RETHINK THE DRINK 
Men's Fitness UK|October 2022
There's an increasing understanding about the negative impacts alcohol can have on mental health. So how can you cut back or quit completely if you think your drinking is affecting your wellbeing? Joe Minihane investigates
Joe Minihane
RETHINK THE DRINK 

"I have a history of depression and anxiety," says Ian Bilik. "Even now, as a non-drinker, I still suffer from anxiety, but it's barely noticeable anymore. Before, it was crippling, I wasn't able to go to work - I wasn't even able to leave the house."

Bilik decided that he'd had enough of drinking after a particularly heavy Bank Holiday weekend, when he woke up surrounded by empty bottles: "I just thought, Right, that's it. I'm done. I can't do this anymore. I've never been more determined to do anything in my life than I was the day I decided to stop drinking."

Bilik has a blog and forthcoming book called One Man And His Grog. He's part of a growing community of people who are either quitting drinking altogether or taking a radical approach to moderate their alcohol intake. The impact on his mental health, he says, was almost immediate.

"Stopping drinking transformed my mental health state entirely," he says. "I went from being a depressed, angry, anxious person to someone who was happy and bright and positive. It was incredible."

A nation of drinkers

There's no escaping the fact that Britain has got a drinking problem. Deaths caused by alcohol soared by 19% in 2020, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), with sales of booze jumping while pubs remained shut due to lockdown. Alcohol Change UK reports that the average UK adult consumes 18 units of alcohol per week, four units more than the government-recommended limit. Its research has also shown that higher earners are more likely to drink than those taking home less money, while men are more likely to binge than women. A recent Global Burden of Diseases report, published in The Lancet, found that any amount of alcohol was harmful to those under 40, with men between 15 and 39 most at risk. An astonishing 75% of harmful drinkers were found to be male.

この記事は Men's Fitness UK の October 2022 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は Men's Fitness UK の October 2022 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

MEN'S FITNESS UKのその他の記事すべて表示
DRESS TO IMPRESS
Men's Fitness UK

DRESS TO IMPRESS

In the latest campaign from Charles Tyrwhitt, rugby player Marcus Smith and cricketer Joe Root are taking the lead and stepping up their offduty game with some sharp summer outfits. From tailored linen to comfy chinos and lightweight blazers, summer just got stylish

time-read
2 分  |
August 2024
Sleep is crucial for both metabolic health and athletic performance
Men's Fitness UK

Sleep is crucial for both metabolic health and athletic performance

How well, and how long, did you sleep last night? It’s an important question, because in its Sleep Manifesto 2024, The Sleep Charity notes that a whopping 43% of adults sleep less than the NHS-recommended seven to nine hours.

time-read
2 分  |
August 2024
CARDIO SWEAT
Men's Fitness UK

CARDIO SWEAT

Elevate your aerobic fitness and fast-track fat loss with this cardio workout from the Movement Blueprint founder Harvey Lawton

time-read
1 min  |
August 2024
THE LEARN ROPES
Men's Fitness UK

THE LEARN ROPES

Skipping is more than a throwback. Done right, it offers a number of serious health benefits in Skipping is more than a throwback. Done right, it off ers a number of serious health benefi ts in a budget-friendly and convenient formula that can be done virtually anywhere

time-read
4 分  |
August 2024
MOUNTAINEERING IS ABOUT THE TENSION BETWEEN HUMAN NATURE AND MOUNTAIN NATURE.IT'S ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DYING
Men's Fitness UK

MOUNTAINEERING IS ABOUT THE TENSION BETWEEN HUMAN NATURE AND MOUNTAIN NATURE.IT'S ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF DYING

MF meets mountaineering legend Reinhold Messner

time-read
4 分  |
August 2024
BUDGET BEATS
Men's Fitness UK

BUDGET BEATS

Apple’s new low-price buds punch well above their price tag

time-read
4 分  |
August 2024
FITNESS GOALS
Men's Fitness UK

FITNESS GOALS

Teddy Sheringham’s playbook for staying in shape in your fifties

time-read
2 分  |
August 2024
Summer SIZZLERS
Men's Fitness UK

Summer SIZZLERS

Fuel your summer with these fresh, high-protein recipes

time-read
4 分  |
August 2024
THE MONT BLANC MONSTER
Men's Fitness UK

THE MONT BLANC MONSTER

The Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc (UTMB) is among the most challenging and prestigious trail running events in the world. Typically held annually in the last week of August, it circumnavigates the iconic Mont Blanc massif. Covering approximately 106 miles, with a gruelling elevation gain of around 32,800 feet, the race demands exceptional endurance, technical skill, and mental fortitude – as Dominic Bliss witnessed for himself at last year’s event…

time-read
6 分  |
August 2024
FEEL THE BURN
Men's Fitness UK

FEEL THE BURN

Training for HYROX? This lung-busting workout from HYROX master trainer and Represent 247 athlete Jake Dearden will get you race ready

time-read
2 分  |
August 2024