Benefits of Quitting or Cutting Down on Drinking Alcohol

There are numerous benefits of giving up drinking, whether you are a frequent consumer of alcohol, believe you might be addicted to alcohol, or even just have an occasional drink. In a 2022 statement, the World Health Organization indicated that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption when it comes to your health.¹

Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of giving up alcohol and how you or a loved one can get help for alcohol misuse or addiction.

1. No More Hangovers

Hangovers can be a very unpleasant consequence of drinking too much; they involve a combination of mental and physical symptoms that occur after heavy drinking, where a person’s blood alcohol level starts to reach zero.² Symptoms can include:²

• Thirst.
• Fatigue.
• Headache.
• Dizziness.
• Nausea.
• Stomachache.
• Rapid heart rate.
• Loss of appetite.

People can also experience “hangxiety,” which refers to symptoms of anxiety and depression that can occur during hangovers.³

2. No More Brain Fog

Brain fog refers to a group of symptoms that impair your ability to think, concentrate, and focus clearly.⁴ You may feel forgetful, slow, or like you need to exert extra effort to think normally.⁴ This occurs because alcohol interferes with proper brain functioning and communication, which can lead to symptoms of brain fog.⁵

One of the benefits of quitting drinking is no longer having to deal with brain fog from alcohol. This means that you won’t have to worry about the impairments in concentration and cognitive abilities that often accompany regular alcohol consumption.

3. Better Financial Health

Alcohol can be expensive, especially if you’re drinking on a regular basis. You can use the Alcohol Spending Calculator to determine how much money you’re spending on alcohol every month, week, and year.

Alcohol is generally associated with increased risk-taking and impulsivity, which can also negatively affect your financial decisions.⁶ By quitting drinking, you’ll inevitably save money and perhaps even be better equipped to make smarter financial decisions.

4. Improved Physical Wellness

Alcohol, especially when consumed regularly, can lead to numerous negative impacts on your physical health, including:

• Increased risk of cancer.
• Weakened immune system.
• Heart problems.
• Pancreatic issues.

Alcohol and blood pressure are also linked, with increased alcohol use typically leading to higher blood pressure.⁷

No longer drinking alcohol can prevent or reduce your risk of many of these problems, leading to improvements in overall health.⁸ It can also help you achieve a more balanced weight, improve your levels of fitness, potentially make it easier for you to exercise, and maintain a healthier diet.⁸

5. Improved Mental Health

As with physical health, alcohol’s effect on mental health can be detrimental, possibly leading to or exacerbating issues like depression, anxiety, and other psychiatric conditions.⁹ 

If you have a co-occurring mental health disorder, quitting or reducing your alcohol consumption may lead to significant improvements in your condition.⁹ Even if you don’t have a diagnosable condition, research has shown that people who stop drinking often experience improved mental well-being.¹⁰

6. Better Quality Sleep

Continued alcohol use can lead to a downward spiral in sleep, leading to increased wakefulness, insomnia, and sleep disruptions.¹¹Alcohol use can also negatively impact sleep in a number of other ways, leading to disruptions in the ability to fall asleep, stay asleep, and attain and sustain deep sleep, or slow-wake sleep, which is necessary for repair, growth, and development.¹¹ 

No longer drinking may improve your sleep, which may, in turn, prevent the aforementioned issues and their accumulated effects and perhaps lead to better overall health and well-being.

7. Stronger Immune System

Alcohol weakens the immune system, which can lead to a heightened risk of infections and illnesses, such as:^7,12

• Pneumonia.
• Rspiratory syndromes.
• Liver disease.
• Cancers.
• Poor wound healing.

Quitting drinking may help counteract this effect, strengthen your immune system, and potentially prevent or mitigate illnesses that may have occurred if you kept drinking.¹²

8. Reduced Long-Term Health Risks

Chronic alcohol use is associated with numerous long-term risks to a person’s entire well-being.¹³ People who regularly drink over long periods of time can develop chronic diseases like cancer or heart disease, social problems like relationship issues and problems at work or school, and mental and cognitive problems.¹³ Some of the advantages of not drinking alcohol include a potential reduction in the likelihood of these long-term risks, as well as significant improvements in your health, relationships, and well-being.

9. Better Liver Health

Alcohol is metabolized in the liver, and alcohol consumption – especially if it’s chronic or heavy – can seriously stress the liver, leading to severe problems including:^7,14

• Steatosis, or fatty liver.
• Alcoholic hepatitis.
• Fibrosis.
• Cirrhosis.

Quitting drinking may help the liver repair itself and can even help it partially or fully regain its former function.¹⁴

10. Improved Relationships with Loved Ones

One of the signs you’re drinking too much is strained relationships with family and friends. Being under the influence can negatively affect the way you interact with loved ones, such as causing you to say things you don’t mean, starting or engaging in pointless arguments, or even potentially leading to violence.¹⁵

No longer drinking can help heal damaged relationships, help you cultivate healthier ones, and reduce the risk of alcohol-related harms, including violence.¹⁵

How to Get Help for Drug or Alcohol Use

If you’re struggling with alcohol or drug use, you don’t have to face it alone. Help is available. Please call use at to speak to a compassionate admissions navigator about getting help or to ask any questions you may have about rehab. The call is free and confidential, and there is no obligation to enter treatment with us by calling.

Our admissions navigators can help you understand the entire process and help you get started in a program when you’re ready.

Start the Recovery Journey Today

American Addiction Centers is a leading provider of alcohol addiction treatment in the U.S. We have rehabs located across the nation. Our facilities include:

California

• Laguna Treatment Center

Nevada

• Desert Hope Treatment Center

Texas

• Greenhouse Treatment Center
• Greenhouse Outpatient

Florida

• River Oaks Treatment Center
• Recovery First Treatment Center

Mississippi

• Oxford Treatment Center
• Oxford Outpatient – Oxford
• Oxford Outpatient – Southaven

Massachusetts

• AdCare Hospital
• AdCare Hospital Outpatient

Rhode Island

• AdCare Rhode Island
• AdCare Rhode Island Outpatient

Locations Nationwide

• Resolutions – Recovery Residences

Our facilities offer different levels of care, including:

• Medical detox.
• Inpatient drug and alcohol rehab.
• Outpatient addiction treatment programs.

When you’re ready to reach out, we’ll be ready to assist you. Please call us at any time of day or night to learn more about our programs, verify your insurance coverage, or find out more about using health insurance to pay for rehab.