3 tips for taking a break from alcohol

Whether it’s a Friday night knock-off, or paired with a good meal, having a drink with mates or loved ones can be a relaxing and enjoyable social experience. But this can make it tricky to take a booze break.

We’re not here to tell you that you should not consume alcohol. Instead, this article is for those who are sober curious or want to take a break from alcohol and need a few tips to start or keep going. Let’s put a cork in it and begin.

1. Swap booze for non-alcoholic drinks to keep life fun and festive

Do you feel like taking time off alcohol means having a break from fun and friends? It doesn’t have to be this way. If you’re used to drinking and socialising, you may want something you can hold in your hand and sip. Thankfully, there are plenty of great-tasting non-alcoholic drinks. For example, if you like a pale ale, lager or IPA, give non-alcoholic beer a go. In fact, with the growth of the sober curious movement, you might even find your favourite boozy brewer has a non-alc version. A few popular options to add to the esky are:

• Heaps Normal’s XPA, lager and hazy ale
• Brewdog’s ‘Nanny State’ ale
• James Squire’s ‘Zero’.

If beer isn’t your thing, try a mocktail, such as a rosemary citrus spritzer, or non-alcoholic wine. When it comes to booze-free wine there are literally hundreds to choose from, but a few popular choices include:

• Tread Softly Prosecco, Pinot Noir and Shiraz
• Allure Sparkling
• Banrock Station Zero Alcohol Chardonnay.

2. Create a healthy replacement habit

It was Aristotle who said, “nature abhors a vacuum" - a concept that suggests that nature requires every space to be filled. This philosophy also applies to taking a break from alcohol. Whether you’re planning to take a week, month, or longer off the booze - you need a plan for what you’re going to 'replace it with'. If you don’t, you might find the void filled with less healthy habits, such as eating ice cream by the tub most nights of the week.

Why not make the most of waking up clear-headed with a healthy morning habit? We’ve written extensively about how to win with morning habits, but in short: the more you do something regularly, the quicker it becomes a habit. So, starting your day with exercise, which can release feel-good endorphins and reduce stress, sets you up for success and builds a routine that feeds itself. Meaning, you won’t want a drink at the end of the day because you don’t want to undo the great work you did in the gym in the morning.

3. Find a good cause and give up to help others

While your health is a good cause, there are several charities, such as Dry July and Febfast that encourage people to give up drinking for a month and raise funds to help others. You might even like to donate the money you would’ve spent on booze.

Taking a break from alcohol for a month has proven positive health effects, such as:

• Improved mood
• A lack of impulsivity
• A reduced risk of cancer
• Lower blood pressure.

But did you know that giving is also good for your health? Research shows that donating money, your time (volunteering), or giving a gift can release feel-good chemicals such as serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin. The effect felt by the release of these chemicals after giving even has a name: ‘helper’s high.’

Make taking a break from booze work for you, whether that’s with a few non-alcoholic drinks, a healthier habit, or for a good cause. To help you on your health and wellbeing journey, you can find more useful and up-to-date tips on unwinding, moving, connecting and being nourished on the Virgin Active blog.

At Virgin Active, we’re as big on winding down as we are on working out. Elevate your wellness journey and nurture your body, mind, and soul in our rest and recovery spaces. Not a member? Let us show you around. Book a club tour with our friendly staff today.