WE all say we’ll cut down, but how does it feel to actually put the wine glass to one side for a month?

Writer Susan Griffin decided to find out and reveals the surprising things she learned about herself.

The beginning of the year is a miserable time to give up alcohol – why scrap a small joy when it’s drizzling and dark all the time?

But according to charity Alcohol Change UK, almost 9 million Brits planned to ditch the drink last month – and I did.

In my 20s I knocked back cut-price student drinks, and I spent my 30s partying.

Now at 42, it’s prosecco and G&Ts at the weekend, and a glass of wine after a frantic day.

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It sounds like a moderate amount, but the units can rack up, considering the NHS recommends drinking no more than 14 a week, across three days or more.

A double gin and tonic is around two units, a large glass of red is around three (10 if you polish off the bottle) and one flute of prosecco is 1.5 (but who ever has just one?). 

Three in 10 of us are looking to generally consume less booze in 2023 and many of us are becoming “sober curious”.

If you didn’t do Dry Jan, you haven’t missed the boat, and as it’s February (woohoo!), the pressure is off, meaning that making changes feels a little more doable.

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Here’s how my month of sobriety went… 

What was the problem?

My drinking seems pretty standard, but I do use alcohol as a reward to relax after work while watching Netflix, and to decompress at the end of a tough week.

It’s a habit that could become a potential issue.

Taking a month off – especially after Christmas – was a good opportunity to review my drinking and work out how much I rely on it. 

“People need to be alcohol-aware – they need to think about how much they’re drinking. It requires making sense of what triggers your need for a drink,” says Dr Emily Finch, chair of the addictions faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

“It should be worrying if people find the idea of giving up drinking for a month difficult. Daily drinking is dangerous territory, as is drinking at a level where you get into trouble or can’t remember the night before.”

And once the month is up? Dr Finch says: “You can think if and how you’re going to reintroduce it.”

Explore The (Many) Alternatives

In my first week, I hadn’t had the foresight to stock up on low- and no-alcohol versions of my fave tipples, so in the evening I found myself reaching for a glass of red.

I had to use distraction techniques, and instead of answering the call of the corkscrew, I picked up a book, went for a walk or threw on a face pack (which makes drinking quite difficult!).

By the end of week two, the urge to sip a vino had dulled, though Saturdays were trickier.

While soda and fresh lime is a super-cheap and zingy combo, there’s only so many you can drink at the pub, so I started experimenting with other alcohol-free options.

A favourite was Beck’s Blue Alcohol Free Lager.

My sister recommended it, as she drank it when she was pregnant.

You wouldn't know from the taste that it’s non-alcoholic.

Finding red wine alternatives was harder, but Thomson & Scott Noughty Rouge became a go-to, and then a friend got me on to CleanCo gin (from Made In Chelsea’s Spencer Matthews).

The bottle is stunning and, again, you wouldn't know it’s not the real deal – and it’s £12 at Sainsburys.

Reap The Benefits

I couldn’t help feeling a little holier-than-thou when I kept waking up rested and raring to go.

But it shouldn’t have been a shock.

We all know that drinking too much, too often can lead to serious damage. 

Dr Luke Powles, clinical director at Bupa Health Clinics, says: “For those with mental health issues, alcohol can become a coping mechanism, which can lead to addiction. Physically it can harm your liver, fertility, heart and digestive and nervous systems, and increase your chances of developing various cancers, including mouth, bowel and liver.”

Amazingly, Dr Powles says there’s lots to be gained, even from just four weeks of going sober, including: 

Weight Loss

A glass of wine can contain the same number of calories as an ice cream, while a typical pint of cider is calorifically similar to a doughnut.

More Zzzs 

Alcohol negatively impacts how well you sleep because your body doesn’t experience as much of the deep sleep state it needs to rest and recover.

Healthier liver

Drink too much and your liver can develop a build-up of fat.

Fortunately, it’s able to repair itself, so within a few weeks of being teetotal, it’ll start getting rid of that excess. 

Improved hydration Giving up alcohol, which is a diuretic, can help you stay hydrated, improving concentration and motivation. 

Better mood 

Alcohol is a depressant and can disrupt the balance of chemicals in and processes of the brain, affecting thoughts, feelings and actions. 

Don’t Be Too Hard On Yourself

It’s often on a night out that sobriety plans come unstuck.

“Not knowing if you’ll still be able to enjoy social situations without a drink is a common concern, as is navigating friendships that have previously been based around alcohol,” says Emily Syphas, founder of hangover-free community Sober & Social.

So, full disclaimer: I did fall off the wagon one weekend. I was staying with friends and the temptation of a G&T was just too strong!

But as Dr Finch says: “Don’t punish yourself for a slip-up. Instead, view it with self-compassion. Rather than being critical or frustrated, focus on moving forward and continuing to reduce your alcohol intake.”

And I did!

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Change Is Good

Taking a month off booze has really been a chance to pause, reset and create new habits.

I feel better physically.

Drinking less – and going out less in general – meant that I ate more healthily and slept better, too, which has given my skin a glow.

My waistband isn’t as tight either, which is a bonus!

And by not having to work through horrible hangxiety, I feel more focused and in control.

It’s had a positive impact on my bank balance as well.

A bottle here and a round of drinks there soon stacks up.

This experience has also opened my eyes massively to non-alcoholic drinks.

They mean that you can still go out and have fun – all without feeling like you’re sitting there judging others.

Most importantly though, resisting the urge to drink made me focus on the moments when I was tempted to have a tipple, which has made me much more mindful about my drinking.

I’ll still enjoy a glass of something on the odd weeknight, but it’s no longer my automatic go-to when I’m stressed, so I have definitely broken an unhealthy habit. 

Emily Syphas’ 5 Tips For Staying Motivated

• 1: Remember what you’re gaining, not what you’re losing.
• 2: Create like-minded friendships. It helps you to feel less alone. 
• 3: Experiment with alcohol-free alternatives.
• 4: Redefine what fun means to you when alcohol is no longer the main ingredient.
• 5: Embrace hangover-free mornings!

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IF you are concerned about your own or a loved one’s drinking,  speak to your GP.

The NHS recommends having alcohol-free days and not bingeing.

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