Are you a Secret Alcoholic?

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Health guidelines classify a binge drinker as a woman who consumes six units in a single session – the equivalent of two large glasses of wine – or a man who drinks eight units – about three pints of strong beer. This means the millions of Kenyans who enjoy a boozy Saturday night or share a bottle of wine with a friend are classed as binge drinkers .Binge drinking is most prevalent among women and those on high incomes.

The key to successfully cutting down is to make small, but important, changes in your attitude towards drinking. Lots of little changes can add up to big change in your lifestyle. Here are some ideas:

Begin by looking at how much you drink at home. You might drink more than you think on an average night in, especially if you like a couple of beers or glasses of wine in front of the TV

Try replacing the alcohol in your fridge with soft drinks. Luckily these days the soft option doesn’t have to be dull, since the supermarket shelves are packed with up market cordials, smoothies and fizzy drinks.

Entertaining guests and want to impress? Go for something a bit different and serve up a selection of non-alcoholic mocktails.

Remember that home measures are often much bigger than you’d get when you’re out. Be aware of this. Buying small wine glasses or an alcohol measure are good ways of making sure you don’t drink more than you intend to.

Opt out of rounds. Drinking in rounds can make you drink a lot faster than you’d like or realize. Opt out or try buying drinks with a smaller group of friends instead.

Watch out for cocktails. They can contain more alcohol than you might think.
Spread out your drinks throughout the night. This will help your units go further.

Go diluted. Try a more diluted alcoholic drink such as a spritzer or shandy.
Space with soft drinks. Have a soft drink or two with each alcoholic drink to help you stay hydrated.

Reducing your alcohol intake will not only greatly reduce some serious health risks, it will also impact on your finances as well. You’ll be surprised how much money you spend on booze. Good luck!

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