Drinkaware, the national independent charity working to prevent and reduce alcohol misuse, is encouraging people to take part in Sober October, a month-long ‘sober curious’ challenge where adults commit to abstaining from alcohol.

Taking a break from alcohol can bring numerous benefits to your overall mental and physical health.

The Drinkaware Annual Barometer 2023 revealed that more drinkers than ever before (36%) say they want to drink less with over 41% making small positive changes to their alcohol consumption in the previous 30 days. These positive intentions rise to 54% amongst young adults (18-24 years).

Health reasons appear to be a key driver for people to reduce their alcohol consumption with 63% of adults citing physical health / fitness as an influence to drink less and 31% of adults cited mental health as an influence to drink less.

Drinkaware CEO Dearbhla O’Brien said: "Our mission is to prevent and reduce alcohol misuse in Ireland. There are various reasons why people may wish to participate in Sober October. For example, health can be a significant driver; we know that 45% of adults say they are more conscious now about health harms associated with alcohol.

“People may also wish to take part for personal growth reasons or simply to take a break from alcohol. Whatever your reason, we really encourage participation in Sober October and we are delighted to provide practical information, tips, and support in the resource section of our website and in our recent blog on Sober October.”

With World Mental Health Day approaching (10th October), it’s a great opportunity for each of us to consider Sober October and prioritise our mental and physical well-being.

Benefits of Drinking Less:

• Improved sleep
• More energy
• Healthier appearance
• Improved skin (this is because you are less dehydrated, your skin will look fresher) Long term benefits:
• Improved mental health
• Improved physical health – Taking a break/ giving up alcohol reduces the risk of developing alcohol related illnesses.

Tips for Sober October:

• Set goals: having a clear purpose will help keep you motivated throughout the month. Write your goals down and refer back to them whenever you need a reminder of why you started.
• Try new activities: when we give something up, we want to replace it with something else. If you normally drink after a long day of work to unwind for example, plan on filling that time with other activities such as exercising, socialising, reading, cultivating your current hobbies or discovering new ones.
• Document your journey: keep a journal and note any changes in your mood, energy levels, sleep patterns, and overall health. Tracking your progress can be incredibly rewarding and provides tangible proof of the benefits of going alcohol-free.
• Stay connected: join a community of others participating in Sober October.

If you feel significantly better after Sober October, you might want to think about making more permanent changes to your drinking habits. This doesn’t mean you have to give up alcohol entirely, but you might find that reducing your intake has lasting benefits.