How to avoid alcohol is important to implement so as not to cause addiction, especially for those who like to drink alcohol. The problem is, alcohol addiction can cause various dangerous diseases, ranging from liver disease to cancer.
Alcohol is a drink that contains alcohol, such as beer, wine, arak, soju, and liquor. When consumed in certain amounts, this drink can cause euphoria, which is a feeling of comfort and excessive joy, before entering the drunken stage. This is because alcoholic drinks can stimulate the brain to release the hormones dopamine and serotonin.
However, if consumed too often, alcohol in liquor can cause addiction. If it is difficult to get away from this drink, people who are addicted to alcohol can get various diseases, such as cirrhosis and cancer. That is why it is important to apply ways to avoid liquor to prevent the bad effects of alcoholic beverages in the long term.
How to Avoid Alcohol
The simplest way to avoid alcohol is to avoid it as much as possible or not try it at all. But in reality, this can be difficult to do, especially if you already feel comfortable after tasting alcohol and its effects. Well, to overcome this, you can apply the following methods so that you don’t get addicted to alcohol:
- Limit your alcohol intake
Quitting the habit of drinking alcohol is not easy, especially if you are surrounded by people who like to drink alcohol. However, with determination and strong intentions, you can still say no every time you are invited to drink alcohol again.
If you can’t stop drinking altogether, try to start by limiting it. For example, if you used to drink 5 glasses of beer every time you drank, now try to limit it to a maximum of 2 or 3 glasses.
When you can reduce it, start reducing your alcohol intake to 1 glass, then try to increase it until you can stay away from alcohol altogether.
- Recognize the triggers for drinking alcohol
Many people drink to relieve stress or when they are facing certain situations, such as fighting with a partner or friend, work pressure at the office, or even to overcome insomnia.
Well, to avoid drinking alcohol, you need to know what triggers make you want to drink alcohol. That way, you can find other alternatives to avoid these triggers.
For example, when you are stressed, try to replace the habit of drinking alcohol with other healthier activities, such as meditation, exercise, or journaling.
- Don’t keep alcohol at home
When we are struggling to avoid something, we should not be near it. This also applies when avoiding alcohol. Keeping these drinks at home can make it easy for you to get them and eventually return to that unhealthy habit. So, it’s best not to keep alcohol at home, okay?
- Ask for support from your support system
The role of your support system is quite important to guide you to live a healthier life and not depend on alcohol. When you can’t drink alcohol at home, you might be tempted to drink it out with friends.
To overcome this, tell your family and those closest to you that you are avoiding alcohol. That way, they might not invite you to drink or can remind you to stay strong to avoid alcohol when you are tempted to drink.
Read Also: 9 Dangers of Drinking Wine for Health That You Must Know
Avoiding environments that make you want to drink doesn’t mean you can’t socialize at all. You can still hang out or party with friends, as long as you avoid places that sell alcohol such as bars. Instead, you can hang out at a coffee shop.
- Choose healthier drinks
When there is a choice of alcoholic drinks on the menu of a restaurant or cafe where you are hanging out, try to choose other healthier drinks, such as water, fruit juice, or herbal tea.
Alternatively, you can also choose a mocktail, which is a type of drink that is created similar to a cocktail but is completely alcohol-free.
- Do other activities
One way to avoid alcohol is to replace it with other activities. Pursue a hobby or do activities that are beneficial to your health, such as sports, walking, or gardening.
Not only will it distract you from your habit of drinking alcohol, but these activities can also make you fitter and more motivated to continue to maintain your health.
- Never give up
For people who have previously consumed alcohol frequently, it may be difficult to avoid alcohol. However, this should not be an excuse to give up. If you fail to avoid alcohol, don’t stop trying right away.
Learn from previous mistakes and try again to apply various ways to avoid alcohol so that you can get used to it. That way, you will slowly become consistent and eventually not be easily tempted to drink.
As previously stated, alcohol can be addictive. This addiction can be characterized by a strong urge to consume alcohol so that someone has difficulty avoiding it.
If the addiction is difficult to stop even though you have tried to apply ways to avoid alcohol, you should consult a psychiatrist.