Benefits of Not Drinking Alcohol

The benefits of an alcohol-free lifestyle are numerous: saving money, losing weight, living longer, and having better mental health and cognition.

Keep reading if you’re considering a sober life but need a little push to take the plunge.

10 Benefits of Not Drinking Alcohol 

You won’t know how sobriety will change your life until you try it. But these are some of the benefits others have achieved by changing their relationship with alcohol:

1. Longer Life

Researchers say drinking just one or two drinks four or more times per week can increase your risk of premature death by 20%.[1] Notice that this is a moderate drinking level for most people. 

2. Weight Loss

Consume four bottles of wine per month, and you’ll take in calories equivalent to eating four Big Macs per month.[2] 

A standard alcoholic beverage contains at least 200 calories. If you are drinking 2 to 4 drinks, that’s somewhere between 400 and 800 calories in one sitting from alcohol alone. 

While most people on a diet would resist eating fast food weekly, many people won’t blink an eye about drinking daily. Many people attempting to lose weight don’t realize the number of calories they consume from alcohol. Cutting those calories out can make a big difference in successful weight loss. 

3. Stronger Memory & Cognition 

Chronic alcohol consumption is also associated with memory loss and decreased cognition over time.[3] Drinking heavily or long term can increase the risk of both temporary or permanent memory loss. 

4. Reduce Your Risk of Accidents 

Researchers say up to 40% of emergency room visits for accidents and injuries involve alcohol.[4] You could have a painful and expensive injury that keeps you from work, or you could hurt someone else.

5. Improve Your Organ Health

Alcohol can cause permanent damage to over nine major systems within your body, including the following:[5]

• Bones 
• Brain 
• Gastrointestinal system
• Heart
• Liver
• Lungs
• Muscles
• Oral cavity 
• Pancreas

6. Sleep Better

Alcohol is sedating, so it can help you fall asleep faster, but researchers say alcohol-fueled sleep isn’t restful.[6] You may drift in and out of light levels of sleep, so it’s easier for you to awaken with tiny noises. And you may spend less time in the deep stages of sleep your body needs to repair tissues and grow. 

Some sleep changes persist when heavy drinkers quit. But with time, you could start sleeping soundly and awaken refreshed and ready for your day. 

7. Save Money

The average millennial drinker spends $300 per month on alcohol.[7] People with AUD may spend much more. All of the money you spend on drinking could help you take a dream vacation, put your children through school or pay off your mortgage. 

8. Reduce Your Cancer Risk

Drinking alcohol raises the risk of developing several different types of cancer, including the following:[8]

• Mouth
• Voice box
• Throat
• Esophagus 
• Breast 
• Liver
• Colon
• Rectum

The more you drink, the higher the risk of developing cancer. But researchers say even people who have no more than one drink per day have a moderately increased cancer risk.[8] That risk lowers when you’re sober. 

9. Boost Your Mood Naturally

Researchers say there’s a strong link between alcohol misuse and depression.[9] People with AUD may lean on drinks to improve their mood, but each sip makes their underlying mental health worse.

Alcohol cravings can make you feel depressed or anxious. But as your brain adjusts to sobriety and your chemical levels balance, you may feel better than you ever did while drinking. 

10. Preserve Your Dignity 

In a study of college students, more than 66% said they engaged in “regrettable social behaviors” while drinking.[10] Alcohol lowers your inhibitions, making it easier to say or do things while drunk that you’d never do while sober. 

Once you stop drinking, you won’t wake up wondering whom you should apologize to for your actions the night before. You’ll be in control of your decisions. 

What Happens When You Quit Drinking?

Each body is different, but in general, quitting follows a predictable timeline that looks like this:

Within 1 Week 

People with significant alcohol misuse history may experience a difficult withdrawal period during the first week. Their doctors often use medications like benzodiazepines to help guide them to sobriety safely, and after the first week, they start to feel more like themselves.

Standard, daily drinkers without alcohol use disorder may notice that they sleep better and awaken with newfound vigor and energy. 

Within 1 Month

You may start to lose weight, or conversely, if you have been malnourished, you may begin to renourish your body and find you are gaining healthy weight again. Your sleep will likely improve.

Your organs, including your liver, make great strides in healing during this first month. Your bloodwork may show signs of improvement, and your doctor may be pleased with how well you’re feeling. 

Within 1 Year

If you maintain abstinence from alcohol, you will probably notice significant improvements in your nutrition, sleep, energy and cognition after a year. 

Should You Quit Drinking?

The following are symptoms of a potential alcohol use disorder (AUD). If you recognize any of these symptoms in yourself, it might be time to reconsider your drinking habits:[11]

• Drinking more than you intend to
• Trying to quit and failing
• Spending a lot of time drinking
• Feeling obsessed with drinking 
• Cutting back on other activities to make time for drinking
• Getting into unsafe situations due to drinking
• Drinking despite physical or mental health consequences
• Drinking more to get the impact smaller doses once gave you
• Feeling sick or unwell when you don’t drink

Talk to your doctor about your symptoms. People dependent on alcohol can face life-threatening problems if they try to quit cold turkey. Your doctor can help you get sober safely with medications and connect you to resources to help maintain long-term abstinence. 

Resources to Help You Quit

These resources can help you stop drinking:

• Alcoholics Anonymous: Connect with other people who are also struggling with alcohol misuse. Attend meetings virtually or in person and learn how others have taken control and rebuilt their lives. You can also read literature to help you deepen your understanding of alcohol use disorder.

• National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Read scientific studies about AUD research and tap into information about how alcohol harms both your body and mind. Use the NIAAA treatment navigator to connect with professionals who can help. 

• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration: Use this resource to find treatment help near you. Operators speak both English and Spanish and are available around the clock. This service is free. 

4 Key Facts About Alcohol

1. Among people 12 and older, about 6.5% are considered heavy drinkers, meaning they drink excessively five or more days per month.[12]

2. Close to 6% of people 18 and older have an alcohol use disorder, but only about 8% of people in this group got treatment for it.[13]

3. About 15% of American adults stop drinking alcohol during Dry January. This break helps them reassess their relationship with alcohol, and for some, it leads to long-term drinking changes.[14]

4. More than 140,000 people die due to alcohol use in the United States every year.[15]

Benefits of Not Drinking FAQ

What known benefits are tied to sobriety?

People who don’t drink potentially live longer, feel better, maintain a healthy weight and have more money when not spending it on alcohol. They may also see improvements in their work performance, mood, overall energy levels, and ability to maintain meaningful relationships with their friends and families. 

What happens to your body after just a week of no alcohol?

Even after a week or two of sustained abstinence, you will likely notice improvements in your health. People who quit drinking generally sleep better and feel less brain fog. You may also begin to eat better and shed any excess weight now that you ingest fewer “empty” calories from alcohol. 

You may also notice improvements in your organ function very quickly. For example, someone with hepatitis (acute liver inflammation) from alcohol use can recover completely after only a few days of abstinence. However, some damage may be more permanent, which means the sooner you cut down or even stop drinking, the more you can prevent any long-term organ damage.

Is it better to have less versus absolutely no alcohol?

This is a personal question, and answers can vary. At Bicycle Health, we certainly don’t insist on absolute abstinence from alcohol. Some people may decide that simply cutting down is right for them, while others may know that they must abstain from alcohol. 

Talk to your friends, family and doctors about how much alcohol you feel is appropriate to have as part of your life. Reach out to us at Bicycle Health if you would like assistance in decreasing your intake or even discontinuing alcohol use altogether.