Winter nights spent in the pub, sitting by a roasting fire with a glass of red or a Guinness. Summer days whiled away with friends, family and ‘freshments, hoping the sun never sets and the cup never empties.
Then autumn rolls around with its mulled ciders and warming whiskeys, not to mention a run of holidays just crying out for a glass in hand; Halloween, Bonfire Night, and Thanksgiving, if you’re from the other side of the pond. Oh, and let’s not forget those autumn walks, leaves crunching under foot and inevitably ending up at a country pub. Mine’s a Hot Toddy, please.
Indeed, there are so many occasions on the horizon that may tempt you into enjoying a warming alcoholic drink or a generous pour of wine. And with much of the socialising in Britain revolving around the pub, it can be all too easy to allow one to turn into two, and two into ten.
Should you be keen to enjoy these seasonal, quintessentially British experiences without the quintessential British loss of control, then you’ve come to the right place; here’s how to lose the booze and drink less this autumn.
Adjusting Your Alcohol Attitude
If you’re reevaluating your relationship with alcohol, then rest assured; you’re not alone. Millions of people are opting for a low or no alcoholic lifestyle and have begun identifying as “sober-curious.”
Indeed, it’s been reported that around 30% of the country is choosing to abstain from alcohol in 2021, with younger people the most likely to be cutting down or out. Should you be looking to follow suit, then you’ve already completed the first step; acknowledging that you’re dissatisfied with the way yours and alcohol’s relationship has progressed.
Adjusting your attitude towards alcohol into something more sceptical and suspicious, rather than the chaotic, romantic approach us Brits so often have with the stuff, can really help you develop a more healthy relationship with booze.
Focus On What Happens To Your Body
According to experts, you only need one week off alcohol to notice positive changes beginning; you’ll feel more energetic, you’ll have a more healthy appetite, and you’ll appreciate more wholesome food choices.
And after a whole month off? Your sleep will be fully regulated, your skin will be clearer and the fat around your liver will be actively reducing.
Yep, it’s a good idea to focus on the benefits of cutting down or giving up; the extra time and money you’ll have, the improvements in sleep, skin and mood…the list goes on and provides something to fix your attention on during those days when you’re tempted to cut loose.
READ: 5 amazing benefits of quitting alcohol today
Discover Alcohol-Free Drinks
Let’s not beat around the bush here; tap water can be boring. And boredom can lead to drinking. Luckily, there are so many drinks that can replace your evening glass of wine which feel just as much of a treat.
Pubs and restaurants are becoming increasingly well stocked in alcohol-free versions of popular drinks and interestingly, Scientific Focus reports that “People are more likely to choose a non-alcoholic beverage if there is a greater selection on offer than drinks containing alcohol”
In fact, many non-alcoholic options are more tempting than that mulled cider or pint of Guinness we spoke about earlier. Come autumn, we’re particularly fond of Rochester Ginger Drink, a non-alcoholic ginger beer with one hell of a kick, offering a fiery smack on the lips and a lingering on the tongue that other non-alcoholic drinks so often lack.
Kombucha is equally as good if you need a drink with the complexity and funk of a biodynamic wine or cloudy cider. You could even consider making your own, using autumnal flavours; think apple, cinnamon and honey kombucha, a pumpkin spiced version and even a spiced pear tipple…delicious stuff.
Keep your fridge stocked with some low-or no alcoholic drinks. If a craving strikes, you have something tasty to keep that urge at bay.
Focus On A Winter Weekend Away…
Not spending money on alcohol for a month or two can reap big dividends for your bank balance, particularly if you factor in the hidden costs of drinking, too. You know, all those Uber rides, hungover takeaways, rehydration sachets, effervescent tablets that do nothing…
Why not put aside the money saved on drinking and save it for a winter weekend away, offering a tangible incentive to go home rather than going hard? You know it makes sense.
Read: 7 Autumn Day Trip Ideas 2 Hours From London
…And All The Other Things You Buy
Come autumn, you may be umming and ahhing about buying that new winter coat that will define your wardrobe for months, a new pair of boots or some long johns to keep you warm when temperatures drop. It’s a sad truth that most drinkers wouldn’t blink twice at forking out the same amount on a few glasses of something strong.
The same amount that would be frittered away down the pub of an evening could be spent on something constructive and long lasting. So, why not savour that investment rather than blowing it on another night that you probably won’t even remember? Cheers to that!
