Addressing alcohol reduction realistically

NEW YORK, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Every year when New Year's rolls around, many resolve to change their drinking habits, but unrealistic goals can lead to failure, a U.S. non-profit group says.

Alcohol expert Kenneth Anderson of The HAMS Harm Reduction Network says the key elements to successful behavioral change are:

-- Setting realistic goals.

-- Detailed planning.

-- Getting accurate information.

-- Behavior monitoring.

-- Getting support.

Anderson says rigid, black-and-white, all-or-nothing thinking often leads people to set unrealistic goals like quitting alcohol for life on the spur of the moment.

This frequently backfires and leads people to drink more than ever once they fall off the wagon. What is far more successful is for each person to choose the goal best suited to him or her as an individual -- safer drinking, reduced drinking or quitting.

The HAMS Harm Reduction Network offers a toolbox of techniques to help people change their drinking including:

-- A cost-benefit analysis to help you decide if your best goal is safer drinking, reduced drinking or quitting.

-- Risk ranking worksheets.

-- Planning work sheets.

-- Behavior charting worksheets.

-- Harm reduction support groups.