If You Have to Take a Month Off Drinking in July, Do You Have a Problem?

As July fast approaches and many Australians brace themselves for a month off alcohol, maybe we need to shift the focus to not just taking a month off from drinking, but using that month to reflect on our habits, behaviour patterns, and mindset around alcohol.

Until recently, there were two categories of drinkers—an alcoholic or a social drinker. But it’s no longer as black and white as it once was. There’s a whole area of grey in there, and dysfunctional drinking isn’t necessarily a physical, everyday dependency.

Many grey area drinkers will undertake an alcohol-free July and pat themselves on the back at the end of the month, reassured they don’t have a problematic relationship with alcohol because they can take a month off. But is taking a month off and then going straight back to drinking part of the overall problem? Does it perpetuate the old beliefs that you only have a ‘problem’ with alcohol if you can’t take a break or if you drink every day?

Using a scale of one to 10, where a one might be someone who rarely drinks and a 10 is someone who drinks daily and needs medical assistance to stop, grey area drinking sits somewhere in the middle, between five to eight on the scale. Grey area drinkers can and do take breaks from drinking, but their drinking remains problematic with negative consequences.

As a former grey area drinker who has been a non-drinker for five years, I now coach people—mostly women—on how to have a healthy relationship with alcohol. For some, that means stopping drinking altogether; for others, it doesn’t require that boundary.

Many of my clients don't identify as being alcoholics, and they don’t drink every day. But alcohol plays a major (and often debilitating) role in their lives, often causing anxiety, poor sleep, low mood, lack of energy and motivation, and in some cases, a negative impact on their relationships and work performance. Many of them also use alcohol to numb emotions and avoid facing challenging situations.

If we continue to believe you only have a problem with alcohol if you drink every day, we’re missing out on helping a huge portion of the population and preventing grey area drinkers from ever having to question or improve their own relationships with alcohol.

For light drinkers, a month off is a great way to experience improved sleep, more energy, less anxiety, increased motivation, weight loss, and mental clarity, as well as being a brilliant opportunity to experience what life without alcohol can feel like. But for others, it can be more problematic. For anyone teetering close to alcohol use disorder (classified as 14 or more units per week—around 8 glasses of wine), a month off alcohol can lull them into the false belief that they don't have a problem and that their drinking habits don’t need to change.

This was me for years. Every time I successfully took a break, I convinced myself I didn’t have a ‘problem’ and returned immediately to drinking like I had been previously, with the false belief that my drinking was ‘normal’.

So, as July fast approaches and many Australians brace themselves for a month off alcohol, maybe we need to shift the focus to not just taking a month off from drinking but using that month to reflect on our habits, behavior patterns, and mindset around alcohol.

That way, come August 1, there’s a positive change in our relationship with alcohol that we’re happy to make. And if it does become clear that you have a problematic relationship with alcohol, there’s plenty of support groups that can help you.

Reflecting on Your Relationship with Alcohol Before July Kicks Off

1. Identify Your Triggers
   Recognize what situations, emotions, or people trigger your urge to drink. Understanding your triggers can help you develop strategies to cope with them without turning to alcohol.
   
   

2. Assess Your Drinking Patterns
   Take note of how often you drink, how much you consume, and how you feel before and after drinking. This can help you identify patterns and understand the impact of alcohol on your life.
   
   

3. Evaluate the Consequences
   Reflect on how alcohol affects your physical health, mental well-being, relationships, and work performance. Are there negative consequences that you’ve been ignoring?
   
   

4. Set Clear Boundaries
   Establish limits for yourself regarding when and how much you drink. Communicate these boundaries to friends and family so they can support you.
   
   

5. Seek Support
   If you find it challenging to change your drinking habits on your own, consider seeking support from a coach, counsellor, or support group. There are many resources available to help you navigate your relationship with alcohol.
   
   

Embracing Positive Change

By using July as an opportunity to reflect on your relationship with alcohol, you can make meaningful changes that extend beyond a single month. Whether you decide to reduce your drinking or stop altogether, the goal is to create a healthier, more balanced life where alcohol no longer holds you back.

Remember, it’s not about labelling yourself as an alcoholic or a social drinker; it’s about understanding how alcohol fits into your life and making choices that align with your wellbeing.

Would you like take a month off drinking in July? I’d love to support you and help you change your relationship with alcohol – for good. You can sign up for the challenge here.