If you’ve noticed that your drinking is starting to feel like too much, making small changes can have a big impact. Whether you’re looking to cut back or stop drinking altogether, these steps can help you feel more in control.
Why cut down?
Reducing your alcohol intake can lead to:
- improved sleep, mood, and energy levels
- a lower risk of long-term health issues, such as liver damage and heart disease
- financial savings and more time for activities you enjoy.
Steps to reduce your drinking
Click on each step below for practical tips:
Decide on specific, realistic targets for reducing your alcohol intake. For example:
- Limit drinking to weekends only
- Set a maximum number of drinks per occasion
- Set a maximum number of units to drink per day.
Schedule regular days each week without alcohol to help break habitual patterns and give your body a chance to recover.
- Opt for non-alcoholic or lower-strength beverages.
- Explore mocktail recipes or new soft drinks to make the experience enjoyable.
- Keep less alcohol at home to reduce temptation.
- Use smaller glasses and measure your drinks to control portions.
- Practice ways to decline alcoholic drinks politely.
- Suggest social activities that don’t involve alcohol, like going for a walk or visiting a café.
This quick and easy tool asks a few simple questions about your drinking habits and gives you a personalised score.
It will help you understand your drinking level, whether it could be affecting your health, and what steps to take next—whether that’s self-help tips or professional support. It only takes 2 minutes find out!
Take the AlcoholWise test.
When to get support
If your result suggests you’d benefit from the AlcoholWise service, you can refer yourself online and access up to six free support sessions to help you cut down.
If you’re experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating, or feeling unwell when you don’t drink, this could indicate alcohol dependence.
It’s important not to stop drinking suddenly as this can be dangerous.
Follow safe steps to reduce drinking and manage alcohol dependence or contact the i-access service for tailored support to reduce your intake safely.
