From the pounding headache to the feeling of regret, we all know that alcohol isn’t good for our bodies.

When nursing a hangover it’s not unusual to vow to never allow alcohol to pass your lips again. Yet weeks – perhaps even days – later, social drinkers find themselves in the same situation.

But a new guide revealing what really happens to your body when you stop drinking may well discourage you from reaching for that chilled glass of white again.

From flawless skin to new levels of energy, Dr Niall Campbell, an alcohol addiction expert at the Priory hospital in south-west London, reveals the timeline – and benefits – of ditching the booze.