To drink less, first tally how much you drink each week, then chat briefly with a doctor
A doctor can spend a few minutes reviewing your drinking habits, explaining the risks, and helping you set a goal. After a year, people following this approach typically cut their weekly alcohol intake by about 20 grams of pure alcohol — roughly half a liter of beer. Longer consultations don’t bring any added benefit. For those already struggling to quit, two medications have proven effective abroad: for every 12 patients treated, roughly one additional person manages to avoid heavy drinking.
No cost at all. Simply count the number of drinks each day…
Data from 34 randomized trials involving 15,197 participants show that individuals receiving brief interventio…
No cost at all. Simply count the number of drinks each day and jot it down. Asking your doctor about it during a routine visit costs nothing extra.
Data from 34 randomized trials involving 15,197 participants show that individuals receiving brief interventions ended up drinking 20 grams less pure alcohol per week after a year compared to those receiving minimal or no intervention (95% CI: 12–28 grams; moderate-quality evidence). The average baseline consumption in these studies was 244 grams per week. “Brief interventions” here refer to no more than five sessions totaling under 60 minutes of advice or lifestyle counseling; longer sessions provide no further advantage. Regarding medications, 122 trials with 22,803 participants indicate that acamprosate helps one additional person per 12 treated avoid any alcohol use altogether (95% CI: 8–26). Oral naltrexone at 50 mg daily similarly yields one additional non-heavy drinker per 12 patients (95% CI: 8–26).
Kaner EF, Beyer FR, Muirhead C, et al. (2018). Effectiveness of brief alcohol interventions in primary care populations. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2, CD004148. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD004148.pub4；Jonas DE, Amick HR, Feltner C, et al. (2014). Pharmacotherapy for adults with alcohol use disorders in outpatient settings: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA, 311(18), 1889–1900. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2014.3628
Open source linkThe benefit is classified as “small” because both sets of data track alcohol consumption rather than mortality; per our guidelines, outcomes based on surrogate endpoints receive this rating. The medication trials were conducted primarily abroad, with most participants meeting criteria for alcohol dependence and receiving psychosocial support alongside drug therapy; the figures represent extra benefits achieved on top of those standard treatments. Availability and prescription of these drugs in China depend on individual doctors and official labeling — do not purchase them online without medical guidance. Anyone experiencing withdrawal symptoms should refer to section 21; do not attempt to quit abruptly on your own.