How to Stop Drinking Beer

Drinking beer is a huge part of many cultures and lifestyles, but sometimes it can get out of hand and have a negative impact on your life. However, there are solutions that can and have worked for people who want to stop drinking beer. Whether you want to be completely sober or just need to cut out the beer, there is a way. Also, the benefits of quitting should far outweigh the benefits of drinking once you succeed. Good Luck!

Instructions

Making goals and seeing them through

1. 

   Make a goal for yourself and write it down on a piece of paper. Put the paper where you will be forced to read it throughout the day. An example of a goal is cutting down on drinking at a set rate, such as limiting yourself to one beer a day or a set amount of beers per week. Stick to your goal as best as you can, and keep trying even if you don't get it perfect the first time.

2. 

   Ask yourself what it is that makes you drink beer. Do you simply love the taste or do you love the buzz? Do you drink to relax or out of boredom? There may be a few reasons, and that's OK. Once you know the reasons, you can figure out other ways to satisfy your needs, which will be covered in more detail in step 3.

3. 

   Find activities to replace the need or temptation for beer. For example, exercise to get a workout buzz to replace the desire for a drinking buzz. Drink non-alcoholic beer if you just want something similar tasting. Watch a sports game at home instead of at the club. Pick up a new hobby that can replace beer or save money that would be spent on beer on a relaxing massage. You could also go out somewhere besides a bar to avoid the temptation. Whatever is best for you, make a plan and stick to it.

4. 

   Drink slowly if you must have a beer. Make it last longer by sipping it every once in a while. Drink non-alcoholic beer if you have a craving, but don't want to drink real beer. Other non-alcoholic substitutes include root beer, ginger ale, sparkling cider, and various virgin mixed drinks. Or, drink wine or liquor if you're just avoiding beer and not necessarily all types of alcohol. A government-sponsored site on alcohol abuse provides more detailed instructions for those who wish to quit drinking alcohol all together.

Tips & Warnings

• If you think you are an alcoholic, seek treatment from a professional or a support group

References

• College Drinking Prevention: How to Cut Down on Your Drinking
• University of Maryland Medical Center: Alcohol-Overview
• Treatment Solutions Network: The Pros and Cons of Non-Alcoholic Beer

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Bar Drinks: Non-Alcoholic Bar Drinks and Recipes