Whilst it’s true
that most of us are a long way off needing to take the 12
steps programme, a goodly proportion of the adult population
of this country unwind at the end of the day with a glass of
something.
And that’s not just the
occasional day but most if not every day. So what’s a bottle
of wine between two? Nothing to worry about surely? But it’s
surprising how easily that can become a bottle of wine each.
Or more. Every day.
If you’re feeling a sense
of sheepish recognition as you read, bear in mind you’re not
the only one. We’re not talking about the insidious binge
drinking culture which defiles our town centres every
weekend but a quiet revolution in drinking habits behind
closed doors throughout the land.
These are the ordinary
drinking habits of ordinary people with jobs and kids and
mortgages and responsibilities they take very seriously.
This revolution is measured in the media by occasional
articles about our wine consumption overtaking other
European countries, booming off-sales and declining pubs.
Clearly, we’re enjoying drinking far more at home than we
could legally if one of us was driving to the pub. And at a
much lower cost too.
But the cost to the health
of the nation is not quite clear. The biggest generation of
boozers since the 18th century gin riots has not
aged sufficiently to succumb to alcohol-related diseases in
epidemic numbers.
Maybe it’s time to examine
what’s going on here. Drinking is an integral part of our
social life. It’s how we have fun, chill out, celebrate and
occasionally fall over. It reminds us of our youth when we
didn’t have a care and could put away 15 pints of snakebite
on a Friday night and still want more on Saturday. It’s a
reward, a treat, an antidote for all life’s woes. No wonder
we don’t want to stop.
At risk of sounding like a
complete party-pooper, now might be the time to take
individual stock of the flipside of all these wonderful
benefits. Hands-up if you’re too fat even though you eat
healthily. Tick that box if you’re always knackered in the
morning. Ask yourself how much quicker you could pay off the
credit card bills if you cut out weekday drinking. And here
are a few more awkward questions: How’s your sex life
lately? Do you sometimes forget how you spent the latter
part of the evening? Are you often irritable and
unproductive a work? Do you lack energy to get off the sofa
at the weekend?
If any or all the above
makes uncomfortable reading, here’s the good news. Drinking
every day is an easy habit to change. If you need any
incentive, just a week or two unlashed is enough to
experience the benefits. I speak from experience as a
lifelong party animal who could take on a touring rugby team
pint for pint. I’ve got my mojo back. There’s joi in my
vivre. I’m nice to children, dumb animals and call centre
employees. And it didn’t take 12 steps to do it.
Being a hypnotherapist and
NLP practitioner is helpful as I can give my subconscious
mind a good talking to or use any number of creative
visualisation techniques to change patterns of behaviour if
ever my drinking should get out of hand. I have helped
numerous clients turn down the desire to tipple any time any
place any where. And some of that good advice must rub off
on me too.
Here are my ten top tips
for cutting back:
Alternate a glass of
alcohol with a glass of water
Only drink on
alternate days
Pour half measures or
use smaller glasses
Take smaller sips and
put your glass down between times
Don’t drink at all on
one, two three or more weekdays
Don’t drink at home
Only drink on social
occasions
Just have one glass of
wine with an evening meal
Don’t bulk buy or
stockpile
Just stop
Lets face it, savouring a
glass of fine wine, refreshing beer, mellowing scotch,
Summery Pimms, sublime gin and tonic with ice and a slice,
or whatever your poison is, is one of life’s great
pleasures. And it’s possible to enjoy this great tradition
without becoming a lush, lager lout or mean drunk in your
own living room and ruining your future health and happiness
in the process.
Be
confident, more relaxed and in control. Be successful in
love, work and so much more! 
