Some people drank more alcohol than usual over Christmas and New Year's Eve. As a result, many people want to swear off beer, wine and hard liquor – at least for the time being. An Australian research team has now discovered how best to do this.
Dry January is just around the corner again, and with it the desire of many people to drink significantly less alcohol. What sounds easy is, however, a problem for many people. According to Australian researchers, this doesn't have to be the case.
The myth of the healthy glass of red wine has long been refuted
An occasional glass of red wine used to be considered potentially healthy. However, new studies have long shown that even moderate alcohol consumption can be harmful to your health. Particularly alarming are links between alcohol and an increased risk of cancers such as breast and colon cancer.
The World Health Organization (WHO) already confirms that no level of alcohol consumption is considered safe, even if the absolute risk remains lower with light drinking. According to epidemiologist Jane Figueiredo, 51 percent of people don't even know that alcohol increases the risk of cancer.
Researchers design two-step program based on studies
After all, especially after the busy holiday season, in which alcohol consumption often increases significantly, many are looking for ways to rethink how they deal with it.
Australian behavioral researchers analyzed the most effective strategies and identified a simple two-step program in a study of 8,000 subjects over six weeks.
- Education about the connection between alcohol and cancer: Participants who received this information were more motivated to reduce their consumption.
- Daily counting of drinks consumed: Consciously tracking every glass of alcohol actually led people to drink less.
The combination of knowledge and simple self-monitoring made all the difference. “By combining information about alcohol and cancer with a concrete action – counting drinks – we were able to reduce alcohol consumption,” explained lead author Simone Pettigrew.
Further tips for a more conscious approach to alcohol
The two-step method is easy to implement and scientifically proven, but it's not the only way to drink less. These approaches can also lead to success:
- Technical support : Apps can help track alcohol consumption or find alternatives.
- Community approaches : Making resolutions with friends creates additional motivation.
- Replacement strategies : Relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation can replace the evening drink.
Ultimately, the best method for reducing your alcohol consumption is the one that works for you. However, if you're looking for a place to start, Australia's two-step strategy might be a good place to start.
This article was created using machine-assisted (AI) technology and was carefully reviewed by the editorial team before publication.
By Dana Neumann
