How To Stop Drinking Beer | 7 Ways To Stop Drinking Beer

To quit drinking beer or any type of alcoholic beverage is a difficult thing. Once your body becomes dependent on alcohol to function properly, it can feel impossible to change your drinking habits, especially if you’re a heavy drinker. 

But luckily, there are lots of different ways to quit drinking, cope with cravings, and stay alcohol-free. Here are seven ways to help you stop drinking beer.

1. Make A Plan

After you decide to avoid alcoholic drinks like beer, make a plan. Plan who you’ll go to when you need help, how you’ll avoid your triggers, or what you’ll do when you have a craving. Make sure to include what you’ll do in case you relapse.

Part of your plan can also include reasons why you’re quitting beer. 

Write down the problems alcohol consumption has caused in your life, what potential issues it could cause if you continue to drink, and what consequences you’ve already faced because of your drinking. Keep this list with you so you can look back at it when you’re craving beer.

2. Set Goals

Set some goals for yourself. Start small with daily goals and then build up from there as you confront prior substance abuse. This will help keep you off beer but it also shows you that you’re capable of achieving things when you set your mind to it. 

If you’ve tried to quit drinking beer before and been unsuccessful, you may feel like you’ll never succeed. But by making small goals, you’ll be able to build up your confidence and show yourself that you can be successful. 

3. Get Rid Of Alcohol

It’s important to get rid of all the beer you have in your home. There’s no reason to tempt yourself with it. If you live with other people, ask them to not bring any beer into the house. Any visitors that come to your home should be ok with following this rule as well.

But besides getting rid of the alcohol in your home, you’ll also want to stay away from bars or social gatherings where alcohol might be. This is especially the case when you’re first starting off not drinking.

4. Talk To You Doctor

Before you quit drinking beer or give up alcohol of any kind, you’ll want to talk to your healthcare provider. This is especially the case if you’ve developed an alcohol dependence and have been drinking a large amount of alcohol for a long time. 

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms can occur and they can be life-threatening if not treated. Delirium tremens (DTs) are one of the most dangerous effects of alcohol withdrawal and include symptoms like high blood pressure, seizures, and hallucinations.

Your doctor can give you medical advice and provide you with medications to help you through the symptoms. They can also help with any co-occurring mental health issues that come up. 

They may also be able to refer you to an addiction specialist and recommend you go to a detox program. Quitting cold turkey after years of heavy drinking is not recommended.

5. Tell People You Trust

When you decide to stop drinking alcohol, it’s important to tell the people you trust the most. They can be a support system and help keep you accountable for any substance use.

They can also keep you on track if you’re starting to waiver, encourage you when you’re feeling bad, or be there if you need to get yourself out of a situation where alcohol is present.

6. Ask For Help

You don’t have to do this alone. Friends, family, therapists, and addiction counselors can help you through this process. You can even join a support group like Alcoholics Anonymous to connect with people who also live with alcohol addiction.

Ask a family member to be your accountability buddy or simply let someone close to you know that you could use help while starting your recovery journey.

7. Reward Yourself

It’s also important to reward yourself for meeting your goals. Celebrate when you reach a major goal like not drinking beer for 10 days or 30 days. That’s a huge achievement and you deserve to reward yourself.

As long as your reward isn’t beer or something that will trigger you, it can be anything you love. The gift can be something you’ve wanted for a long time or a dinner out with your friends.

If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol use disorder, you’re not alone. Call our helpline today and we can help you find the right addiction treatment program for you.