As you no doubt know—and maybe your liquor cabinet even bears this out—there has been no drinking like pandemic drinking. Alcohol sales, according to Nielsen data, famously climbed 54 percent in the week ending March 21, 2020.
And your body chemistry is designed in a way that doesn't help. Anxiety and depression from big, stressful events (take your choice this year) can, for some people, bring on a desire to do impulsive things like drink too much (read all about how this biology works here). It doesn't help that drinking, for a hot minute, makes you feel better (but worse in the long term.)
So maybe by now, you're thinking about taking a break from drinking for a bit, but need to know exactly what that break can do for you. A lot more than you think, probably.
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Giving up alcohol can be tough—but the benefits make it worth the effort, says Damon Raskin, M.D., a Los Angeles-based physician who is board-certified in addiction medicine.
“Taking a break from drinking alcohol—even if it’s just for a couple of weeks—is a good idea, especially if you’re regularly consuming more than the recommended daily limit,” Dr. Raskin says.
That’s generally two drinks a day for men for health reasons. If your drinking seems to be affecting your work or personal relationships—regardless of how much booze you’re knocking back—it’s time to consider taking it easy, he adds. Be aware that over-drinking doesn't always look like you think it does. Here's how to figure out where you are on the alcohol use disorder spectrum.
That said, if you want to cut back, there are definitely benefits. And there are some challenges as well (but hey, even Keith Richards has seriously cut back on drinking, and you can, too).
Here’s what you can expect to happen—both short- and long-term—when you take a break from alcohol:
You’ll sleep more soundly.
One recent study in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research found drinking before bed increases alpha wave patterns in the brain—a kind of cerebral activity that usually occurs when you’re awake but resting.
The result? Disrupted sleep.
Another review of 27 studies found that while alcohol may help people fall asleep more quickly and deeply at first, it seriously screws with sleep quality after that initial restful period.
You might toss and turn at first, but give up alcohol and the sleep you get will likely leave you feeling more refreshed and sharp the next day.
The byproducts of better sleep: improved mood, concentration, and mental performance, Dr. Raskin says. Pro athletes have learned that good sleep makes them play even better.
You’ll eat less at dinner.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, alcohol is one of the biggest drivers of overeating.
That may be because alcohol heightens our senses, according to a study published in the journal Obesity. Researchers found that when people received an alcohol “infusion” equal to about two drinks, they ate 30 percent more food than those who received a saline solution.
Even mild intoxication can increase your brain activity in the hypothalamus, making you more sensitive to the smell of food and prompting you to eat more.
You might crave sugar.
Sugar boosts levels of the “reward” chemical dopamine, which fuels feelings of pleasure, Dr. Raskin says.
Alcohol does the same thing, so it’s very possible that when you give up one substance that causes happy-making chemicals to float around your brain, you’ll be more likely to reach for the other.
“Don’t be surprised if you try to get that same enjoyment or rush you used to get after a drink from something sweet,” he says. (If you want to try to cut back on sugar, here's how to do it the smart way.)
You’ll start losing weight.
Alcohol has a sneaky way of increasing your daily calorie intake without you realizing it.
Just one margarita may contain 300 calories or more—mostly from sugar.
Men consume an additional 433 calories on those days they drink a “moderate” amount of alcohol, according to one study. Cut those from your diet—and don’t replace them with desserts or snacks—and you’ll start to drop pounds without much effort.
Your skin may clear up.
Within a few days of cutting out booze, you’ll notice your skin looking and feeling more hydrated.
That’s because alcohol is a diuretic, causing you to urinate more, Dr. Raskin says.
Alcohol also decreases the body’s production of an antidiuretic hormone, which helps the body reabsorb water. (Less water in the body equals dry-looking skin.)
Ruddiness in your cheeks and around your nose may also start to fade, and other skin conditions—such as dandruff, eczema, or rosacea—may also improve, Dr. Raskin says.
You’ll have more money.
Drinking—especially a fine wine or scotch habit—is an expensive undertaking.
Take a moment to crunch the numbers, adding up what you spend for drinks. It can be an eye-opening—and motivating—exercise.
Your mood might take a hit.
“People often use alcohol as a lubricant for emotions, and when they stop drinking they may feel agitated and restless,” Dr. Raskin says. Being aware that you might be feeling off can help you recognize when you are, and can help you deal with those feelings constructively (rather than just having them gang up on you without warning).
Your cancer risk falls.
According to the National Cancer Institute, alcohol use has been linked to an increased risk for cancers of the mouth, liver, colon, and rectum. The risk increases the more you drink.
The article 8 Things That Happen When Stop Drinking Alcohol originally ran on Prevention.com.
