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The benefits of giving up alcohol

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27 contributors in last 30 days

Joopsy Nov 2016 9:30pm, 21 Nov 2016 7,908 posts	0 Joopsy Just had a fab weekend in Valencia with my brother and a friend. Ran a 10k and went to the footy and in 3 nights the other two had a total of 5 beers and two glasses of red between them. I had a gallon of coffee. You got a can of 2% Amstel radler in the goody bag and it was on draught at the finish, my brother said it was like shandy.
HappyG(rrr) Nov 2016 9:36pm, 21 Nov 2016 26,120 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) TJ, by the way, I completely understand the folk who wouldn't touch even a "0%" beer, because it may have some alcohol and because why would you want the flavour of beer etc. And I respect that view too. But for me, I have a certain type of problem and the flavour isn't part of the problem. It was specifically the feeling of beginning to get drunk that I fear. So I won't drink alcohol. But I am lucky that I could probably even have 1 pint or a glass of wine and still be fine. But I choose not to. So the fact that I find a savoury drink that is refreshing and reasonably priced and isn't coca cola is one of my choices. And I hope that's OK to discuss here with everyone. If it isn't feel free to say so and I will back off discussing it a bit. But as you know, we do have a range of different folks in here, with different difficulties and different goals. So I hope there's room for everyone. You and your experience are a valuable part of this community, so I hope we're all good. Lol Joops. Everyone is cutting down or giving up! It's the new health kick! It does make me laugh that beer is a sponsor of football. But I suppose 2% is going in the right direction compared to the 5 and 6% strong lagers that some footie fans go for! Sounds like a great weekend. G
Joopsy Nov 2016 9:41pm, 21 Nov 2016 7,909 posts	0 Joopsy The beer was at the end of the 10k G. Interestingly at the football I saw very few people drinking and not a single drunk person. Try contrasting that to a English premier league game at 4:15 on a Sunday afternoon and you will see 100's, if not 1000's.
Bez-head Nov 2016 9:47pm, 21 Nov 2016 4,602 posts	0 Bez-head Never tried the 0% stuff but might. I was once at Abu Dhabi formula 1 track running a 5k and afterwards it was zero beer obviously but fantastic smoothies which were actually very nice and tasted better
LindsD Nov 2016 10:35pm, 21 Nov 2016 13,234 posts	0 LindsD Thanks for articulating what I was thinking HappyG.
The Jogger Nov 2016 11:10pm, 21 Nov 2016 1,124 posts	0 The Jogger I hear what you're saying HappyG and i don't have a problem with that at all, in fact it is a case of 'Live and let live' so yes if people are strong enough to drink the non-alcoholic stuff that's their business I do find when people come on this thread talking about drinking beer and how good it was, a bit objectionable but I definitely take on board about the non-alcoholic stuff. I do deal with my sobriety in a different forum but like to pop in here every now and again because I find it great to see people giving up. I've been on here from the start of the thread and watched it grow and the people get enthused about non drinking which is very refreshing, dare as I say it, even as refreshing as a non alco beer.
Big Al Widepants Nov 2016 9:16am, 22 Nov 2016 4,650 posts	0 Big Al Widepants I'm not drinking at the moment. Also, I'm on a vegan diet (although I eat fish). I've found the booze avoidance harder this time than when I've given up in the past because I always had a nice cup of tea whenever I felt like a drink. Now I have to have a milk substitute in the tea and it's....well, not so good.
HappyG(rrr) Nov 2016 9:19am, 22 Nov 2016 26,123 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Lol! Thanks TJ. Your support is hugely appreciated. I would similarly discourage anyone from talking about how great a beer or wine or whisky tastes or how they think getting smashed every now and again is ok or whatever. There doesn't seem to be too much of that though. And I feel like the zero alcohol drink options from sparkling waters and herb infusions to hot chocolate and all points in between are fine. Anything that keeps us off the booze and as happy as can be! There is another angle, which is the feelings e.g. missing, longing for alco. Or disgust at it, if that's where one is. Or the fear of facing social situations without it etc. These can be hard for us to talk about but can be useful sometimes, I think. But maybe sometimes it needs to be a more one to one or a private blog to friends. And that's OK too. Great thread. One of the best. Keep on keeping on everyone. We're doing great. G
LindsD Nov 2016 9:58am, 22 Nov 2016 13,247 posts	0 LindsD
LindsD Nov 2016 10:00am, 22 Nov 2016 13,248 posts	0 LindsD Hi Big Al. Can I ask why the (modified) vegan diet? No need to answer, of course.

About This Thread

Maintained by HappyG(rrr)

Looks as though this thread has become popular again, here in 2010 (it's now 2024, and it started in 2008, so I think "ever popular" might be more apt! :-)

G )

Good Luck everyone.

A recent plea for those struggling to "reach out" as they say in US of A!

"Anyone not feeling strong and confident, please shout out. Or fmail. Or any other comms that works. Don't drink alcohol when you don't want to, for lack of someone to talk to. Pick up the phone, not the bottle."

Some acronyms, in case people use them:
JFT - Just for today
ODAAT - One day at a time
KIS - Keep it simple
TBOGUA - The Benefits Of Giving Up Alcohol (the title of this thread!)

New feature: article/blog of the month (period may change randomly!) Swittle's wonderful 14,611 days blog: (see links below)

Linking Joopsy's 17 year blog too, cos it's awesome!

There is a GREAT article summarising some of the benefits, to save you having to trawl through the thread (includes links to helpful apps and other resources).

And a great list of Alternative Drinks started by the lovely LindsD:

Please add to these articles and make them as valuable as possible! Thanks! :-)

G

And one from way back when...
Dirt Monkey's brilliant blog on TBOGUA too - go try this...

Rebel has recommended a couple of good books:
The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober: THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER
by Catherine Gray

The Alcohol Experiment: 30 Days to Take Control, Cut Down or Give Up For Good
by Annie Grace

A great response from a health professional in Ireland responding to a question from a Guardian reader about why the warnings on alcoholic drinks that are coming in:

theguardian.com

"Alcohol is responsible for at least 1,000 cancer cases every year in Ireland, with one in eight breast cancer cases arising from alcohol use. Even one to two drinks per day increases the risk of developing cancer, and that risk is the same whether those drinks are wine, spirits or beer. Unfortunately, there is a very low level of public awareness that alcohol has been classed as a Group 1 carcinogen, meaning it is carcinogenic to humans. That is why Ireland has passed legislation that provides for health information labels on alcohol products, including warnings about cancer, liver disease and the danger of drinking in pregnancy. It is unsurprising that the alcohol industry, which promotes its products with carefully crafted myths of good times for all, is objecting to the mandatory provision of facts (Anger brews in Italy over Ireland’s plans for alcohol health warnings, 12 January).
Dr Sheila Gilheany
CEO, Alcohol Action Ireland
"

And the all important fabulous services:
Alcoholics Anonymous
National Helpline (FREE) 0800 9177 650
help@aamail.org

Al Anon
020 7403 0888

medal

Contact TBOGUA medal

We're adding in our own Fetch offer of one to one contact too, for anyone who doesn't want to post in the thread for whatever reason. Please feel free to fmail ANY of the names listed below.

- - - -
HappyG(rrr)
( Oscar the grouch RIP )
mrs shanksi
Derby Tup
iaincr
Love Lettuce
DocM
LindsD
GeneHunt59
GregP