TIME FOR CHANGE

Maybe you want a cold one. It’s just one wine or one beer, yeah?

You know, just to wind down at the end of the day or divert you from life’s challenges.

The problem is... having one every day can so quickly become two or three… every day.

Research shows it takes just 66 days to form a habit.

Are you keen to change your relationship with alcohol?

According to a 2009 study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes 18-254 days on average for a person to form a new habit and around 66 days for a new behaviour to become automatic.

Data released in April 2020 shows one-in-five Australians have purchased more alcohol than usual during the COVID-19 pandemic and the majority are drinking more and also have concerns about their alcohol use and the drinking of others in their household.

National polling by YouGov Galaxy, commissioned by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), shows that 20 per cent of Australians more alcohol and 70% of those are drinking more alcohol than normal, with one third now using alcohol daily.

The positive news is that one fifth of all Australians would like to reduce the amount they drink and this figure swings to 50 per cent for those who have been drinking more during lockdown.

If you’re one of these people, help is close at hand.

Visit Alcohol Think Again to assess your drinking using their online assessment tool, ring Alcohol Drug and Information Service (ADIS) on 1300 13 1340 and make an appointment to see your doctor for some advice about reducing or quitting alcohol.