Drunkorexia appears to be on the rise again, with many young people reportedly skipping meals in order to get drunk more quickly and reduce their calorie intake from food in order to save them for alcohol.
Although it occurs in both men and women it appears to be particularly common in young women, with an Australian study published last year finding that almost 60 percent of female undergraduates in its sample showed drunkorexic tendencies.
There are lots of reasons why you might want to stop drinking alcohol. Some people need to stop drinking as a result of developing an alcohol related medical condition such as liver disease, or because they start taking medication which reacts badly with alcohol. Others choose to do so for religious reasons, or simply as a move towards a healthier lifestyle.
If you’re thinking about removing alcohol from your life, you should know that you’re not alone. 43% of adults in Britain who say they abstain from alcohol did previously drink alcohol.
Whatever your reasons, this page gives lots of tips on how to stop drinking alcohol, details of the potential benefits of not drinking, as well as information on the potential alcohol withdrawal symptoms you could experience if you move from drinking heavily, to drinking no alcohol at all.
Drinking on an empty stomach is also a quicker but more dangerous way to feel the effects of alcohol.
If you’re worried you might be engaging in drunkorexic behavior, or just drinking too much in general, here are some tips from independent UK charity Drinkaware to help you cut down or cut out alcohol for a healthier lifestyle.
Make space
Sipping a soft drink between alcoholic drinks slows down the rate of your drinking and means you’ll drink less over the course of the evening. If you’re out clubbing, take a bottle of water out with you on the dancefloor, and when in a bar try opting for non-alcoholic mocktail, a premium soft drink, or a glass of water.
Avoid temptation
In the early stages, it’s a good idea to avoid situations where you may be tempted to drink. This could mean opting out of the weekly pub quiz for a while, or if you tend to drink when eating out, try going to restaurants that don’t sell alcohol or simply volunteering to drive.
Track your drinking over time
If you choose to drink, recording exactly what you’ve drunk during the week will tell you whether you’re keeping within the unit guidelines. The Drinkaware Drink Tracker and its various tools to track your units will also help you keep an eye on your drinking while at home or out and about.
Treat yourself
Splash out on a special bottle of wine or liquor that’s expensive enough to encourage you to savor it over a few days or months, rather than down it all in one night. This way, you’ll space out the units you’re consuming.
