There are plenty of ways to make it easier for someone who wants to cut out the booze this October – and beyond
Those of us who don’t drink, whatever the reason, know that being alcohol-free doesn’t mean the end of socialising or having fun. But for some people, giving up or cutting down drastically – perhaps for Sober October, Macmillan Cancer Support’s fundraising campaign – is a big step. “Many people – 5 million in the UK – have mild or moderate alcohol dependency,” says Richard Piper, chief executive of Alcohol Change. “It’s incredibly common. It doesn’t mean they are at death’s door [but they] will have an elevated risk of cancer and liver disease. Most importantly, they won’t be able to cut back when they try – that is clearly the sign of someone with a problem.” Here are 10 tips on how to support someone who has decided to go sober.