Sign suggesting Christmas drinkers, should double up spirits, for just an extra £1.50, at a Theakston pub in Manchester, England, UK, M1 5NE

Simple tips for cutting down Make a plan Before you start drinking, set a limit on how much you're going to drink. Set a budget Only take a fixed amount of money to spend on alcohol. Let them know If you let your friends and family know you're cutting down and it's important to you, you could get support from them. Take it a day at a time Cut back a little each day. That way, every day you do is a success. Make it a smaller one You can still enjoy a drink, but go for smaller sizes. Try bottled beer instead of pints, or a small glass of wine instead of a large one. Have a lower-strength drink Cut down the alcohol by swapping strong beers or wines for ones with a lower strength (ABV in %). You'll find this information on the bottle. Stay hydrated Have a glass of water before you have alcohol and alternate alcoholic drinks with water or other non-alcoholic drinks. Take a break Have several drink-free days each week.