Eight million adults in the UK currently drink at risky levels and British teenagers are some of the heaviest young drinkers in Europe.
The more you cut down on alcohol, the more you reduce your risk of cancer. But there are many other benefits of drinking less.
Aside from embarrassing injuries, alcohol can also cause heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, and pancreatitis. Cutting down can help you reduce your risk of these conditions.
Alcoholic drinks are very high in calories. But these are ‘empty calories’ with virtually no useful nutrients. Alcohol also increases your appetite, so you might eat more heavily when you drink.
If you want to lose weight, you’ll need to consider reducing the amount you drink.
Alcohol is a depressant. Sometimes this effect can relax you, but at other times, it can lead to feelings of unhappiness and depression.
Alcohol can also interfere with your natural sleep patterns, so by cutting down, you may find that you sleep better.
If you’re a regular drinker, you might find that you save a lot of money by cutting down.