Go Sober for October
Have a Sober October to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Are you going sober for October?
Taking a break from drinking is a great way to give your body a break from alcohol, and it has lots of benefits.
Every year, Macmillan runs a Sober October campaign to encourage people to go alcohol-free in October to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
What to expect when you give up alcohol
If you’ve decided to give up alcohol, you might be surprised how quickly you start to notice some of the benefits.
A better night’s sleep
Alcohol can disrupt your sleep pattern meaning you spend less time in more restful deep sleep.
More energy
Hangover-free and refreshed you’re likely to have more energy. Maybe now is the time to take up a new hobby or kick-start a fitness regime?
Weight loss
You might have already started to notice some weight loss. Alcoholic drinks are high in empty calories and regularly adding lots of extra calories on top of your recommended daily intake can make it difficult to maintain or lose weight.
Save money
When you stop spending money on alcohol, you’ll be saving yourself money. Why not treat yourself to something nice to celebrate sticking to your Sober October goals?
Our top three tips for a successful Sober October
1. Understand the effects of alcohol
Understanding what effect alcohol has on your mind and body can help motivate you to stay on track. From heart health to anxiety and depression alcohol can have a wide-ranging effect on our bodies.
2. Alcohol-free alternatives
Sparkling mineral water is great – but there are many other alcohol alternatives out there. Why not make a mocktail, try an alcohol-free beer or even one of the new alcohol-free ‘spirits’?
3. Tackle your triggers
Understand what prompts you to have a drink so you can stay in control and avoid old habits.
Beyond Sober October
A month off alcohol could be your chance to make lasting changes in the way you drink. Alcohol consumption is linked to seven types of cancer, and the more you drink the more your risk increases.
So just a few small changes to the way you approach alcohol could have a big effect on your long-term health, and how you feel.
One thing you might find after a period without drinking is that your tolerance to alcohol drops. So it might take less alcohol for you to feel its effects.
In order to keep the risks from drinking to a low level, make sure you stick within the low risk drinking guidelines of no more than 14 units a week, with at least three drink-free days.
Taking a break from alcohol is a great for your body and mind, so keep up the positive changes beyond October.
Resources to help you stay on track
- Get advice on how to cut down beyond October
- Find good reasons for cutting down
- Use the MyDrinkaware app to help track your drinking