Inspired By Dry July? Here's How To Reduce Your Alcohol Consumption

It’s Dry July – the month-long fundraiser where Aussies give up alcohol to support people affected by cancer. Not only is it a great cause, but refraining from alcohol can also do wonders for your weight loss journey.

Here are a few handy tips if you're looking to reduce your alcohol intake — for Dry July and beyond.

This might seem pretty obvious — you’re less likely to drink grog if it’s not sitting there in front of you. Cut out the temptation by asking your friends and family to meet you at a café rather than a pub or club. That way you can enjoy a cold brew coffee or tea rather than a schooner of beer. 

While the ultimate goal of Dry July is to stay alcohol-free every day of the month, outside of this, even cutting out a few of your regular beers can have a huge impact on your health. Try introducing alcohol-free days each week — doctors recommend two days per week, ideally back-to-back to reap the full benefits.

Make a conscious decision to shift the focus of a social event away from booze. If you’re going out with family or friends, make the meal the focus rather than the accompanying drink. If you’re having a meal while drinking, you’re more likely to consume the drink slowly, rather than throwing down drink after drink in quick succession. 

Here’s an idea: why not try an outing that not only cuts out the temptation of alcohol but also contributes to a healthier lifestyle? Rather than going to the pub, why not go for a bush walk? Rather than hitting the local bowlo, why not go for a hit of tennis? Whatever you do, make sure there’s a little bit of physical activity and opt for an energising Man Shake BOOST or a refreshing Man Fuel afterwards, rather than a beer.  

If you know you’re going to indulge in a little bit of alcohol at an event, set yourself a limit on the number of standard drinks you’ll consume. Once you reach that limit, stop and switch to sugar-free soft drinks. The recommended healthy limit is two alcoholic drinks per day for men, so keep that in mind when setting your limit. 

One way to reduce your alcohol consumption without completely cutting out the drinks is to opt for lower-alcohol drinks. That means opting for light or mid-strength beer rather than full-strength and diluting your spirits with extra mixers or more ice. Alternatively, there is a stack of non-alcoholic versions of beer and cocktails. 

Aside from potentially causing serious health issues, salty foods also make you thirsty. To reduce the temptation of alcohol, try cutting out salty bar snacks like chips and nuts and opt for a Man Bar instead.