Alcohol diary

Keeping a diary can help you understand how and why you drink and identify any patterns or risky situations.

The Alcohol Diary is a booklet that you can download or print out.

It includes:

• lots of info on alcohol
• tips for helping you to make a change
• guidelines for support people
• plenty of space for you to write down and track your drinking habits.

How to use the Alcohol Diary

This diary will help you keep a record of what, when and why you’re drinking.

You’ll write down how many drinks you’re consuming per week, moments when you felt cravings and how it made you feel.

• Fill in all days, even when you have had nothing to drink.
• Note the times when the urge to drink was strong but you didn’t drink.
• Note down how you coped with difficult situations.
• Add up the money you have spent on alcohol.
• Compare your progress with previous weeks and keep track of your achievements.

Monitoring your drinking is a great tool to help you cut back or stop altogether.

If you need more help or support, talk to your GP or call the Alcohol Drug Information Service (ADIS) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 1800 250 015.