Author: Alex Thompson

How to Drink in Moderation: 6 Effective Tips

The evaluation consists of 11 yes or no questions that are intended to be used as an informational tool to assess the severity and probability of a substance use disorder. The test is free, confidential, and no personal information is needed to receive the result. If you are struggling with some of the following signs above, be sure to contact your physician or seek help at a substance abuse treatment facility. Under the Affordable Care Act, insurance plans must cover alcohol misuse screening and counseling.

Moderation in the time of Coronavirus

A recent successful effort in the U.S. to launch an international study was funded by the National Institutes of Health. Getting extra folate may cancel out this alcohol-related increase. 18 An earlier study suggested that getting 600 micrograms a day of folate could counteract the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on breast cancer risk. 17 There was no association with folate and increased breast cancer risk among women who drank low or no alcohol daily. By limiting your alcohol intake you’re lowering your risk of certain health conditions, including cardiovascular and liver disease.

Alcohol Moderation Management Programs

Excessive alcohol use can harm people who drink and those around them. You and your community can take steps to improve everyone’s health and quality of life. If you keep a lot of alcohol around, you may be tempted to go over the drinking limit you set for yourself when you’re at home. If you have a bad day or are feeling angry, don’t reach for a drink. Certain health problems — like depression or anxiety, sleep problems, and chronic pain — can put you at a higher risk for alcohol use disorder.

Public Health

Compared with drinking excessively, moderate drinking reduces your risk of negative health effects. Decide how many days a week you’ll drink and how much you’ll drink on those days. It’s also a good idea to have some days when you don’t drink at all. If drinking less or less often than you typically do is something you’re committed to, pull out a pen and paper and write down some concrete goals for yourself.

  1. But good evidence shows that drinking high amounts of alcohol are clearly linked to health problems.
  2. If you choose to drink, having only a moderate (limited) amount can lower your risk for health problems caused by drinking.
  3. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health.
  4. Take our free, 5-minute substance use self-assessment below if you think you or someone you love might be struggling with substance use.

Implementing Moderation Strategies

Then come up with a plan for your own drinking guidelines to help pace your drinking, stay hydrated, and stop before you’ve had too much. Whether you’re on the path to sobriety or drinking in moderation, it’s a rewarding result of self-reflection and the beginning of a new and healthy relationship with alcohol. In the United States, moderate drinking for healthy adults is different for men and women. It means on days when a person does drink, women do not have more than one drink and men do not have more than two drinks. Many people drink alcohol as a personal preference, during social activities, or as a part of cultural and religious practices.

It also helps to regulate your blood pressure and improve your cognitive functioning. You’ll find increased clarity, calmness, and balance on a regular basis. In short, drinking less can give you more out of life as you promote and sustain your well-being. Part of recognizing recurring drinking behaviors is tracking consumption. According to the CDC, moderate alcohol consumption is equivalent to two drinks per day for men and one per day for women. A standard drink is defined as a 12-ounce bottle of beer, a 5-ounce glass of wine, or a cocktail that contains 5 percent alcohol.

Practice Saying No or Offering an Alternative

People who choose not to drink make that choice for the same reasons. Knowing your personal risk based on your habits can help you make the best decision for you. If you choose to drink, having only a moderate (limited) amount can lower your risk for health problems caused by drinking. Some people shouldn’t drink at all, like people younger than 21 years, people who are pregnant or might be pregnant, and people with certain health conditions. Monument’s Community is available 24/7, and is completely anonymous.

Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The Nutrition Source does not recommend or endorse any products. In the U.S., 1 drink is usually considered to be 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1½ ounces of spirits (hard liquor such as gin or whiskey). 3 Each delivers about 12 to 14 grams of alcohol on average, but there is a wider range now that microbrews and wine are being produced with higher alcohol content. Throughout the 10,000 or so years that humans have been drinking fermented beverages, they’ve also been arguing about their merits and demerits.

It can pop up at any time, at any age, and it doesn’t feel any easier to avoid even if you’ve experienced it before. When putting moderation into practice, it often involves planning how to politely but firmly decline the inevitable drinks that’ll be passed your way. In the past, moderate drinking was thought to be linked with a lower risk of dying from heart disease and possibly diabetes. After more analysis of the research, that doesn’t seem to be the case. In general, a healthy diet and physical activity have much greater health benefits than alcohol and have been more extensively studied. If you’re an occasional or social drinker, it can be easy to participate in binge drinking and feel like it doesn’t have an effect on your health or how well you function.