It’s coming up to the time of year when many of us start to think about cutting down on our drinking.
But all those resolutions are easier to make than stick to – as people who vowed to drink less after Covid restrictions were lifted this year discovered.
YouGov’s June poll found that only half of respondents had said they would trim back by the end of June.
Drinkaware, an alcohol education charity, conducted a survey that found around 25% of respondents had reduced their drinking habits for just a few weeks before falling back into their old ways. Another 23% failed to fulfill their promise.
Drinkaware revealed that 49% of respondents said alcohol helped them deal with anxiety and stress, while 36% said it had made their lives easier by drinking to ease boredom.
Half of those who didn’t cut down are planning to have less to drink next month, and 22% are hoping to join Dry January.
A poll by YouGov found that less than half those who said they would reduce alcohol consumption after Covid restrictions were lifted in June actually did so.
The charity’s Annabelle Bonus said: ‘Even with the best of intentions, it can be incredibly tough to reduce the amount you drink. But it’s never too late to make a change.’
Drinkaware found that nearly half of UK adults were either redundant or made redundant by the pandemic. They were also drinking much more than normal.
A total of 35 per cent of people surveyed said taking drink-free days had helped, whereas 23 per cent said avoiding drinking alcohol on a “school/work night” helped.
A 19% of respondents said not having alcohol at their home reduced their drinking, while 16% stated that they had drank less if they stopped using alcohol for certain periods.
According to the summer poll, two-thirds were also drinking at higher-risk levels (more alcohol than 34 for women and 50 for men per week), which is more than was possible before the pandemic.
Miss Bonus stated that the uncertainty around Omicron could also contribute to stress and anxiety, feelings which were described as a barrier for people cutting back.
‘Regularly drinking above the UK chief medical officers’ guidelines of 14 units a week can increase your risk of a range of health conditions including seven types of cancer so don’t be put off if you’ve failed to stick to your plans.’