HealthInfo Canterbury
How can I cut down on drinking?
This page has links to information in other languages.
Cutting down isn't easy. But you're not alone. There are lots of ways you can start making changes now. Some ideas are:
- know what a standard drink is
- when you do drink, set yourself a limit and stick to it
- drink non-alcoholic drinks before and in-between alcoholic drinks
- have your first drink after you start to eat
- avoid buying rounds in large groups
- switch to lower-alcohol beers or wines
- avoid drinking alone
- plan other activities or tasks at times when you would normally drink
- instead of drinking when bored or stressed, go for a walk or workout instead.
Who can help?
The following people or organisations may be able to help if you are finding it difficult to cut down on your drinking.
General practice team
If you need to find a GP, you can search on this map.
Alcohol drug helpline
You can call the Alcohol drug helpline on 0800‑787‑797 or txt 8681, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Alcohol drug helpline website includes information on alcohol and other drugs, problem identification, cultural resources, and online screening tools. You can also call the helpline if you are worried about a friend or family member's drinking.
The alcohol drug helpline has a Māori helpline (0800-787-798) and text service (8681) to provide culturally-appropriate support to Māori.
It also has a Pasifika helpline (0800-787-799) and text service (8681) to provide culturally-appropriate support to Pacific peoples.
Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) Central Coordination Service
This Canterbury-based service can provide brief intervention, self-help information, support and education. It has links to all AOD treatment providers in Christchurch for individual counselling and intensive treatment programmes. To contact the service, call (03) 338‑4437 or email chchaod@odysseychch.org.nz.
Addictions Help
Addictions Help allows you to search for publicly funded alcohol, drug and gambling treatment agencies in your region.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Brief advice tool for alcohol intervention
Structured advice about the benefits of cutting down on drinking.
- Hello Sunday Morning
A programme for people to create meaningful change in their lives by taking a short break from alcohol.
Written by Health in All Policies Advisor, Community & Public Health, Canterbury DHB. Adapted by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Endorsed by Public Health Specialist, Community & Public Health, Canterbury DHB. Page created March 2017. Last updated November 2018.
Sources
Review key: HIAAD-16539
