If this inspires you to curb your drinking, there’s a variety of directions to take.
First, if you suspect you have alcohol use disorder, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional who is trained in substance use. Psychology Today maintains a database of mental health professionals nationwide.
If you are looking to cut back or cut out drinking, the experts who spoke to HuffPost gave a few tips.
If you normally have three drinks on a Saturday, have two, Martinez said. Or, if you drink every night of the week, reduce the number of nights you do drink, Martinez suggested.
“They might want to have more days where they just don’t drink at all … and having no alcohol days is a good thing,” Martinez added.
Your drink’s percentage or Alcohol By Volume (ABV) number is also an important factor. “It’s not just how much you drink, it’s … how much alcohol is in it,” said Martinez.
Many craft breweries make high-percentage IPAs, which are often 8% or even 9% alcohol, much more than what’s considered to be a standard drink, which is a 12-ounce 5% beer.
If you drink one high ABV beer, you’re having the equivalent of one and a half standard drinks. If you have two high ABV beers, it’s the same as having three standard drinks, Martinez said. “Having lower ABV beverages can also be a way to cut down. You just want to reduce the amount of pure alcohol that you’re getting.”
There’s also a wide variety of non-alcoholic beers, wines, and mocktails available at many stores, restaurants, and bars. Instead of drinking booze, you can opt for a non-alcoholic option.
Scheller also recommended listening to podcasts like Sober Powered and Hello Someday and reading books like “The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober” for support and motivation.
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