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by Alice Bastable, LiveLighter Victoria Campaign Manager and Dietitian

You’ve decided to give up booze for a month – well done! Perhaps you over-indulged over the festive period…and then well into January. Or maybe you want to prove to yourself that you don’t need alcohol to have a good time. It might be that you’re worried about all those empty kilojoules you could be guzzling down.

What you may not have given too much thought to is the long-term health effects of drinking. Did you know that alcohol can cause cancer? If not, don’t worry – you’re not alone! Drinking alcohol causes a number of different cancers, including cancers of the mouth, throat, stomach and oesophagus, bowel and liver, as well as breast cancer in women. The more you drink, the higher your risk. That’s a sobering fact. Cancer Council Victoria is trying to educate people about these risks in a new campaign, showing alcohol ‘spreading’ throughout the bloodstream.

So choosing to take a pause from drinking is a great start to rethinking your relationship with alcohol, and reducing your cancer risk in the long run. But what does it mean for your social life?

The social pressure from friends and family to drink can make being the only one without an alcoholic drink in your hand difficult.

Alcohol is deeply ingrained in Aussie culture. We use it to celebrate, to commiserate or just to catch up with friends.

Taking a break from booze doesn’t have to mean taking a break from friends. In fact, you may feel you have more energy, save money and feel better as a result.

LiveLighter has a few things you can do that don’t revolve around alcohol.

Have a walking catch up

When arranging catch ups with friends the go-to choice is usually a drink at a local pub or catch up over a meal. But who says catching up with people needs to involve food and drink? Why not embrace the beautiful parks we have on our doorstep and arrange a walk instead. It’s a great opportunity to see your mates while getting in some exercise at the same time. The best thing is you won’t wake up the next morning with a hazy memory and a hangover.

Join a local sports team

Haven’t played netball since you were on the B team in high school? It’s never too late to take up a new sport or get reacquainted with an old one. It’s a great way to stay active, while feeling part of a team and making new friends. Find a club that fits into your lifestyle and is at the right level. You don’t have to be an elite athlete to find a team that works for you.

Have friends over to your house

Having friends round to your house means you’re in complete control about what you serve up. There’s no awkward standing by the bar asking for ‘just a water, thanks’. Instead of sharing a bottle of wine you can impress your friends with some fruity alcohol-free concoctions you’ve made yourself. Better yet, set up a mocktail making station and make an evening of it. Try tasty alcohol-free alternatives from LiveLighter.

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Catch up at a café

If you’d prefer to meet up away from home, why not opt for a café rather than a pub. Plenty of drinks to choose from without the alcoholic temptations. You won’t be the only one not drinking and you can sit and chat with friends for as long as you want.

Go for a hike

Is there a nature walk or a national park you’ve been meaning to tackle but you’ve just been too tired and hungover on a Sunday to do it? Now’s the time to test your fitness and embrace some natural beauty while you’re at it.

Host a board games night

Remember that feeling when you landed on Mayfair in Monopoly? Or how great it was when you discovered it was Professor Plum in the Dining Room with the revolver. Recapture that competitive fun and invite your friends over for a board games night. There’s no need to involve booze, in fact you’ll probably be a more formidable opponent without it.