How to Stop Binge Drinking: 12 Tips for How to Quit

If you’re looking to stop binge drinking, it’s important to know that you’re not alone in your journey. You might be surprised at how many people near you are having similar struggles. Many people find it helpful to share their stories and listen to others who are struggling. Binge drinking isn’t necessarily an indicator that you or a loved one has alcohol use disorder (also known as alcoholism), which is a dependency on alcohol consumption. Researchers blame this kind of heavy drinking for more than half of the roughly 88,000 alcohol-related deaths — from car crashes, alcohol poisoning, suicide, and violence — that happen every year. Adults under 35 are more likely to do this than other age groups, and men are twice as likely as women.

Tips for quitting alcohol

Alcohol use continues to take up more of your time and energy, impacting your physical and mental health until you need to take serious steps to address your drinking problem. Only about 10 percent of people who binge drink struggle with a dependence how to stop binge drinking on alcohol. However, the more frequently you binge drink, the more at risk you are of developing an alcohol abuse problem. Although drinking this much might not seem like a big deal in the moment, you may regret your choices later.

  • Be careful to follow these guidelines when consuming alcohol, since larger mugs of beer, heavy pours of wine, and mixed drinks might actually be more than one drink.
  • For example, you can resolve to stick to one or two drinks during your outing with friends.
  • It was middle-aged and older adults who showed the most substantial increase in binge drinking.
  • However, when alcohol makes up part of your typical routine, drinking can become something of an automatic response, especially when you feel stressed or overwhelmed.
  • A heavy drinking binge may even cause a life-threatening coma or death.
  • Over time, a binge drinker is at a higher risk for severe health problems such as liver disease, pancreatitis, and certain types of cancers.

Understand your relationship with alcohol

You feel compelled to keep drinking to maintain that high. Discover how many people with alcohol use disorder in the United States receive treatment across age groups and demographics. Alcohol deaths have steadily climbed over the past decade, a trend that accelerated during the pandemic (Figure 1).

Alcohol, Seizures, and Safety

Federal and state health agencies also offer resources and can refer you to someone who can help. You may also consider joining an online support group to help you feel less alone. SMART Recovery – Self-Management and Recovery Training (SMART) is a program that aims to achieve abstinence through self-directed change. Women for Sobriety – Organization dedicated to helping women overcome addictions.

  • When you’re drinking together, remind them of the limit they set for themselves.
  • Keeping alcohol out of your house is one of the most effective ways to prevent yourself from pouring a drink.
  • The main indicator of a binge-drinking episode is having four to five drinks (or more) within two hours.
  • Drinking too much in a short period of time can reduce your heart rate, breathing, and body temperature.
  • Here are a just a few tips to help you reduce your drinking and stay safe.

how to stop binge drinking

Due to the many effective treatments available for people battling alcohol dependency, it’s possible for you to make significant strides in your recovery. With the right level of support, you can regain control of your life. They’ll be able to provide you with advice on how to stop binge drinking and cut down on your alcohol consumption.

Keep a journal of your drinking habits

  • Federal and state health agencies also offer resources and can refer you to someone who can help.
  • While some people may be able to enjoy a glass of wine on occasion, others with moderate to severe alcohol-use disorder struggle to cut back or quit despite the consequences they experience.
  • Naturally, you may wonder how much alcohol you have to drink to get to that point.
  • The most straightforward way to approach this situation is to make a plan for yourself, and be firm about your boundaries if someone pushes you.
  • Alcohol use continues to take up more of your time and energy, impacting your physical and mental health until you need to take serious steps to address your drinking problem.

Done With Alcohol? Here’s How To Stop Drinking

how to stop binge drinking