At the beginning of the year, many people make a resolution to give up alcohol.
But how does this work in the long term?
A cozy beer after work, a glass of wine with dinner and sparkling wine to toast – there are many opportunities to have an alcoholic drink in everyday life.
No other drug is as accepted in our society as alcohol.
Beer, wine and co. are anything but healthy.
Especially at the beginning of the new year, many people decide to give up alcohol for a while.
When everyday life returns, the good resolution is quickly discarded.
Here you can find out how you can manage to drink less alcohol in the long term and which tips will help.
These tips will help you drink less alcohol
According to the German Center for Addiction Questions (DHS), around 10.2 liters of pure alcohol per capita are drunk in Germany every year.
Most people consume alcoholic beverages primarily in a social context.
Many can hardly imagine celebrations such as birthdays or holidays without alcohol.
The social acceptance of alcohol also makes it easy to forget that alcohol is essentially a drug that can become addictive over time.
+
At the beginning of the new year, many people decide to give up alcohol.
Good intentions usually don't last very long.
© Imago
Acutely, drinking alcohol can impair abilities such as concentration, reaction and memory.
Physical illnesses are also associated with the regular consumption of alcoholic beverages.
The result is damage to the liver, pancreas and heart.
Alcohol also seems to increase the likelihood of various types of cancer.
In order to reduce the risk of illness, experts therefore advise avoiding alcohol on at least two to three days a week.
Disclaimer: Drink as little alcohol as possible
Of course, anyone who occasionally reaches for a glass of wine does not have to do without it for the rest of their lives.
Nevertheless, it is advisable to limit your alcohol consumption from time to time.
The following tips can help:
Conscious consumption: Become aware of how much alcohol you actually consume.
The best way to do this is to keep an alcohol diary in which you record when, how much and on what occasion you drank.
Dry Month: Trends like a dry January make perfect sense.
A goal and fixed rules help to reduce the amount of alcohol and to get an overview of your own drinking behavior.
Changing habits: Alcohol is part of many everyday situations and celebratory occasions.
While for some it is easier not to have alcohol at home, for others it helps to switch to non-alcoholic versions instead of traditional drinks.
Sharing intentions with others: If you tell your friends, colleagues and family members about your intention to drink less, it will be easier to give up.
From depression to alcohol addiction: an overview of the most common mental illnesses – every third person is affected
From depression to alcohol addiction: an overview of the most common mental illnesses – every third person is affected
Don't miss anything: You can find everything to do with health in the regular newsletter from our partner 24vita.de.
If, despite various measures and attempts, it is difficult to give up alcohol, it can help to avoid social situations in which a lot of alcohol is drunk for a while.
This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication. In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor. Unfortunately, our editors are not allowed to answer individual questions about clinical pictures.
List of rubrics: © Imago