How to reduce the amount you’re drinking
Champagne is often associated with parties and celebrations. And if someone else is doing the pouring it might be difficult to keep track of how much alcohol you’re drinking.
To make sure you don’t drink more than you intended to, try these top tips:
- Choose lower alcohol wines. Switching from a 12% ABV glass of Champagne to a lower-alcohol sparkling wine with 5.5% ABV can more than half the number of units you drink. If you stay within the guidelines, this can help you reduce the risk of longer-term harm from alcohol.
- Watch your glass. Hosts who regularly top up your glass can make it hard to keep track of how much alcohol you’re drinking. To stay on track, say no to automatic refills and alternate Champagne with soft drinks. If you’re out for drinks with work, don’t feel pressured to drink more – try the 5 tips in our after work drinks survival guide.
- Make the most of the buffet. Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach means it’s absorbed into your body more quickly. To slow things down eat before you drink alcohol, or if you’re at a celebration, make good use of the buffet.
- Find fresh ways to celebrate. Champagne often comes out to celebrate when good things happen. But there’s many other ways to mark an occasion, whether that’s buying a well-chosen gift for a friend or having an alcohol-free team event.
- Use our free tracking app. If you choose to drink alcohol, recording exactly what you’ve drunk each week will tell you whether you're keeping within the low risk drinking guidelines. Our free Drinkaware: Track and Calculate Units app.
Discover some more practical ways to cut back on Champagne with our tips on cutting down.
