soft drinks that look like alcohol are ideal, as others won’t question why you are not drinking.
Obviously, you will want to avoid going to bars and clubs. At the end of the day, would you go to the hairdresser if you don’t need a haircut?
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Exercise More Frequently
Setting a weekly exercise plan at the start of the week or a plan at the beginning of the month can help distract you from drinking. A lot of people turn to booze to avoid feeling bored, so by having an exercise plan set out and if you are motivated to stick to it, then you won’t be able to drink on a regular basis.
Although exercising is one of the best ways to cure a hangover, getting motivated to exercise after a night of drinking can prove very difficult. That’s why it is vital that you have your plan prepared before you start working out. Before you open a bottle of wine, you can remind yourself of the workout session you have in store the following day.
Set goals for yourself and do whatever it takes to make it work. If you achieve these goals, it might be a good idea to reward yourself. With the money you can save by not drinking, you can treat yourself to a nice pair of shoes.
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Consider going to Alcoholics Anonymous
If you are struggling to control the amount of alcohol you are drinking, or if you have tried to cut down but failed over and over again and you’ve decided you’ve had enough, perhaps it’s time to ask others for help.
10% of people suffer from addiction. Although it might seem like something to be ashamed of, there are millions of people on this planet in the same boat. There are AA (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings all over the world on a regular basis. People at these meetings all suffer from addiction and follow the 12 step program to help them deal with their addiction and life in general. All AA meetings welcome new people with open arms. Each person at the meeting will be given a certain amount of time to share their feelings, however, if you are nervous you don’t have to say anything. Just listening to others about how they deal with their addiction can provide you with the confidence you need to stay off the booze.
AA can give people a positive effect of spirituality and can help you understand why you are drinking excessively. If you can’t find a meeting in your community, there are plenty of AA meetings online.
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Get Rid of the Drinks containing Alcohol in your house
If there is a bottle of your favorite wine or gin in your house, consider throwing it away or giving it to someone else. Having alcohol readily available makes it much harder to stop drinking, especially if it is stored in your home.
Instead of having alcohol stored in your home, consider replacing it with healthy drinks instead. Consider some fruit juices or even making your own fruit shakes. This way, when you feel like having a drink you will consume something healthy. Feeling healthy is very important for someone who has stopped drinking. The next time you have a hangover, you will be able to remind yourself how good you felt without booze in your life.
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Ask Loved Ones for Support
Don’t be ashamed to ask friends and family for help. Even if you want to pack in drinking for a short stint, it’s better than nothing. Explain to them the reason why you are stopping drinking alcohol and ask them if they want to do things with you that don’t include drinking. Going for a hike, a walk on the beach or a swim in the ocean are great ways of taking your mind off alcohol.
When others realize what you are doing you might be surprised how they will react. Some will be very supportive while others might not care. Try and socialize with people who don’t drink or those who rarely consume alcohol. These people will often give you the confidence to knock the booze on the head. They can show you that it is possible to live a normal life without having to rely on drinking.
Conclusion
Unlike most other drugs, alcohol is accepted in most societies which often makes it much harder to stop. However, you must keep in mind that plenty of people give up drinking alcohol all the time, even those who are full-on alcoholics manage to kick the habit.
Remember, you are not the first and you won’t be the last to be in this position. In fact, many people realize that life can be much better without drinking. Although you might be sleeping fewer hours, it’s hard to get quality sleep with alcohol in your system. You will feel a lot fresher the next day if you go to sleep sober for six hours in comparison to sleeping for ten hours after drinking. You will feel like you have the energy to burn and you will probably be a lot more productive than you once were.
