There’s a proverb that says a tiger can’t change its stripes. It’s difficult to change habits when you’ve been doing things a certain way for a long time. But rethinking drinking alcohol as you get older can be a game changer. It’s hard to break established social habits but I know tomorrow’s early start will be infinitely easier if I drink less tonight.
The one thing everyone seems to agree on is that drinking seems like a great idea at the time. Having fun socially is really important but what we need to remember is that fun doesn’t exclusively involve drinking excess alcohol. Its when the alcohol monster catches up to you in the morning that you wish you weren’t losing out on time with family and friends thanks to last night’s bad decisions.
We all know the answer is to drink less. That could look like just cutting back and drinking a bit less, or even taking the night off. But with the drinking culture the way that it is then sometimes its not as straight forward as it could be.
How do you drink less when you’re going out?
Since a tiger can’t change its stripes, then let’s ask a Zebra.
Slowing down on the drinks is one way to reduce the amount of alcohol that you have. And you’d hope that having less means that tomorrow will be a better day with Sunday brunch at you’re favourite cafe included. But slowing down isn’t really that much fun. You finish your drink and then what are you supposed to do? Stand there awkwardly while everyone else is still drinking? What are my options if I want to have a non-alcoholic drink? If it’s a Red Bull, then I’ll have vodka too thanks, and if it’s water, well, no thanks.
But a couple of years ago I heard this saying about having an inbeertweener that I thought was really smart. A beer that is non-alcoholic that you can have in between the regular beers. You get to stop drinking alcohol, but while enjoying an adult non-alcoholic beverage, and not looking like you’re having a brightly coloured mocktail. I ended up matching this clever hashtag #inbeertweener back to local Surry Hills non-alcoholic brewery the Beneficial Beer Co. Then I tracked down founder David Jackson for his thoughts on slowing down drinking by alternating between alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages.
There’s an ever increasing range of non-alcoholic drink options available in bars and restaurants these days. Neither a sober driver, or anyone slowing down or taking a night needs to feel hard done by a decent adult drink any more. If your chosen establishment has a good drinks menu you can hope for some choice in the non-alcoholic beverage department.
What is non-alcoholic?
A non-alcoholic drink is one that the law sees as not being alcohol, and actually contains less than 0.5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). I’ve specified an adult drink, because I don’t want you to think I’m talking about bubble tea here. I do mean a drink that looks and tastes like the alcoholic alternative it’s replacing, and it’s a drink marketed at adults 18+.
Alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks is sometimes called “zebra striping”. This term is used because it’s like alternating between black and white “stripes” of different drinks
It’s not a bad strategy to moderate your drinking.
Always intend to do it, always fail. Managed it once and had a brilliant weekend.
Alternating drinks will help the hangover the next day, especially water . Anyone who gives you shit about drinking less is no real friend – more of a drinking buddy who you should cut out as theyre a human anchor
Problem i find is i haven’t a clue my limit, it varies fairly randomly but ive never gone down the order water at a pub road, is it just outve the tap or do they give you bottled stuff like.. no doubt they overcharge for that and all
If you’re concerned about looking like you’re not drinking, or want to appear that you are. The sparkling water and lime in a tall or gin glass is a great way to fly under the radar.
I just drink a lot slower than everyone else. I finish my pint when my friends finish 2 pints. And I also get a glass of water after every pint. Most non alcoholic drinks have way too much sugar in them.
I never did, but I recently took 8 weeks off drinking and now I dont seem to enjoy it as much so Ive started every second or third drink a 0 alcohol beer
Guiness zero is AWSOME. I actually prefer it to normal guiness.
There have always been ways to slow down drinking, For the longest time there’s been differthe old adage that alternating a
Couldn’t – no choice
Now – easy – options
Beneficial inbertweener
Need more bars to stock options
Name – don’t like mocktail, but everyone knows what you mean. But its not a great name
there is Maybe it’s time for a young zebra to learn from both an old dog and a social tiger and look at changing its stripes.
One is too many, and a thousand is never enough.
All the rage
Now possible with new quality drinks
Benefits. Hangovers headaches
No one will notice
Beneficial Beer Co created some of the first Australian non-alcoholic beers and conied the saying #inbeertweener
One is too many”:
This refers to the difficulty individuals with alcohol dependency have in abstaining or limiting their alcohol intake. They might start with a single drink and find themselves unable to stop, leading to excessive consumption.
“A thousand is never enough”:
This describes the feeling that some people with alcohol dependency have when they’re drinking. They may feel like they need to consume more and more to achieve the desired effect or satisfy their cravings, according to Kolpia Counseling.
In addiction circles:
This phrase is often used to describe the struggle with alcohol addiction and the lack of control that can come with
One is too many, and a thousand is never enough.
In essence, the saying “h” is a shorthand way of expressing the challenges and the cyclical nature of alcohol dependency, where even a small amount can trigger a cascade of excessive drinking.
Reduce tolerance by reducing amount
Reduction in calories, lose weight
Counting your drinks is a simple yet effective strategy to reduce your drinking.
Set yourself a drink limit, and every time you get a drink make sure you’re taking note of what number drink it is.
Swap to low or no alcohol alternatives
Check the standard drinks label and go for low-alcohol options. Decide not to exceed a certain number of drinks and count the drinks you have.
Know your standard drinks
Understanding how much alcohol counts as a standard drink may also help – it can vary depending on the type of alcohol and size of the container. For packaged alcohol, the number of standard drinks is required to be listed on the label.
Zebra striping” is a term for a drinking strategy that involves alternating between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. This practice helps moderate alcohol intake by essentially halving consumption, while still allowing individuals to enjoy social events that involve alcohol. It’s essentially a 1:1 ratio of alcoholic to non-alcoholic drinks, creating a pattern that reduces the risk of over-indulgence and intoxication.
Here’s a more detailed look at zebra striping:
Moderation:
The primary benefit of zebra striping is that it helps moderate alcohol consumption.
Reduced Intoxication:
By spacing out alcoholic drinks, zebra striping allows the body more time to process the alcohol, potentially reducing the likelihood of getting intoxicated.
Social Enjoyment:
It allows individuals to still enjoy social events that typically involve alcohol while reducing overall alcohol intake.
Cost Savings:
Alternating with non-alcoholic drinks can also lead to cost savings, especially for those on a budget.
Inclusivity:
Zebra striping can make social gatherings more inclusive by providing non-alcoholic options for everyone.
Improved Sleep:
By reducing alcohol consumption, zebra striping can potentially improve sleep quality, as alcohol can disrupt sleep patterns.
Bring Zebra Striping Home
It’s easier than ever to bring Zebra Striping home.
