Entertaining guests and want to impress?

Go for something a bit different and serve up a selection of non-alcoholic mocktails. Buying small wine glasses or an alcohol measure are good ways of making sure you don’t drink more than you intend to.

Stay in control
Staying within the guidelines on a night out is much easier if you stay in control of what you drink. Opt out or try buying drinks with a smaller group of friends instead. Watch out for cocktails. They can contain more alcohol than you might think. Try smaller measures.
Have a soft drink or two with each alcoholic drink to help you stay hydrated.

Five benefits to cutting back on alcohol
Keeping an eye on what you drink can have a positive effect on your overall health and well-being. It can help you:

1. Watch your weight, alcohol is heavy on calories.
And with 682 calories in an average 13 percent bottle of wine, cutting down is a great way to stay in shape.
2. Sleep soundly – drinking less means that you get more sleep because alcohol interferes with the normal sleep process.
3. Reduce stress – some people say that they drink to relax, but in fact excess alcohol can actually make you feel more stressed because it’s a depressant.
4. Avoid hangovers – keep to the daily unit guidelines and you can kiss goodbye to a sore head, dry mouth and that dreaded “what on earth was I thinking last night?” hangover feeling.
5. Stay healthy for longer – cutting down can be great news for your long-term health. Drinking less alcohol reduces the risks of alcohol-related cancers, diabetes and heart disease.

It puts less pressure on the liver too.

The AA Estcourt branch hosts meetings every Tuesday at Forderville Primary School from 7pm to 8pm. Contact Desigan on 082 849 3014.