No booze, no problem! The holidays are upon us and this time a year is the time to start thinking about what we want to improve in the next year —specially the things that help us improve our health and wellness: Going to the gym, avoid stress, drink more water, meditate more, etc. One thing that’s always at the top of many new year’s resolutions lists is to cut back on drinking.  The sober movement has been growing strong over the last few years, even after “Dry January” is long gone.

Alcohol has become a go-to tool for coping during stressful times, causing alcohol dependency to become chronic for some individuals in this day in time. It’s more commonly known as Alcohol Use Disorder.

It’s no surprise that with the stressful almost two years of lockdown due to the pandemic, alcohol sales have increased by a 20 percent. According to a study done by Columbia University, from March to September 2020, there were 41.9 billion dollars in liquor store sales, representing an increase of 20 percent and 18 percent compared to the same period in 2019 and the previous seven-month period, August to February 2020, respectively.

More and more people are jumping on the Alcohol Free Wagon in 2022. So, if you’re sober-curious or just simply wanna cut back, here’s some info that will be helpful.

How to Quit or Cut Back on Your Booze Intake

First off, you’ll need to decide for yourself if being alcohol free is the right choice for you. Depending intake, you can determine if you want to cut back to save yourself the calories, the hangovers, the money you spend on happy hour, etc. If you feel your relationship with alcohol goes deeper, keep reading below for some signs and symptoms of alcohol dependency.

Telling somebody Vs. Doing it by yourself: You can decide whether you want to go on an alcohol free journey by yourself, with a friend or even tell a family member for accountability. Just keep in mind that you may get the support you want or people will simply not understand at the moment. That’s why you find an online community!

Enter the Reframe App: This app is an online tool with expert advice and an online community built to help you drink less and live more. Whether your goal is to cut back or quit drinking entirely, Reframe’s neuroscience approach can help you change the way alcohol shows up in your life.

Whether you want to try Dry January or say goodbye to el traguito for good, there’s always alcohol-free products to help you ease into the mocktail scene. Yes, people, the Cosmo-loving Carrie Bradshaw living in me has tried those and they’re good!

One brand to try is  Mingle Mocktails. Mingle is the brainchild of Laura Taylor, a busy working mom who decided to stop drinking several years ago.  These festive ready-to-drink sparkling libations are inspired by popular cocktails like the Cosmo, the Moscow Mule and the Mojito – and they have everything their counterparts do, minus the booze and calories.  They come in bottles or cans and bring everyone to the party with sophisticated fun flavors, and they look as good as they taste.

Let’s dig deeper…

What is Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

A person who suffers from alcohol use disorder is still able to hold down a job, play a role within a family and to most people, appear to be coping. Those that suffer from (AUD) are exceptionally good at hiding their condition. With few apparent negative consequences, the person is functional and unlikely to want to change whilst they feel they still have time. It can, however, be successfully treated and the sooner treatment is undertaken the better for the individual concerned and their loved ones.

If you or a loved one are suffering from this condition, and still manage to be functional, here are a few things to look out for.

Watch out for These Signs and Symptoms of AUD 

• Frequent intoxication and smelling of alcohol
• Loss of control around alcohol use
• Hiding alcohol in strange places such as a garage, at the office, in bushes or car
• Drinking between work times or appointments, or drinking just enough to keep their alcohol levels topped up if they are alcohol dependent
• Frequent binge drinking after daily responsibilities are taken care of
• Justifying their drinking as a way of unwinding after work, a busy day with the kids or as a reward
• Becoming irritable, anxious, restless and unable to sleep if they are unable to drink
• Regularly drinking in the morning before going about their day, or at odd times of the day such as lunchtime in order to avoid alcohol withdrawal symptoms
• Always drinking at social events and ‘preloading’ prior to attending a social event
• Avoiding social events or activities that do not involve alcohol
• Alcohol has become a problem at home, with them either drinking excessively alone at home or disappearing to a pub or bar straight after work for hours
• Becoming defensive or flippant when challenged over their drinking
• Reasoning that they still hold down a job or take the kids to school on time
• Alternating alcohol and prescription pills in order that they can function
• They may become erratic, spontaneous, angry or change their character completely whilst intoxicated
• Difficulty in recalling events that took place whilst heavily intoxicated – experiencing an alcoholic blackout
• Risk taking, they may well drive to work or drive children to school whilst still over the limit from the previous night or from taking a morning drink

Information provided by: https://delamere.com/addiction-treatment/alcohol-addiction

We hope you enjoy the holidays and consider this for your New Year’s Resolutions! ¡Feliz Navidad!