There are plenty of good reasons to drink less alcohol: for better health, wealth and general happiness. Here are five of the best.
1. Better sleep and mood
Alcoholic drinks, especially ones with sugar or caffeine, can make your sleep worse.
They can bring low energy, poor concentration and low mood in the short term — and lack of sleep can also make your long-term health worse.
Alcohol is a depressant, so cutting down on drinking (or stopping for a while) could boost your mood and help prevent issues like anxiety.
2. Build confidence
If you’re trying to drink less, you’ll be tempted at some point — and will have to find the willpower to refuse a drink.
Successfully sticking to your plan can build your self-confidence, giving you a warm glow of achievement.
3. Improve long term health and weight loss
Reducing alcohol also means less calories. One large (250ml) glass of red wine can equal 230 calories — more than a jam doughnut.
Cutting drinking can also improve your blood sugar levels, lower your blood pressure and reduce your diabetes risk. Did you know more than 10 per cent of high blood pressure in men is alcohol related?
4. Healthier skin
Alcohol acts as a diuretic, which means it can dehydrate us. This can lead to dry skin, inflammation and skin issues such as redness, flushing or itching.
Cutting down or stopping drinking for a while could help you find out whether it’s been affecting your skin.
5. Save money
Another big benefit of reducing alcohol is the money you can save, particularly if you like going to the pub.
According to Cancer Research UK, the average Brit spends £64 on alcohol in a month. For heavy drinkers and pubgoers, that could be a lot higher.
Say cheers to some extra money in your pocket.
Key sources & further reading
Drink Aware – How many units and calories are there in red wine?
