Your weekly drinking results

A few changes could make a difference to you

A few changes could make a difference to you

84%

You drink MORE than 84% of women your age

This week you've drank the equivalent of 6 doughnuts (not counting any other snacks or mixers!)
16
To burn off the calories that you've drank this week, you'd need to walk for 16 miles
How drinking less could benefit you

Drinking less gives you more energy.

Drinking too much can make you feel tired, sluggish and generally a bit under the weather. Drink less and it shouldn't take too long before you notice that you have more energy.

Save money.

If you start drinking less you should quickly start to see the money you're saving pile up. Keep this money in a safe place and use it as additional motivation. The less you drink the more you'll save!

Drinking less can help you sleep.

Regular drinking can affect the quality of your sleep, making you feel tired and sluggish. When you drink alcohol before bed you may fall into a deep sleep quicker, but as the night goes on you spend more time in the less restful Rapid Eye Movement (REM) stage of sleep. This can leave you feeling tired the next day, not matter how long you stay in bed. To help you sleep better, stop drinking earlier before bedtime. This will give your body time to process the alcohol you've drunk. On average it takes two hours to process a glass of wine or pint of beer. For more advice to help you sleep visit www.nhs.uk/livewell/sleep/pages/sleep-home.aspx

Click here to see more benefits of drinking less
Your top tips

Now we know more about how you drink, we'd like to suggest some simple tips that you could try using to drink less. You don't need to do them all. Pick what works best for you and your life.

Cutting down alcohol may help lift your mood.

There's a strong link between heavy drinking and depression, and hangovers often make you feel anxious and low. If you already feel anxious or sad, drinking can make this worse, so cutting down may put you in a better mood generally. Making changes in your life, such as resolving a difficult situation, talking about your problems or getting more sleep, can usually improve your mood. Check out the following useful link for tips about how to be happier, more in control, and able to cope better with life's ups and downs https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/feel-better-and-happy.aspx

If negative feelings don't go away, are too much for you to cope with, or are stopping you from carrying on with your normal life, you may need to make some changes and get some extra support. Talk to your GP or call NHS 111. There is more information about help for low mood at https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/low-mood-and-depression.aspx

Find a way to relax that you like - that doesn't involve having a drink.

We all need ways to unwind from our busy lives. Drinking alcohol may make you feel relaxed at the time, but can make you feel worse afterwards. Simple activities like exercise, reading, yoga, playing music, cooking something new or making time for a hobby can all help you wind down. Find what works for you.

Drinking less is a good way to reduce tiredness.

Some people feel that having a drink helps them deal with tiredness, but this usually only leaves you feeling more tired, more often. If you can reduce the amount you drink when you're tired, you should start to notice a real boost in your energy levels.

Drop a drink size.

A really easy trick to drink a little less without feeling like you are missing out is to go for smaller sizes. Try bottled beer instead of pints, or a small glass of wine instead of a large one.

Keep wine for longer.

Why not save some wine until tomorrow? Most wine keeps for a couple of days if you use a bottle stop.

Keep an eye on how much is in your glass.

It's easy to drink too much when you're at home. Pay attention to how much you or your friends and family pour into your glass and always make sure to finish one drink before pouring another. Topping up drinks makes it harder to keep track of how much you've had and to know when you planned to stop.

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