March 11, 2025
Alcohol – facts and suggestions and it’s not all all bad news for those who like a tipple.
According to the boozy statistics from Alcohol Change, a whopping 24% of UK adults are living life on the edge, regularly exceeding the recommended 14 units per week.
But guess who’s leading the charge in the “just one more glass, it’s a school night” brigade? It’s our beloved midlifers! Dr. Richard Piper, chief executive of the charity, is sending out an S.O.S to the 45 to 85-year-olds who are the heaviest drinkers in history. Time to swap that nightcap for a cup of herbal tea.
On Instagram, the #SoberGlow movement is making waves with over 26,000 posts, proudly boasting about the anti-ageing effects that magically appear within weeks of giving up the good old spirits.
“Your skin glows naturally, 70 per cent of people find they sleep better after Dry January and 66 per cent report better energy levels,” Piper says. “It has become so much more socially acceptable to go alcohol-free at any social event.”
He has a point: a recent survey of 2,000 people conducted by the Gilchrist Collection, an upmarket wedding venue company, showed there has been a rise in dry weddings, with 24 per cent of guests now going alcohol-free at weddings.
“Alcohol starts to affect health on the inside and there is a direct correlation between your risk of many diseases, including heart attack, type 2 diabetes and stroke, and the units you drink,” Piper says. “Alcohol also elevates cancer proteins, but the good news is that by cutting it out for a month and cutting back on it longer-term, you massively reduce your health risks.”
After a month off drinking, your new habit may even stick. Research conducted at the University of Sussex found that 70 per cent of people who engaged in the Dry January challenge were still drinking more healthily — and feeling better for it — six months later.
Track Your Sips with Apps:
Harness the power of apps to decipher your spot on the drinking spectrum. Much like Strava or MyFitnessPal, these apps let you monitor and record your alcohol intake, enabling you to pace yourself and watch those liquid calories that tend to settle around the waistline.
Try Dry app from Alcohol Change, is a standout choice, offering free features such as charting units, calories, and money saved, along with motivational tips and a tally of your best “dry streaks.” With half a million users, it’s the Strava of the alcohol world. Another option is the MyDrinkaware app by charity Drinkaware, boasting an extensive database of drink brands with calories and ingredients.
Not Every Day Needs to be Alcohol-Free:
While striving for alcohol-free days each week might suit some, it’s not a universal solution. This strategy aims to allow your liver to recuperate and grant your brain a break from alcohol contemplation. For those in the “low risk” category (consuming no more than 14 weekly units), it’s a worthy approach.
However, if your alcohol intake surpasses this limit, it might not be as effective. For nightly drinkers or those with even mild alcohol dependency, the brain rebels against the notion of a few days off each week. Achieving consistent reductions below 14 units may require a more substantial circuit breaker—perhaps a month or more, and in some cases, two to three months—allowing the brain to reset its expectations, says Piper.
Caution for Heavy Drinkers:
For those in the harmful or dependent drinking categories, abrupt cessation without medical advice is ill-advised. Alcohol withdrawal symptoms, ranging from mild (sweating, headaches, anxiety) to severe (vomiting, shaking, hallucinations), can occur 8-24 hours after the last drink.
About one in ten heavy drinkers may experience seizures if they suddenly stop or reduce intake. Seeking a GP’s guidance before attempting to cut down is crucial, as advised by Drinkaware.
Mind Your Stress Levels:
While alcohol can provide stress relief within limits, excessive intake can lead to heightened stress-related brain activity. A study from Massachusetts General Hospital revealed that those consuming more than 14 units a week had the highest stress-related brain signals. On the flip side, low to moderate alcohol intake (defined as one small drink for women or two for men daily) reduced stress-related brain signals, potentially aiding relaxation.
Red Wine in Moderation:
If you’re opting for a drink, red wine appears to be a healthier choice. A 2019 study from King’s College London found that red wine drinkers tend to have a more diverse and healthier gut microbiome compared to consumers of white wine, beer, or spirits.
Another study on almost 2,000 middle-aged and older Britons in Obesity Science and Practice revealed that wine drinkers, particularly red wine enthusiasts, carry less harmful visceral belly fat around their internal organs compared to beer and spirits drinkers. Red wine was even found to reduce levels of visceral fat, potentially discouraging fat storage and lowering overall inflammation in the body.
Consider the Calories:
A poll by DrinkWell, the low-calorie alcohol retailer, exposed that UK adults consume a staggering 75,000 calories annually from alcoholic drinks alone. With just two glasses of wine or two pints of beer packing around 490 calories, it’s equivalent to a Big Mac from McDonald’s.
A survey by Action on Sugar at Queen Mary University of London discovered hidden sugar in many alcoholic drinks, with only 9% disclosing full sugar content. Premixed cocktails were the worst culprits, containing as much as 12 teaspoons of sugar per 500ml serving, surpassing the sugar content of ten custard cream biscuits.
Nutritionist Gabriela Peacock emphasizes that alcohol is sugary and filled with empty calories offering no nutritional value. By cutting out just one daily drink for a month, you can expect to lose at least 2lb, as University of Sussex researchers found that three in five people lose weight during Dry January. Cheers to a healthier and lighter you!
If anybody fancies a Dry Month, let us know and we can collaborate on what benefits we discover.
I’m on a dry period (necessary to help repair a hiatus hernia) and I’ve found a perfectly acceptable substitute – Sparkling English Blush from L A Brewery in Suffolk. If you decide to order anything, can you let us know (editorial@silverkys.com) because we can get 20% off for both of us, if we introduce you.
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