Is it time to break-up with booze?

After a long, busy day, you might use a glass of wine, beer or other alcoholic drink as a way to unwind. Soon, one glass becomes a second glass, and then the rest of the bottle. Sound familiar?

The recommended guidelines for alcohol are no more than 14 units a week, with at least 2 alcohol free days per week. A typical bottle of wine will contain 10 units, so it's easy to see how those units mount up, and over time this can have a really detrimental effect on your health, mood, energy levels and weight.

In perimenopause and menopause in particular, you may really start to notice the negative effects of alcohol. Many women report that they can't tolerate alcohol as well in their 40s, as they did in their 20s and 30s, and that their hangovers are worse! So why is this?

Alcohol, Perimenopause and the Liver

During perimenopause, the liver is working hard to to support changes in metabolism and hormone levels. The liver is the main detox organ and will prioritise detoxing and removing alcohol in the body before anything else. If your liver is busy detoxing alcohol, it won't have time to process and metabolise your hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone, leading to hormonal imbalance and perimenopausal symptoms.

Women in perimenopause often report that alcohol worsens their symptoms and is a trigger for hot flushes. It's effectively liquid sugar, causing blood sugar imbalances which can contribute to weight gain, poor sleep and anxiety. Alcohol also inhibits the body's absorption of nutrients such as zinc and b vitamins, and affects the gut microbiome, negatively impacting digestion and mood.

Are you drinking too much?

Do you ever wonder if you drink a little too much? Maybe it’s crossed your mind on occasion that you have a problem with alcohol (even if you’ve not spoken those words out loud)? Do you use alcohol like a social crutch to give you confidence at parties and events? Do you often wonder what life would be like without alcohol or even why on TV, films and even in real life the alcohol flows freely at practically every event? It’s like we should all be drinking, and without it, we must be having less fun. Socially, drinking is one of main ways we enjoy being with friends and trying to cut back can be difficult and often meets with disapproval from others.

Are you a little bit sober-curious?

If any of these questions above have crossed your mind, perhaps you're sober curious.

The sober curious movement is gathering pace and not drinking is really rather on-trend. To be clear ‘sober curious’ is not the same as sobriety (being 100% sober). According to Ruby Warrington, author of the book Sober Curious, it’s not an on-off switch. You are neither a drinker or tee-total. It’s about bringing a “questioning mindset to every drinking situation, rather than going along with the dominant drinking culture”. Sober curious is a movement that welcomes you at any stage of your questioning the role alcohol plays in your life.

It may be that you have already dipped your toe into extended periods of sobriety such as 'Dry January' or 'Go Sober for October'. Being sober curious the rest of the time is a natural extension. There are even sober bars popping up where you get to socialise over mocktails and kombucha rather than a G&T.

Author Ruby Warrington – the first to coin the phase – began thinking about her alcohol consumption in 2010 in terms of its impact on her health and wellbeing. She felt she couldn't talk to anyone else about it. After it, it wasn’t like she was drinking secretly or during the day. She was drinking in a very socially-acceptable way you might see openly portrayed on social media.  Maybe a few glasses of wine on a few weeknights and a mini-binge at the weekend. Like many, she was simply doing it without question.

Feel like exploring this for yourself?

Questions to ask yourself when you drink:

• Why am I drinking right now?

• Is it expected of me that I will have a drink right now? If so, how do I feel about that?

• What will this drink do for my health and wellbeing?

Think about what it is that you actually want. Don’t be afraid to say to friends that you’re taking some time off from drinking, that (on a night you would normally go to a bar), you’d like to do something different instead. Remember, you don’t have to justify

yourself to anyone.

Can you ever drink?

Being sober curious is not never, ever drinking. It’s simply being more mindful. That’s something we could probably all do with more of in every aspect of our lives.

I found these sober curious resources just for you...

Sober Curious by Ruby Warrington (https://amzn.to/31woqIG)

The Sober Diaries: How one woman stopped drinking and started living by Clare Pooley (https://amzn.to/2YFhnvr)

Drink?: The New Science of Alcohol and Your Health by David Nutt (https://amzn.to/3ieOy10)

Alcohol Lied to Me: How to Stop Drinking and Get the Real You Back by Craig Beck (https://amzn.to/2Vr6SKx)

There are some hypnosis tracks to go with this book by Craig Beck, which are also excellent - https://amzn.to/2NAj72L