Cutting back or taking a break from alcohol is one of the best things you can do for your health. Whether you’re thinking about drinking less each week or feeling like you don’t want to drink at all anymore, there are so many good reasons to make a change.
Short term benefits
Long term benefits
Cutting down on alcohol and making changes now can protect your future health.
Many alcohol related health risks don’t appear until later in life. This means that how much and how often you drink now can affect your health later in life.
Making small, positive changes now will help reduce risks for:
- Confusion and memory loss
- Developing cancer
- Liver disease
- Heart disease
- Fertility problems
- Diabetes
- Dementia
Cutting down can also have positive flow on effects for the young people in your life.
You can be a role model by changing your habits and showing that you don’t need alcohol to have fun or to unwind after a hard day.
Reduction strategies
- Set a drink and budget limit before you start. Follow the guidelines and you'll feel better for it the next day!
- Have a few alcohol free days each week and adopt other healthy behaviours such as going for a walk, gardening or playing sport.
- Choose social events or a place where alcohol isn’t easily available, such as the beach or going to the movies.
- Limit how much alcohol you have at home - if its not there, you can’t drink it.
- Space your drinks and alternate with non-alcohol drinks.
- Change your routine – if you usually reach for a glass of wine or a beer after work, do something else instead.
- No alcohol is safer than a little alcohol when it comes to driving - it's hard to monitor how much you've had to drink - there's too many factors that affect your blood alcohol level.
Support services
adis 24/7 Alcohol and Drug Support
Confidential support service for people in Queensland with alcohol and other drug concerns, their families and health professionals.
Alcohol and Drug Support on 1800 177 833.
Last updated: October 2022