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You may be thinking about cutting back on alcohol. Or maybe you’re curious about how you can drink alcohol in a responsible way. Cutting back on alcohol can make a difference to your health. There are some things you can do to drink less and make sure you’re drinking responsibly.
One standard drink is 12 fl oz (355 mL) of beer, 5 fl oz (148 mL) of wine, or 1.5 fl oz (44 mL) of hard liquor.
Try to limit your drinks to 2 drinks or less a day for men and 1 drink or less a day for women.
7 tips for responsible alcohol use
Drink more water.
Have a glass of water before you have any alcohol. Have another glass along with every drink or between drinks.
Know what binge drinking is.
Binge drinking is 5 or more drinks per occasion for men and 4 or more drinks per occasion for women.
Pick how many days a week you’ll drink—and which days you won’t.
Choose how many drinks you plan to have. Keep some days alcohol-free each week.
Avoid alcohol during certain times.
These can include when you need to drive, if you’re pregnant, if you are taking certain medicines, or if you have certain health conditions.
Swap alcohol out for non-alcohol drinks.
Try flavored seltzer water, tea with honey, or tonic with a slice of lime. Or try alcohol-free beer or cocktails.
Find other activities to do.
Instead of meeting for happy hour, try catching up over lunch or a walk.
Get support.
Talk to your doctor if you need help quitting or cutting back.
Current as of: October 7, 2024
Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
