The benefits of giving up alcohol

3 lurkers | 281 watchers

31 contributors in last 30 days

mrs shanksi May 2017 2:40pm, 1 May 2017 7,881 posts	0 mrs shanksi Looks good Scorge, thanks for posting. 21%? That's a fair number! Welcome NID
Bazoaxe May 2017 5:56pm, 1 May 2017 11,217 posts	0 Bazoaxe is that 21% for those 18 and over ? On alcohol free options, personally I dont see the point and when I am abstaining I will look for the soft drink option.
The Jogger May 2017 7:24pm, 1 May 2017 1,168 posts	0 The Jogger I agree with you on that Bazo
NiceIronDad (NID) May 2017 9:56pm, 2 May 2017 16 posts	0 NiceIronDad (NID) Hey thanks you lot I used to hate drinking low alcohol beer or Diet Coke then discovered slimline tonic which I am now slightly addicted to. The usual comment I get is "oh you on the G&Ts" which invites the easy reply of "yep, well without the G bit". I feel less like the odd one out that way anyway.
HappyG(rrr) May 2017 9:30am, 3 May 2017 26,638 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) I like tonic too NID. Problem is, there's only so much you can drink of any of these things, I find. I would happily drink (many) pints of beer. But more than 1 coke, or tonic or low alco beer or fizzy water and I'm kind of bored of it / sick of it. Makes for cheap night though! Has anyone bought a round in a pub recently. Omgosh, how expensive?! G
Bazoaxe May 2017 6:20pm, 3 May 2017 11,228 posts	0 Bazoaxe HG ,in London post VLM when I got back to the pub for my first drink of the year a tab had been opened and my card was being held in a safe behind the bar(blame Mrs Axe). It became an expensive first drink of the year as there were 9 of us although my Dad did chip in and share the bill. However, if on a night out if its your card they hold you could be in trouble !
Diogenes May 2017 10:08am, 11 May 2017 22,988 posts	0 Diogenes I've got an unusual way of giving up: Mrs D is on antibiotics for 7 days which strongly advise against consuming any alcohol (you will be sick, the doctor said), so I am on the wagon in support of her. It's driving me bonkers.
Fenland (Fenners) Runner May 2017 10:27am, 11 May 2017 12,264 posts	0 Fenland (Fenners) Runner I've inadvertently with no conscious decision made it a dry week. And had not realised I'd been dry for this period until seeing this thread.
AndrewS May 2017 10:30am, 11 May 2017 384 posts	0 AndrewS I did a Dry Monday last week... ...it was hell. Never again!
Oscar the grouch May 2017 10:47am, 11 May 2017 239 posts	0 Oscar the grouch I broke my duck for May last night, but I had one pint. I could never have done this in the past. Agree that chocolate and cake are curses that I don't (yet) have the will power to tackle but if I can do alcohol...

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