Dry January is a great start for many people, but if you’re a heavy drinker, the habit can easily linger for years. The best way to keep it at bay is to prioritise your health above all else. Giving up alcohol is a big step to take, but also a big step to keep.
Here are 5 facts to help you decide whether you should continue drinking alcohol – or if it’s finally time to give up.
1. Too much alcohol can contribute to several health problems
Studies have shown that excessive alcohol plays a crucial role in the development of many neurological disorders, like alcohol-related brain damage and dementia. Alongside this, the short-term effects can include conditions like memory loss, dehydration, and alcohol poisoning. Alcohol also inhibits your ability to learn new tasks, so if you’re trying to learn or remember something while drinking, it will be much more difficult than if sober.
For heavier drinkers, alcohol withdrawal can cause dangerous symptoms such as tremors and seizures. The first few days following the last drink can be pretty tough if you’ve been drinking often to lower your inhibitions. During this time, your body’s immune system is suppressed so that it doesn’t go into overdrive while detoxing. This means that infections like cold sores or the flu are more likely to happen during your "dry" period until your body recovers fully.
Also, as the average alcoholic drink contains many more calories than non-alcoholic drinks, excessive drinking can lead to overeating and weight gain when consumed in large quantities.
2. Alcohol can have a negative impact on social interaction
Drink too much alcohol and you can become disassociated from your surrounding environment. This detachment can make it easier to commit crimes, like shoplifting or violent assaults. People who drink socially are less likely to intervene when they see wrong doings because they may not recognise it as wrong, or they may be so intoxicated that they can’t recognise anything at all.
For some people, allowing the social aspect of alcohol to disappear from their life can have a really positive impact. It may surprise you how much you don’t miss it. Ask yourself, do you enjoy going to parties, or getting drinks with work colleagues? Do you dislike your friends? Does it feel like they just want to go out every night and get drunk with no strings attached?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, maybe now is the time for some changes.
3. Alcohol can interfere with sleep
One of the most common problems associated with heavy drinking is disrupted sleep. And one of the most common symptoms of a disrupted sleep is morning grogginess. If you’re not sleeping well, then you will get disoriented and can be more likely to make mistakes at work - or, more dangerously, when you’re driving.
As sleep is such an important part of human health and wellbeing, this can have a major impact on recovery from alcohol addiction. People who drink alcohol regularly have lower levels of deep sleep and REM sleep, which are vital for repair and revival recovery from injuries and illness.
4. Alcohol can negatively affect a person's mood
If you frequently drink, then you are more likely to experience stress and anxiety. Whilst a small amount of stress is actually really important for our development as humans, it’s important that we manage it healthily.
When alcohol is introduced into the equation, this stress response can get out of control, making you feel you can’t think straight or handle whatever comes your way. This explains why people who drink alcohol frequently are more likely to suffer from anxiety disorders such as panic attacks. And if this occurs regularly, then there is a higher chance of developing chronic conditions such as depression and PTSD.
5. Drinking alcohol increases your risk of developing cancer
Alcohol can increase your cancer risk in several ways. Most importantly, alcohol causes damage to the DNA and chromosomes inside our cells. This can lead to an increased risk of many cancers, including breast, brain, mouth and throat and colon cancer. Alcohol may also damage organs like the liver or pancreas, increasing the likelihood of developing conditions such as diabetes.
According to statistics by Alcohol Research UK, alcohol is the direct cause of 3.3% of cancer cases in the UK. The charity also found that any amount of alcohol can increase the risk of cancer (though you can manage the risk by drinking moderately - i.e., less than 14 units each week). Or, in other words: the more you drink, the more likely you are to develop a cancerous tumour.
Studies have shown that heavy drinking is just as bad for your heart as smoking cigarettes. In fact, a Guardian report found that around one in 10 of all hospital beds in the UK were taken up by people suffering from alcohol-related illnesses or injuries in 2019.
In summation, your body, brain, and work-life are all better off without alcohol – plus, it's much easier to stick to your goals when you're not hungover!
For some people, however, giving up alcohol completely just isn't realistic or achievable. But there are ways to make your drinking habits healthier. One of these is to learn about the calories that you are consuming when you drink to avoid unnecessary weight gain.
While staying sober may not be as easy as it sounds, it's definitely worth it. If you're ready to quit drinking, or your goal is to moderate, these reasons will surely help you decide.
