We often talk about the red flags in your relationship with alcohol. But how can you know if you have a healthier relationship with alcohol? These green flags should be celebrated. They mean that you have a healthier relationship with alcohol. And a healthier relationship with alcohol means that you can enjoy your alcohol when you choose to, but do not need to worry too much about drinking becoming a habit.

Here are five green flags about your relationship with alcohol.

1.You Do Not Need to Drink to Socialise

Many people feel unable to go out and socialise without alcohol. Whether this is because they are shy and want the extra confidence that alcohol can give them, or because they feel like alcohol makes them more entertaining, it can mean that people drink more than they would like to.

Some people also feel the pressure to drink when they are in an environment where others are drinking, even if they didn’t really want to drink alcohol that night.

But if you feel comfortable going out and about and socialising without alcohol, this is a really green flag. This means you do not depend on alcohol to be sociable and do not use it as a crutch. Instead, you are able to choose whether you want to drink or not based on internal, rather than external factors.

2.You Can Say No to Alcohol 

Linking with this, it can be difficult to say no to alcohol when offered it. This can either be due to peer pressure or because you find it hard not to drink already. We’ve all seen people declare that they will not drink, only to have a beer in their hand the next time we see them.

If you are able to say no to alcohol when offered it, it means that you are more able to stick to your drinking goals. That means that you will be able to control the amount of alcohol you drink, and ultimately have a more conscious and in control relationship to alcohol. Therefore, being able to say no to alcohol when it is offered to you is a big green flag for a healthy relationship with alcohol.

3.You Know and Stick to Your Alcohol Limits

Not all green flags are related to not drinking. One big green flag that suggests you have a healthy relationship with alcohol is that you know your limits with alcohol and you can stick to them.

Often when people drink they get to a happy level of drunk, but then due to the chemicals released in alcohol, end up drinking more alcohol. But at a certain point, more alcohol doesn’t make your evening more enjoyable. Learning to stop drinking at the right point is a useful skill.

4.When You Do Drink it is a Deliberate Choice for Fun

Again, you don’t need to be completely sober to have a healthy relationship with alcohol. A healthier relationship with alcohol comes from making conscious choices around your drinking habits. Being capable of making conscious decisions surrounding your alcohol habits is a green flag in your relationship with alcohol.

If you choose to drink primarily for positive reasons, ie you really fancy a certain wine, or you want to feel a little tipsy for the fun of it, this can be fun. It is when you start drinking to avoid emotions, or use alcohol as a crutch for confidence or other things, that you start to develop unhealthy drinking habits.

5.You Are as Happy Drinking Alcohol-Free

Another green flag is if you are as happy when drinking alcohol-free drinks compared to alcoholic drinks. If you can enjoy an evening fully alcohol-free and not feel like you are sacrificing an evening of fun then you are likely to have a healthy relationship with alcohol.

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