Doctor reveals the 10 signs that your alcohol intake could be a cause for concern

A doctor has revealed the things you should be aware of that could signal that you need to take a break from booze.

Now the festive season has drawn to a close, a lot of us will be attempting Dry January or possibly Damp January (the idea that you still have alcohol here and there but drastically decrease your intake).

Over Christmas, you might have drunk a little more than usual, which isn't something to kick yourself over too much, but should similar habits continue through the new year, it could be a sign that you need to make a lifestyle change and that you're verging on addiction.

Someone who has spoken out about this previously is mental health advocate and recovering alcoholic, Alastair Stewart.

One key thing Stewart said people should be conscious of is why they're drinking: to celebrate or socialize, or as a means of escape.

Alcohol intake often increases over the festive period (Getty Stock Image)

He said: "A social drinker drinks to celebrate. An alcoholic drinks to escape pain, numb feelings, or silence their mind."

And Dr Jeevan Fernando, this year's official Dry January Doctor for Alcohol Change UK, listed this as one of his 10 signs that means you might need to rethink your drinking habits.

Speaking to UNILAD, Dr Fernando said of these signs: "Signs worth looking out for include drinking more than we plan or intend to, relying on alcohol to relax or cope, feeling guilt or worry about our drinking or finding it hard to cut down even if we want to.

"If alcohol starts to feel like a habit or a necessity rather than a choice, it might be time to pause and reflect."

Dr Jeevan Fernando has shared the signs that you might need to cut back on booze (Getty Stock Image)

The expert went on to share: "Other tell-tale indicators that alcohol has taken more of a hold on our lives than we’d like it to include finding ourselves regularly drinking more than 14 units a week, not remembering when our last non-drinking day was, thinking about where our next alcoholic drink will come from, frequently making plans to get hold of alcohol, hiding alcohol from our family, and lying or being defensive about our drinking habits.

"A great tip is to use the free Try Dry app to track your drinking, as it counts the units and does all the maths for you!"

As well as this, if you're looking to cut back on your booze intake on a night (or day) out, Dr Richard Piper, CEO at Alcohol Change UK, advised that you try 'zebra striping'.

'Zebra striping' involves you alternating between alcoholic and soft drinks (Getty Stock Image)

He told us: "A great approach is to alternate alcoholic drinks and water or soft drinks. This 'zebra striping' slows down our alcohol consumption and keeps us topped up with the fluids we need to stay hydrated."

Dr Piper further noted: "Of course, we can also swap out alcohol entirely for any of the incredible alcohol-free or low-alcohol versions of our favourite drinks, or just stick to soft drinks."

If you've been affected by addiction and want to speak to someone in confidence, you can call American Addiction Centers on (888) 324-0595, available 24/7, or contact them through their website.