Seeing more people sipping water at the bar, or noticing more mocktails on the menu than usual? There's a reason: Sobriety is trending—especially among people who care about living an overall healthy lifestyle.

This is partially thanks to an increased awareness around unhealthy alcohol consumption: "Alcohol use disorder" is on the rise among young women, and the number of young adults dying from alcohol-driven liver disease and cirrhosis has been skyrocketing.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force just announced that all adults, including pregnant women, should be screened for unhealthy alcohol use by their primary care physicians during check-ups, according to a new task force statement published in the medical journal JAMA. And, well, more and more research is showing that even moderate alcohol use isn't great for your health—nevermind the really serious health consequences of binge drinking.

While it might sound a bit extremist, there are actually a lot of benefits to giving up alcohol (temporarily or otherwise). Here, seven perks that may convince you to swap your Friday-night wine for a mocktail. (If the benefits convince you to ditch booze—even for a little while—follow these tips for how to stop drinking alcohol without feeling all the FOMO.)

"Not only does alcohol contain a lot of empty calories, but when people drink too much they tend to make other unhealthy nutritional choices, so giving up alcohol can have a far-reaching impact on weight and overall cardiovascular health," says Carlene MacMillan, M.D., a psychiatrist and a member of the Alma mental health co-practice community in NYC.

"Being hungover also gets in the way of things like going for a morning run or to the gym. By giving it up, people are better able to stick to exercise routines," she says. "There are, of course, long-term benefits with respect to reducing the risk of many cancers, improving heart health, helping the immune system, and not damaging the liver." (For example, just one serving of alcohol a day can increase your breast cancer risk.) You can find a full breakdown of alcohol-associated disease risks on the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism website.

Better Sleep

"As a psychiatrist, I have so many of my patients reporting difficulty sleeping," says Dr. MacMillan. "Alcohol is like pouring salt on a wound when it comes to poor sleep. It decreases REM sleep (the most restorative phase of sleep) and wreaks havoc on circadian rhythms. When people give up alcohol, their sleep can benefit tremendously which, in turn, helps their overall mental health." (Here's more on how alcohol messes with your sleep.)

More Energy and Better Moods

"Taking a break from booze can elevate your energy levels," says Kristin Koskinen, R.D.N., a registered dietitian nutritionist. Drinking depletes your supply of B vitamins (which are crucial for sustained energy). "Like most nutrients, the B vitamins don't only have one purpose, so you may notice an impact on both your energy and mood with alcohol consumption," she says.

Better Skin

"Removing alcohol from your diet can improve the way you look," notes Koskinen. "We've all heard that alcohol is dehydrating, which causes skin cells to lose their plumpness, and that leads to tired, older-looking skin." (Proof: J.Lo doesn't drink alcohol and looks half her age.)

Better Fitness Performance and Faster Recovery

"From an athletic performance standpoint, alcohol can impact hydration status, motor skills, and muscle recovery," notes Angie Asche, R.D., a sports dietitian and clinical exercise physiologist. "Research has shown that consuming alcohol after strenuous workouts can actually magnify delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) by slowing the recovery process and increasing soreness. Alcohol can make it challenging for athletes to see the progress they'd like in their training with such negative impacts on both body composition and muscle recovery." (This is exactly how alcohol affects your fitness performance.)

Better Chances of Dealing with Your ~Issues~

"Turning to alcohol to cope with difficult or painful emotions means people do not learn healthier coping strategies or take steps to process those emotions," says Dr. MacMillan. "When alcohol is removed as an option, people can take the reins back on their own mental health and learn more adaptive ways to get through their days." (And when you start binge drinking at a young age, it can further damage your ability to deal with emotions in a healthy way.)

More Confidence In Social Situations

Yes, really. Many people lean on alcohol to help them get through social situations that make them uncomfortable. (Holler if you're one of the many who suffer from social anxiety.) "When alcohol is no longer there as a crutch, it can be difficult to adjust at first. But in the long run, people can gain skills and confidence that they can, in fact, connect with others in meaningful and enjoyable ways without it," says Dr. MacMillan. "That can feel very empowering and lead to more authentic connections with others without so-called 'beer goggles' in place to distort interactions."