3 people share what it’s like to quit drinking

Alcohol is a huge business in Australia, accounting for 14.9 billion dollars of spending in 2016, but the number of those who abstain from drinking is on the rise. A recent survey by Drinkwise found that one in five Australians don’t drink at all, a marked increase from 11 per cent of the population in 2007.

According to a 2017 study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, those who do drink consume an average of 12 litres of pure alcohol per year. With the major summer holidays in your wake, you might be feeling like it’s a good time for a break from the booze. But, despite the rise in those putting down the bottle, alcohol still occupies a central position in Australian culture – and removing it from the equation can feel daunting. With this in mind, we spoke with three people who have embraced extended periods of sobriety – Lucy and John, aged 35, and 29-year-old Kate – to see what we could learn from their experiences.

All three of our respondents noticed a significant change in their sleeping habits once they quit alcohol. “The depth and quality of my sleep increased ten-fold, and that change was close to instant,” says Lucy.

It was a similar story for Kate, “After a week or so, I started to sleep the whole night through, whereas normally I would have interrupted sleep.” For John, the change was so pronounced that he no longer felt the need to set an alarm before sleeping.

Perhaps this shouldn’t come as a surprise. While the idea of a nightcap before bed is a common trope in popular culture, having a drink before hitting the hay is much more likely to impact your sleep negatively. Alcohol affects your body’s ability to enter the deep (or delta) sleep state, the phase of rest that helps us to feel refreshed on waking.

Sleep deprivation is a serious issue that’s been linked with an array of physical problems – from heart disease to diabetes – and is estimated to cost Australia 40 billion dollars in loss of wellbeing costs. By contrast, quality sleep enriches many aspects of your life – helping you to succeed personally and professionally. “I notice that after a weekend of drinking I’m more emotional and temperamental,” says John. “When I’m not drinking, I feel less reactive, I’m less agitated.”

The Australian government guidelines around alcohol recommend that a healthy adult shouldn’t have more than two standard drinks on any one day, and no more than four drinks on any one occasion (where a single drink is defined as a can of mid-strength beer, 100mL of wine, or 30mL of spirits).

Binge drinking can lead to adverse health outcomes in the immediate short term due to impaired judgement, and in extreme cases, alcohol poisoning. But the long-term health consequences of excessive alcohol consumption are equally concerning. Exceeding two drinks per day increases your risk of stomach and bowel cancer significantly, as well as the likelihood of stroke and dementia. Of course, increased intake is also linked to alcohol dependence – particularly in those who struggle with depression or anxiety.

For John, the health benefits that came with taking a break from drinking were accumulative. “My workouts were better – I was faster and more responsive,” he said.

This sentiment was echoed by Kate. “My motivation for exercise was high, whereas when I was drinking it felt like an effort. I was excited to go swimming or go to yoga, it didn’t feel like a chore,” she said.

For many, alcohol serves in part as a crutch in social situations – masking or dulling feelings of anxiety. While booze’s sedative effect can cause you to relax in the short term, as the alcohol leaves your system those feelings of anxiety and unease will return – often amplified by the physical symptoms of a hangover.

A recurring theme among those that we spoke to was the pivotal role that alcohol played in their social life. “A lot of my friends relate to each other through drinking, that’s how we’d hang out,’ Kate explained.

For Lucy, it was a similar story. “I realised that a lot of the people I’d stick around with on a Friday weren’t actually my friends, they were people I’d hang around and drink with.” In sobriety, this realisation led to a deepening of meaningful connections. “The quality of my friendships actually improved when I wasn’t drinking,” she recalled.

John, too, felt that sobriety impacted his social life. “When I’m not drinking, I find I spend more time by myself, I don’t go out as frequently,” he said. “I feel like I’m a better friend, I don’t cancel plans.”

Taking a break from alcohol isn’t just good for your body and mind, it can also help your bank balance. The Australian Bureau of Statistics found the average Australian household spent $31.95 per week on alcohol between 2015–16, a figure that adds up quickly.

“It’s incredible how much you save,” says Lucy, “and it’s not just on going out, it’s also things like not ordering food delivery the next day because I’m tired.” In turn, this allowed her to put more money towards self-care. ”I’d get a massage or get my nails done, which was restorative.”

“I noticed a saving on things like ridesharing services and taxis,” agrees Kate. In part, she also put the money towards personal luxury items. “Now I buy organic food,” she recalls. “I put my money towards things like expensive organic chocolate instead of drinking.”

Almost everybody can benefit physically, mentally, and financially from a period of alcohol abstinence. Initiatives like Dry July and Ocsober are helping to create a dialogue about our relationship with alcohol in the national conversation, but there’s no need to wait for a designated timeframe to dip your toe in the waters of sobriety. As John puts it, “If everyone took the time to take a break from drinking – even just for a bit – they’d be surprised by the effects.”

If you’re concerned about your relationship with alcohol, contact the Alcohol and Drug Foundation information line on 1300 85 85 84 for a confidential chat.

Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances 

Disclaimer:
The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional, tax or other advice. It does not take into account any individual’s personal situation or needs. You should consider obtaining professional advice from a financial adviser and/or tax specialist, or medical or health practitioner, in relation to your own circumstances and before acting on this information.