Published on: 24 December 2025
It’s the time of year when most of us over-indulge a bit – and that often involves more alcohol. We might start with a couple of drinks after work, then have a festive get-together with friends, before cracking open the champagne on Christmas Day. And then there’s New Year's Eve…
For those trying to cut back on alcohol or abstain completely, it can be a difficult time. Experts at Derbyshire Recovery Partnership have compiled a list of top tips to help you stay strong and hangover-free this Christmas.
1. Plan ahead - If you know you don’t want to drink on a night out, a little bit of planning ahead can make things much easier. Try to think about your usual triggers for drinking and how you might avoid these. If you associate a particular place, person or friendship group with drinking, then switch things up for a while, just until you feel confident with the change.
2. Tell people - You might find it helps to tell friends or family that you won’t be drinking. This can have a few benefits, as announcing your intentions can give you the confidence and motivation to stick to them. They can also offer support if you need it, and it helps avoid any awkward moments or conversations later on in the night when you’re busy enjoying yourself.
3. Be ready for peer pressure - Not everybody will be supportive. If friends, colleagues or family are used to seeing you drinking, they may tease or cajole you into ‘just having one’. Think about how you’ll deal with this kind of peer pressure beforehand and be ready with a friendly but resolute response. People will usually move on or respect your decision if you stand firm.
4. Explore alcohol-free alternatives - There is a huge variety of alcohol-free drinks available. Alcohol-free beers, wines and spirits are an easy replacement for your usual tipple. If you want to try something completely different, there are lots of interesting soft drinks on offer these days, from blood orange bitters to botanical sodas; you may just wonder what you ever saw in a glass of wine or pint of lager!
5. Organise some alcohol-free activities - If nights out with friends tend to revolve around the pub or bar, try something different. Some classic drink-free nights out that never get boring include trips to the cinema, late-night food markets, theatre productions or bowling. But if you’re looking for something new, how about trying an escape room, gaming or virtual reality experience? If you like being more active, try renting roller skates or ice skates, or going night-time golfing.
6. Watch your savings grow - If you’ve decided to cut back on alcohol, you’ll probably save a bit of money. It can be really motivating to record how much you have saved on an alcohol-free night out. You can note down what you save each time, or use one of the many free apps available online. Then every month, enjoy putting that money towards a treat or something else you’ve been meaning to get.
7. Have plans for the morning after - There’s nothing better at stopping you from drinking than having a good reason to get up the next morning. Try and plan something you enjoy to set yourself up for the next day. It could be an early morning run, dog walk at sunrise or early haircut appointment; or just meeting a friend for breakfast. Make sure it’s something you really look forward to and you’ll be more determined to stay alcohol-free the night before.
If you are looking for extra support to cut back on your alcohol or drug use, Derbyshire Recovery Partnership is there to help.
The partnership is a collaboration of four organisations offering a countywide service; Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, Derbyshire Addictions Advice Service, Phoenix Futures and Intuitive Thinking Skills.
Local resident Jill was drinking a litre-and-a-half of vodka a week and spending every evening in a drunken haze on the sofa before seeking help from the DRP. “I didn’t actually think I had a problem with alcohol,” she said. “I never drank out, it was always at home and I really didn’t think it was a problem.”
But after a conversation with her GP, she self-referred to the DRP.
“I cannot sing the praises of the Derbyshire Recovery Partnership highly enough,” she said.
“They are so patient and understanding, and my keyworker just ‘got’ me from the first time I walked in. She let me talk and understood everything I was saying. I would recommend them to anyone.
“If, by sharing my story, I can help just one person think about what they are doing, then I would be so pleased. I could not have done it without the DRP’s help.”
You can contact Derbyshire Recovery Partnership on:
· 01246 206514
· info@derbyshirerecoverypartnership.co.uk
· www.derbyshirehealthcareft.nhs.uk/RecoveryPartnership
If you live in Derby City, you can contact Derby Drug and Alcohol Recovery Service on 0300 790 0265 or at derbydrugandalcohol.nhs.uk
