According to the Centers for Disease Control, drinking in moderation means no more than one a day for women and two a day for men. Binge drinking on the other hand, entails the consumption of at least four drinks in one occasion. This can come with serious short term and long term side effects like liver disease, mental impairment and altered sleep patterns. If you have recently made the resolution to cut down on drinking, you can achieve this by following some key steps.
Step 1
Seek out the lowest alcohol-content beverages. Alcohol content varies from drink to drink. Find out what drinks have the lowest alcohol percentage and stick with them. Light beer for example has a lower alcohol content than hard liquor or wine.
Step 2
Set up a reliable support team. Avoid contact with people who can bring you down and people who you used to drink with regularly. They are bad influences and they can make it hard for you to cut down. Surround yourself instead with positive, uplifting people that you can confide in and discuss what you are doing. Reach out to them when you feel a possible binge coming on.
Step 3
Visit friends and family members that you have not seen in a while instead of tipping the bottle. This can keep your time occupied with things other than consuming alcohol. If they offer you a drink, politely decline, or stay disciplined and keep it to moderate levels.
Step 4
Drink a glass of water or some other non-alcoholic beverage if you are thirsty. If you consume alcohol when you are thirsty, you run the risk of drinking in excess. If you are still going to have a drink, have it after your thirst has been quenched. Also avoid eating snacks that can promote thirst like salty nuts, potato chips and pretzels.
Step 5
Consume a meal before you go out or start to drink. This will help slow the absorption rate of the alcohol down and it can also help fill you up. Avoid meals that are high in fat and greasy as this can cause you to become sick.
Step 6
Create a new habit by taking a different route on the way home from work if you customarily stop for a drink at a certain bar. This can dissuade you from drinking and it can also prevent you from driving while under the influence. Replace your drinking with walking when you get home. This can keep your mind occupied and it can also help you get some exercise that you wouldn't have gotten if you were drinking at the bar.
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