The benefits of drinking less

Whether you’re devoted to only drinking on special occasions or you’re on the elusive border of alcohol misuse, knowing the benefits that come from drinking less can be a source of inspiration. Some benefits of drinking less come after extended periods of cessation, but there are plenty of immediate benefits from quitting drinking, too.

In the UK, 24% of adults drink over the Chief Medical Officer’s low-risk guidelines. Our relationship with alcohol often starts innocuously, but we all know the dangers of misusing and abusing it.

This blog aims to illustrate the physical and psychological benefits you can expect as you choose to reduce your alcohol intake.

Why can it be difficult to drink less?

When presented with the question: “Do you think drinking less alcohol has benefits?” there aren’t many people who would respond with “No.” As a culture, we have long been aware of the dangers present when drinking too much alcohol. We know that indulging too much affects our body, mind and spirit.

Alcohol is often used to celebrate birthdays and funerals. It’s sipped somberly when we need something to commiserate and we crack open a bottle of bubbly when we’re in high spirits.

There are massive challenges in drinking less. Physical challenges are extremely hard to overcome when you’re caught in the clutches of alcohol addiction. Some of the physical signs of alcohol addiction are skin sores, changes in skin tone and frequent stomach problems.

The root causes of alcohol addiction are also a point of contention between physical and psychological. There isn’t one single root cause for becoming addicted to alcohol, and societal norms can often instigate or prolong over-drinking, sometimes at a very early age.

Giving someone well-intentioned alcohol advice isn’t easy when the reasons we drink vary so much.

Let’s take a moment to look at what you can expect from drinking less.

What benefits can I expect from drinking less?

While most people generally agree that ceasing to drink large amounts of alcohol is good for you, we often don’t quite know the full extent of why.

Not only do the benefits of drinking less differ from person to person, but they also aren’t as visible or quantifiable as others. We’re separating some of the biggest benefits of stopping drinking into physical, mental and the broader improvements that enter your everyday life.

Physical benefits of drinking less

The most straightforward and immediate benefits of drinking less are often physical. The physical symptoms of alcohol abuse that are helped when you drink less can be measured and quantified more easily. Some of the most prevalent benefits that come from drinking less include:

• Lower blood pressure: One of the most important physical benefits is your blood becoming healthier. Blood pressure readings show decreases in the top and bottom numbers (systolic and diastolic pressures) used to calculate blood pressure.
• Decrease in fatty build-up around the liver: Alcohol is metabolised by the liver, and leaves fatty traces over time. Drinking less gives more time for the liver, heart and other essential organs to heal.
• Skin improvements: Water is the most important substance in our bodies. Alcohol dehydrates you and overtime wears your skin out. There’s a lovely blog written about a woman’s skin transformation after quitting drinking here.
• Less alcohol-related symptoms: Alcohol usage causes a long list of negative results on your body. From the brain’s decision-making centre to the blood pumping to your fingertips, drinking less helps the body solve so many common symptoms of alcohol misuse.
• Stronger immunity: Even if you drink too much for one night, your body’s germ-fighting power is affected. Alcohol over time blunts the immune system in your body, so your system will be physically stronger after drinking less.

Mental benefits of drinking less

Not all benefits from stopping drinking can be quantified or measured as easily as physical benefits, but they can certainly be felt. Here are some of the best mental improvements to expect from cutting back on drinking:

• Heightened control of emotions: As we mentioned earlier, fewer alcohol symptoms are present during cessation. You feel less anxious and more in control of how you feel, which can be liberating and make you feel happier overall.
• Improved sleep regulation: One of the first benefits you feel when abstaining from drinking is improved sleep quality. While alcohol can make you sleepy and tired while you’re drinking, it does disturb sleep regularity while you actually sleep. Broken and disturbed sleep is one of the more common symptoms of alcohol abuse.
• More energy throughout the day: Going hand-in-hand with improved sleep regulation, you’ll notice a surge in physical and mental energy to expend throughout the day. Alcohol is a diuretic, so it drains water from the body, leaving you feeling fatigued. Cutting back leads to energy surges for the body and mind.

Social and more holistic benefits of drinking less

Not all of the benefits cutting down drinking brings are apparent in physical or mental forms. You might feel something small, like your interactions with strangers generally becoming more pleasurable. Some of the deeper and more holistic positivities can be found further into the period of abstinence and can include:

• Improved time management: Alcohol abstinence leads to less of those dreaded hangovers. As you go through a hungover morning, you can often feel that your usual hours from wake-up to midday slip away like sand in the breeze. Drinking less helps with this.
• The power to “say no”: Further down the line in a period of alcohol cessation, you’ll certainly find that, at times, you need to say “no” more often. We know this is easier said than done, but there is real power in refusing to indulge in the tempting things we overly enjoy.
• Better financial control: One often overlooked benefit of long-term drink cessation is the amount of money you can save. Drinking is not a cheap activity and some striking statistics might hint at how much you’re spending. This survey states the average adult in the UK spends almost £1,000 a year on alcohol.

I want the benefits of drinking less in my life

We’ve presented physical, mental and social benefits that might appeal to you and how you live your life. We know the dangers, the roadblocks and the temptations that come with drinking alcohol, and we want to take a moment to let you know:

We’re here for you.

Here at UKAT, our comprehensive alcohol detox programme is in place to help you on the road to recovery. Our trained medical specialists are here for you every step of the way. We also offer holistic practices with alcohol advice and support for your friends and loved ones. We know how difficult it is to get alcohol help, so why not try us?

Contacting us is only one decision away and could be the best decision you ever make. Reach out to us and let us help you on your journey to a healthier, alcohol-free life.