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The benefits of giving up alcohol

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34 contributors in last 30 days

LindsD Feb 2017 8:34am, 19 Feb 2017 15,473 posts	0 LindsD Glad it went well HappyG. Baby steps. Welcome HP. I was a binger too. Happy not to be now
halfpint Feb 2017 5:24pm, 21 Feb 2017 22,518 posts	0 halfpint Thanks folks. My resolve is yet to be tested. Days, weeks or even months can easily go by without a drink. A certain friend is keen for a night out but nights with her are always messy. My usual annual Stonehaven big night out won't be happening this year.
LindsD Feb 2017 5:40pm, 21 Feb 2017 15,491 posts	0 LindsD Ps forgot to say that I, along with most of us here, also used to rely on alcohol in social situations. It's not easy at first but it does get easier and you get better at dealing with tricky social events sober. There are benefits, too, like no apologies, no shame, no hangovers, ability to drive, remembering everything and no extra calories if you don't want them.
mrs shanksi Feb 2017 5:51pm, 21 Feb 2017 7,807 posts	0 mrs shanksi Totally agree with everything Linds said.
JenLov Feb 2017 10:07pm, 21 Feb 2017 499 posts	0 JenLov Welcome HP. I've found that in social situations, people are gradually coming round to the idea that I'm not drinking and any comments I did get are becoming far fewer. I'm still not sure whether to say if I've stopped drinking, have stopped drinking 'for now', I'm having a break from it or what really.
LindsD Feb 2017 10:13pm, 21 Feb 2017 15,493 posts	0 LindsD It's no one's business really. I say 'I don't drink' and if pressed, I say sthg like 'I've had my quota' or 'I'm not very good at it' or 'it doesn't suit me any more'. People are usually fine with that.
mrs shanksi Feb 2017 10:51pm, 21 Feb 2017 7,808 posts	0 mrs shanksi I'm finding it more common to be on nights out with other people who don't drink. If people ask I tell them I've had enough of it and I've not had any issues. Many of my friends drink rarely or don't drink at all.
HappyG(rrr) Feb 2017 9:28am, 22 Feb 2017 26,407 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Completely agree with Jen, Linds and mrs s - hardly ever have anyone hassle me about it, most people perfectly accepting and occasionally interested in it and want to know how and why because they are also keen to cut down or stop. My main problem is entirely myself. Because I'm more in control and more aware of myself, I felt nervous or anxious. But if you think about it, if drinking, you just don't notice you're speaking rubbish or making a fool of yourself. In fact you are less likely to be doing so. An hour or two into everyone else drinking, you'll find you are the intellectual superior to almost everyone in the room! They are speaking sh*te and you can use that to your advantage or enjoyment! (And I don't mean being horrible to people or taking advantage, but just mentally noting things, or making gentle fun of them or whatever). Biggest risk for me now is boredom or annoyance. People become very repetitive when they are drunk. Or intolerant. Or aggressive. Or challenging to others. And where I might not have noticed if drunk myself, or would have laughed it off, now I am painfully aware of it. So, sometimes I have to walk away from things. But I'm comfortable with that. G
LindsD Feb 2017 9:42am, 22 Feb 2017 15,501 posts	0 LindsD Totally agree HappyG. Especially the last para. Get very edgy when people get aggressive.
The Jogger Feb 2017 4:06pm, 22 Feb 2017 1,161 posts	0 The Jogger Nice one HG................. I use to tell people I was allergic to alcohol, there wasn't really a lot they could say about that and when pushed I'd just say it brings me out in blotches, would you like me to try some so you can see? Nowadays I'm quite open about the reason for my sobriety and that doesn't cause me or anybody else a problem. I love life today so why would I worry what people think, I just don't. I use to work in a club and when people came in and asked for a soft drink I was guilty of thinking, you boring batsard.......little did I know, it was me who had the problem with other people not drinking and it was me that use to wake up the next day feeling like sh1te and not them. Even today, usually if I find fault with someone, I need to look more closely at myself.

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