As the summer months draw in and events such as the Euros take hold of the country, many people across Tunbridge Wells will be lighting the barbecues, heading to the beer gardens and getting the beers in. 

Over the next few months the supermarkets are going to see cans and bottles flying off the shelves, with experts predicting spikes in binge drinking. 

Alcohol problems have never been too far away from the mainstream in the country and there are thousands upon thousands of people that have issues without even realising. But with booze set to be prominent over the coming months in many of our lives, why not take a step back and watch the football or enjoy the sun without a glass in our hands? Or at least not an alcoholic one…

But could you actually do it? Could you go through an alcohol detox without succumbing to cravings or peer pressure? Here are five tips to help you do so…

Prepare Alternatives

A good place to start is by having a plan on the alternatives. People do believe it’s not as fun watching the match without a pint, for example, or enjoying a family occasion without a glass of wine. However, there are tons of great non-alcoholic alternatives out there.

Find non-alcoholic cocktail recipes, go to pubs that have a good range of 0% beers to watch the Euros. In fact, you’ll find some pubs even have alchol free beer on tap these days. This can all help in avoiding the alcohol by directly replacing it with something else that is equally as pleasing for you. 

Tell Others

It’s strength in numbers, and temptation can be much more difficult to negotiate when friends aren’t aware of what you are doing. Let them know and that will cut down on them encouraging you to have a drink, offering you one, or even speculating as to why you aren’t having one.

In fact, you may even inspire them to do exactly the same thing. 

Seek Support

By doing the above you can create a little support bubble, while if you are finding it tough, even after a few days, that could be quite telling in that you need further help with an alcohol detox, and potentially even rehabilitation.

It could be the first step to a better, healthier lifestyle and aid you in recognising that you do have a problem and need help with that. There are plenty of ways in which you can get help, from going to a private rehab centre to going through the NHS, national charities and community groups such as AA.

Organise Booze Free Social Activities

If you’re starting with a week, it may be that you organise some alcohol-free activities. If the weather’s fantastic, ditch the beer garden for a walk in the countryside or a picnic in the park. Host a sober dinner party, go bowling on a rainy day. The options really are endless.

Reflect on the Experience

Finally, reflect on the week and how it’s made you feel. A week isn’t really a long time to see a hugely noticeable impact, but if you’ve found it comfortable, you’ve enjoyed the hangover-free mornings and better night’s sleep, then you might want to consider it for another week.

Alternatively, it could be just the experiment you need to be more mindful with your consumption of alcohol, which in itself can be transformative.