Looking to join Febfast 2022 or simply boost your immunity this February?

Looking to give up alcohol or simply cut back a little after the Christmas and January festivities? 

Then, you’ve come to the right place. 

Here’s everything you need to know about FebFast, plus some tips to make cutting back a breeze.

What Is Febfast?

Febfast Australia is a public health initiative powered by Victoria’s Youth Support + Advocacy Service (YSAS), encouraging people to give up alcohol, sugar or a vice of their own in February while raising money to support young people aged 12 to 25 across Australia experiencing alcohol and other drug-related challenges.

How Does Febfast Work?

When you sign up for Febfast, you say ‘yes’ to health and ‘no’ to a vice of your own for the month of February. And if you sign up via Febfast you’ll be equipped with recipes, guides, social tools, inspiration ideas, rewards, and more to keep track of your progress throughout the month. 

Febfast is an opportunity to not only feel better yourself but also help others feel better too - which is something that gets us out of bed over here at Two Boys Brew. When you join Febfast, you can raise money for, or donate to charities that support Australian youth experiencing drug, alcohol or mental health challenges - with all Febfast donations raised going directly to young Aussies in need. You’ll get an online Febfast donation page (check out ours here) where you can add photos, a blog or video clips and then share the page with your crew to donate.

How Much Does Febfast Cost?

Registering for Febfast is FREE. You don’t need to pay anything. You can choose to make an optional self-donation when you sign up to kick-start your fundraising.

What Does Febfast Raise Money For?

The funds you raise will be invested in programs that ensure young people will have the tools and ability to take control of their future.

• Detox and rehabilitation: Young people experiencing drug and alcohol issues will get benefits from short and long-term residential stays to learn relapse prevention strategies, how to minimise harm, improve their physical health, and more.
• Physical and mental health: Young people experiencing serious disadvantages will be provided with education and service connections so that they can lead healthy, fulfilling lives.
• Education and employment: Young people can access education and employment opportunities.
• Outreach: Funds raised will support youth outreach teams across Australia to help identify young disadvantaged people’s needs to help them overcome adversity and navigate their way through the service system. 
• Safe housing: Funds raised will support youth workers who help find safe housing for young people.
• Family and connection: A part of funds raised will enable youth workers to identify and rebuild connections between young people and trusted families to re-establish the relationships.

What Happens When You Go Alcohol-Free for a Month?

Let’s chat about benefits.

Alcohol is the most widely used drug in Australia, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation. While alcohol brings some benefits like making you feel relaxed or happier at a specific time, research shows a relationship between people who are dependent on alcohol and increased mental health issues. About 30% of young Australians report that alcohol and/or drugs are a problem for their family and peers. 

When you sign up for an alcohol-free February, here are some of the FebFast benefits you can expect:

• Improved sleep: Alcohol suppresses REM sleep, so you could now be having an additional 6-7 REM cycles of sleep per night. This is essential for quality, restorative sleep.
• Improved hydration: Did you know when you consume alcohol, you lose around four times as much liquid as you drink? Your body and skin will thank you for all the extra hydration.
• Better eating patterns: After drinking, your ghrelin levels (the hormone that makes you feel hungry) go up, and leptin (the hormones that make you feel full) go down. This explains why we crave greasy food after a few drinks, and we make poor food choices - which often continues the next day.
• Reduced anxiety: Alcohol changes levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters in the brain, which can worsen anxiety.
• Increased concentration and energy: It’s no wonder you’ll feel more focused and energetic after everything we mention above!

Febfast 2022: How to Cut Back On Alcohol Successfully

1. Choose non-alcoholic beverages that don’t compromise on taste

The idea of Febfast is to moderate your alcohol intake, so even if you go back to the booze in March (no judgement here) at least you’ve cut down, and you know you can do it when you feel the need. 

It’s a whole lot easier with a cold booch or ginger beer to get you through. 

Our “Buy2Get1Free” FEBFAST offer makes cutting back a breeze with non-alcoholic Kombucha and Ginger Beer that’s good for your body and good for your soul. Simply add three products to your shopping cart and only pay for two at checkout. That’s enough stubbies to see you through Feb.

Whether you’re in the mood for a spirited virgin cocktail or a non-alcoholic cold ginger beer, Two Boys Brew is sure to put a smile in your belly during FebFast.

2. Ask for Support From Your Mates, Family and Colleagues

Tell your mates, family, and even colleagues that you’re doing Febfast. They’ll help you stay on track, show support, and give you encouragement. More importantly, they’ll understand if you don’t want to join them at the pub or drink non-alcoholic beer at their birthday. They might even decide to join you, especially if you donate your free crate to them. Give your mates a healthier start to 2022.

3. Reward Yourself and Be Kind To Yourself

It’s not easy to give up your favourite drinks for the whole month. So don’t beat yourself up if you slip up. We’re all human after all and a few sober days is better than none.

Find a way to reward yourself at the end of each week. Celebrate the progress you made and the number of days you did go without drinking booze. Cook (or order - did someone say Deliveroo or Uber Eats?) your favourite food, get off the grid and into the bush for a few days, or order some alcohol-free drinks for a weekend on the beach with mates. It’s a good time to get out of your comfort zone and test out all the non-alcoholic options out there. 

Let us know if you’ll take on Febfast 2022 or if you've done it before and how you found it. And feel free to share your experiences with us. Don’t forget to tag us with the hashtag #febfastwithtwoboysbrew