Regardless if you’re a self-diagnosed alcoholic or just someone who enjoys a drink during social settings, you should always be looking for ways to cut back on your alcohol consumption. To illustrate this, close to 100,000 people die annually in the U.S. due to alcohol-related causes. In addition, it ranks fourth as the United States’ largest preventable cause of death.
Reducing alcohol intake is easier said than done for many. So to help with this major change and to get on the road to a healthier way of life, read on for tips on putting those pints down and giving up alcohol.
Set realistic targets
Whether you’re looking to lose weight or save money for a holiday, setting goals is a great way to achieving your dreams. The same also goes for consuming alcohol.
With that in mind, it is vital that you set realistic targets. Going cold turkey straight away might well be counterproductive for example, as you’re placing much more pressure on making a drastic change to your life. Instead, go with small targets where you will stop having a drink on a certain day. From there, you can gradually build up to the point where you knock alcohol on the head.
Receive support from your drinking buddies
When you stop drinking alcohol, getting support is a vital aspect. After all, you don’t want to stop socializing with your friends and family – yet they also probably don’t want to stop drinking like yourself. So tell them about your situation. While they might continue consuming alcohol, your true friends will most likely help you stay away from the path of temptation. Plus you never know, they might even join you in a crusade towards an alcohol-free life!
Use hemp oil
If you are an alcoholic, it becomes increasingly difficult to break the cycle of drinking. Yet, one way to suppress those cravings is by using CBD hemp oil. This is because during that period when you want to have a drink, using this oil will provide that satisfied or ‘rewarded’ feeling that you search for with alcohol. Plus the longer you stay off alcohol, the harder it is to subdue those cravings – at least in the short-term. That’s why it is good to have something in place – such as CBD oil – to act as a healthier alternative during those tough times. These days you can purchase hemp oil for vaping, ensuring it is easy to take when needed.
Fancy a beer? Go alcohol-free
Even when you’ve been off the alcohol for a long period of time, the desire to taste beer will usually appear every now and again. Satisfy that desire and have a beer… That is, an alcohol-free beer. Before you dismiss this point, there’s actually a diverse and enjoyable selection of alcohol-free beers in most supermarkets. So when having a social gathering, taking a pack of these will mean that you don’t feel left out while staying sober at the same time.