Drinking Responsibly With Moderation Management
How Can I Stop Drinking To Excess?

Moderation management is a totally different kind of alcohol support group.

If you have to ask the question, 'How can I stop drinking alcohol or at least cut down on my consumption?' and you are not yet suffering from full-blown alcoholism (take an alcoholism test to determine the nature of your drinking problem), then Moderation Management (or MM for short) might just have the answer.

Who is Moderation Management for?

As the name suggests MM is not about abstaining from alcohol, though those who wish to abstain are welcome to participate. it is about stopping drinking problematically and returning to drinking responsibly.

If you are somebody who....

• ...has begun to feel concerned about your drinking habits.
• ...has been told you are a problem drinker or are displaying some of the first signs of alcoholism
• ...has made the decision that you would like to begin making positive changes in your lifestyle.
• ...has decided that complete abstention from alcohol (the AA way, as I like to call it) is not for them

... then Moderation management could well be worth a try.

Moderation Management vs. AA

One of the problems with Alcoholic Anonymous Meetings is that it has a nothing or all approach to the treatment of problem drinking.

What this means is that at AA meetings it is generally assumed that anyone who is worried about their drinking is an alcoholic, if you say you're not an alcoholic, then you are in denial.

If, on the other hand, you say you are alcohol dependent, then complete abstention is the only option offered by the 12 step program.

As the Moderation Management website states, this forces problem drinkers to either...

• ...reject AA and continue with their destructive drinking and then possibly go on to develop alcoholism,
• ...or to stop drinking altogether and consign themselves to a lifetime of abstention and being labeled an alcoholic.

What is a Moderate Drinker?

According to MM, a moderate drinker...

• considers an occasional drink to be a small, though enjoyable, part of life.
• has hobbies, interests, and other ways to relax and enjoy life that do not involve alcohol.
• usually has friends who are moderate drinkers or nondrinkers.generally has something to eat before, during, or soon after drinking.
• usually does not drink for longer than an hour or two on any particular occasion.
• usually does not drink faster than one drink per half-hour.usually does not exceed the .055% BAC moderate drinking limit.
• feels comfortable with his or her use of alcohol (never drinks secretly and does not spend a lot of time thinking about drinking or planning to drink).

Where Can I Find A Meeting?

Similarly to all the other alcohol support groups out there, meetings are a central part of the Moderation Management method.

Face-to-face meetings can be found in the U.S., U.K., Ireland and Thailand. If you can't access an off-line meeting, then there is an email list and a dedicated Moderation Management chat room.

Go the Moderation Management website to get more information about meetings and other aspects of their method.

There is also the possibility to start your own meeting, details of which can also be found at the MM website.

What Can I Expect At An MM Meeting?

Like an AA meeting, meetings involve a group of like-minded people getting together to discuss their experiences of, and ideas on returning to drinking responsibly.

There is a set format that every meeting follows, however there is a degree of flexibility and meetings can very considerably

The only requirement to attend a meeting is that you are concerned about your drinking. Meetings are free to attend, but a hat is passed around if you wish to donate to the running costs.

There are also certain ground rules to the meetings: You are asked to not drink on the day of a meeting; respect each other; You are there to help not confront; members should try and avoid drinking with one another and alcohol is not allowed at meetings; judging each other and giving unsolicited advice is frowned upon; a meeting is a secure, private and respectful place; even if you choose a different response to your drinking you are still welcome at a meeting.

Drinking Responsibly is Unachievable for Some

For some people returning to moderate drinking is just not possible. 30% of people who start Moderation Management go on to attend abstinence groups.

This does not mean MM has failed them, it has merely given them the opportunity to see that a return to normal drinking is not for them. Something that AA merely states and which many alcoholics do not believe. MM gives them the belief

Those who are already deep in the throes of alcoholismare highly unlikely to be able to return to drinking responsibly.

If you are unsure, an alcoholism test will generally give you a good idea as to the severity of your drinking problem. A medical professional will give you a much better idea.

For those who doubt their ability to return to normal drinking, Moderation Management suggests you attempt to remain abstinent for 30 days, and then attempt to drink in moderation.

If you are unable to do this, then the answer to "How can I stop drinking to excess?' is you can't. It may well be time to consider a program that encourages abstention.

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