The real reasons why you drink

10:29 14 September 2009

There are many motives for drinking, but regardless of why you drink alcohol can have incredibly harmful effects if not moderated.  

The problems that result have been widely documented but the first step in dealing with any problem is recognition.

Even if you don't seem to be drinking a lot, you may be surprised to find out what kind of drinker you are and how easily it can spiral out of control. Reveal which category you slip into below:

You drink to relieve the stress of your day

Bad day at the office? Problems in your relationship? Bills mounting up? Only just managed to tuck the kids into bed? After a harsh day, many like to "take the edge" off by turning to drink.

The real danger with this is that you relate it with easing your stresses and curing (or providing a temporary retreat from) your problems. After a while it could become essential to allowing you to cope with the day-to-day.

The fixer is relatively simple. You already know the problems in your life but you need distractions. Make an effort to bring your hobbies back – whether it's reading or having a walk. Going to the gym is a brilliant solution, it energises you and puts your body to good, healthy use.

You drink to give yourself confidence

We all have our insecurities and alcohol can help relax them, especially in social situations such as parties and public speaking.

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The trouble with this is that this confidence is faked, blurred and does not last (until you refill). Another problem is that the more you top up, the worse you get in these public situations – in short, it's hard to control.

The idea of "having a stiff drink" before doing anything potentially stressful is a dangerous one indeed. The truth is very different – few of us really depend on the booze, it's just an excuse.

Address where your self-confidence really lies (such as your appearance or wit) and then draw it out naturally.

You buckle under peer pressure

Peer pressure isn't just present in the playgrounds, it remains throughout many people's lifetimes. As a result, this kind of drinker never drinks alone, and is scared to be judged if they deny "just one more".

The concern here is that you are not in charge of your own limits – your acquaintances are.

A good excuse is to say that you're driving or you have an early start the next day. Even say that you're on medication. Also don't just go to the pub to drink; suggest going on the quiz machine or playing darts – anything to take the emphasis off downing drinks.

You have a routine that includes drinking

Many couples share activities that include drinking – such as some wine in the bath or by the fire, or most commonly a glass with a meal. These often lead to finishing an entire bottle.  A similar scenario is when people get together after work every Friday – it gets so familiar that you don't think about it.

While you mix your drinking with innocent activities, the fact remains that because it's so frequent and easy, it means that you probably drink way too much. Remember that a bottle of wine can easily be corked to save for another day.

Don't feel a need to always drink with your partner, colleagues or friends just because it's the norm. Think about how much you want to actually drink in advance instead of just letting the bottle take you. Routines can be broken and the effects can be very positive indeed.