STOPPING DRINKING

Want to drink less? Here’s how to go about it.

If you would like to cut down the amount of alcohol you drink, spend a couple of minutes on our alcohol test. This quick test can determine how risky your current drinking is and help create a plan that works for you. How you cut down drinking is up to you, but a specific plan can help you stay on track. We’d also recommend the following steps.

Have a clear goal

It’s important to be honest with yourself about the reasons why you want to cut down drinking. Recording your reasons or motivation to change can be good reminder during tough times.

Keep timelines realistic

Giving yourself a realistic timeframe will help keep you motivated and help you measure your success.

Make a plan

Ensure you have plans for those social situations where you could be overcome by the urge to drink, such as parties or dinner with friends. Our free app has location-based reminders and notes-to-self to help you stick to your goal.

Be positive

Rather than focus on giving something up, try thinking about starting something new. By spending time on an activity you enjoy or benefit from, you’ll associate this change with a positive thing in your life.

Find support

If you talk about your goal of drinking less with a trusted friend, or even through social media, you’ll increase your chances of becoming successful at cutting down.

You may even want to enlist the support of a DrinkCoach to give some professional support and advice.

Please remember if you are alcohol dependent, then suddenly cutting down the amount you drink is not safe. Ensure you get the right support plan agreed with a medical professional or alcohol specialist worker.