In recent years, “dry January”, or spending the month of January without drinking alcohol, has become increasingly popular in France. After the excesses of the holidays, 7% of French people are considering even more lasting moderation and include reducing their alcohol consumption among their resolutions for 2025, according to a survey carried out by Ipsos for the French Federation of Physical Education and Voluntary Gymnastics (FFEPGV).
But how to maintain this good resolution over time? Two addicts give you their advice if you too want to reduce your alcohol consumption in 2024.
1. Take an honest look at your consumption
For addict Philippe Batel, it is interesting to take stock of his alcohol consumption. He considers “dry January” “a very good test to see how connected you are” to alcohol. “People say all the time: ‘I quit when I want,’ damn it!” challenges the alcoholic.
It is also possible to evaluate the risks associated with alcohol consumption using a test developed by the World Health Organization, available here. And risky consumption (alcohol especially promotes the appearance of cancer) is not uncommon.
According Public health FranceAccording to the public body under the Ministry of Health, more than one in five French adults (22%) exceeds the recommended alcohol consumption limits (maximum ten drinks per week and two drinks per day, and days of the week without consumption). .
2. Drink differently
Alexandre Baguet, head of the addictions department at Rouen University Hospital, suggests people who want to reduce their consumption To avoid circumstances of excessive consumption, force yourself to drink a glass of water between each glass of alcohol and choose less strong alcohols, but without drinking more to compensate.
3. Moments of sanctuary without alcohol
Philippe Batel also suggests “setting times, places or moments that we consecrate.” “For example: ‘I’m going to pick up my children from school, even if it’s on foot, I haven’t drunk for two hours before,’ illustrates the psychiatrist at the Camille Claudel hospital in La Couronne, in Charente.
4. Call specialists
This advice is applicable to people who are not in a dependent situation. For the latter, specialists recommend seeking help from health professionals. They can contact a family doctor or an Addiction Care, Support and Prevention Center (Csapa).
These centers, which offer multidisciplinary care, are present in all departments of France. You can find one near you on the website of the drug information service.
You can contact the Alcool information service at 0.980.980.930, from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m., 7 days a week. The call is anonymous and there is no charge. The service also answers questions through an online chat open from 2:00 p.m. to midnight Monday to Friday and from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
This article was originally published in January 2024.
Source: BFM TV
