Want to drink less? Scientists reveal a simple method that actually works

Alcohol can be hard to resist and for those battling addiction, moderation is often a challenge.

Researchers have found a new way to restrict alcohol intake in heavy drinkers which has been found to be quite effective.

More than 6 percent of adults in the US have an alcohol use disorder. About 1 in 12 men and 1 in 25 women suffer from it. An additional 623,000 people between the ages of 12 and 17 have alcohol use disorders. About 88,000 people die of alcohol-related causes every year in the US.

With the help of a study (done in 2021), researchers found out that a specific combination of ‘why to reduce’ and ‘how to reduce’ messaging can help people to significantly cut their alcohol intake. This was done by highlighting the risk of cancer apart from offering tips on how to cut the intake. The study was published in Addictive Behaviors.

Overindulging in alcohol is associated with not just cancer, but a range of chronic diseases like heart conditions, digestive issues, a heightened risk of dementia and even premature death.

“We found that pairing information about alcohol and cancer with a particular practical action – counting their drinks – resulted in drinkers reducing the amount of alcohol they consumed,” said economist and psychologist Simone Pettigrew from

The George Institute for Global Health when the findings were announced.

Researchers took the help of information from three surveys. A total of 7,995 participants completed the initial survey. Of these, 4,588 completed the second survey three weeks later, and 2,687 went on to finish the final survey three weeks after that.

Participants were divided into groups and exposed to various advertisements and messages about drinking.

Researchers found that one combination worked well, compared to a control group which was a TV ad linking booze and cancer, along with a suggestion to keep count of your drinks. The people in this group performed well when it came to cutting down their alcohol intake and their consumption reduced over six weeks.

In another approach, people were asked to stick to a limited number of drinks, but it wasn’t as effective as the combo technique.

“Many people don’t know that alcohol is a carcinogen. It’s important information that drinkers should have access to. But telling people alcohol causes cancer is just part of the solution – we also need to give them ways to take action to reduce their risk,” said Pettigrew.

In this study, participants were selected to be “broadly demographically representative of the Australian drinking public,” meaning the approach may not be universally effective. However, it suggests that tracking your drinks could be a useful strategy for those looking to reduce their alcohol consumption.

“There are limited resources available for alcohol harm-reduction campaigns, so it’s important to find out which messages resonate best to ensure they have the best chance of working,” said Pettigrew.