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

  • Wake up feeling better in the morning and ready to take on your day!

    Falling asleep without alcohol means you won’t wake up as often and you’ll have a more restorative, deep sleep. And with that comes improved everyday functioning – mood, concentration, creativity, productivity, mental performance and energy. The good thing is, you’ll notice the benefits of this straight away.

  • Have better looking skin

    Did you know alcohol can affect how your skin looks? Alcohol is linked to inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, broken capillaries on your face and nose, under-eye puffiness and dehydration (which can leave your skin looking dry and dull). Cutting back allows your skin’s elasticity to return, lose the redness, and give you an overall healthier complexion.

  • Feel more energetic!

    Looking to smash a personal best or try a new fitness class? Cutting back on your drinking will help you get a better night’s sleep so you’ll feel more energised during the day. Whether it’s having more energy to run around after the kids or smash out a busy day at work, cutting back will help you to tackle it all.

  • Stronger immunity

    Alcohol reduces various immune responses, including lower white blood cell production which the body needs to fight bacteria and germs. It’s also associated with increased risk of contracting bacterial and viral lung infections. By cutting back you’re giving your body a chance to build up its natural defence against infections and viruses, like COVID or the flu.

  • Better weight management

    Alcohol can cause unwanted weight gain in 4 ways: it stops your body from burning fat, it's high in kilojoules, it can make you feel hungry, and it can lead to cravings for salty and greasy foods. Cutting back can help you make healthier decisions to look and feel your best.

  • More cash in your pocket

    One of the unexpected bonuses of drinking less can be saving money. Depending on what you drink, how much and how often, the savings can be significant. In 2020, the average Aussie household spent almost $2,000 on alcohol for the year – so cut back and pocket the money instead.* *Australian Alcohol and Drug Foundation (2020)

  • Improved mental health

    Have you ever had 'hangxiety'? After a night out drinking you might wake up feeling anxious or worried about what happened the night before. 'Hangxiety' is partly caused by the chemical changes that take place in our brains when we drink. Cutting back your drinking could also help reduce your anxiety.

Long-term benefits

As well as having a short-term impact on your health and wellbeing, 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.

A child and parent ride on their bikes along a pathway by the water.

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.

Support services

adis 24/7 Alcohol and Drug Support

adis is a confidential support service for people in Queensland with alcohol and other drug concerns, their families and health professionals.

Call Alcohol and Drug Support on 1800 177 833.

Visit the adis website

Last updated: May 2025

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