BOTTOMS UP

A month’s abstinence won’t undo the effects of heavy drinking – but good drinking habits will

Did you go ‘dry’ this January? We admire your discipline if you did, but we also hope you didn’t celebrate by getting blitzed in February. A month off alcohol won’t undo the damage caused by bingeing the rest of the year – but if you’re smart you can drink without serious harm. Liver cells take two or three days to recover from dealing with alcohol, so the Royal College of Physicians says it’s best to have two or three consecutive alcohol-free days a week and stay under the recommended three to four units on the other days. You’ll avoid the stress of giving up something you enjoy, and still get alcohol’s health

benefits (see below). Don’t trust yourself to stick to the unit limit? Download the Spruce app, which keeps track for you – if you’re honest.