The benefits of giving up alcohol

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25 contributors in last 30 days

Metro_Nome Apr 2020 1:53pm, 28 Apr 2020 5,350 posts	0 Metro_Nome I don't know if it's something that you feel in a place to suggest, but the drink aware app really helped me. I knew I had (/have- not there yet!) a bit of a problem, but seeing the bit red "what you are drinking has serious heath risks" gave me the bit of a shock I needed to take some action
Metro_Nome Apr 2020 1:53pm, 28 Apr 2020 5,351 posts	0 Metro_Nome big red
Grast_girl Apr 2020 2:15pm, 28 Apr 2020 1,012 posts	0 Grast_girl I guess it depends what's important to him, what might resonate. Apparently showing young women what happens to smokers' teeth was more effective than some of the other gory pictures at reducing smoking.
cackleberry Apr 2020 2:36pm, 28 Apr 2020 1,767 posts	0 cackleberry Trouble is Grast_girl, typical bloke he is impenetrable. He literally knows no fear. I've only ever seen him upset to the point of tears twice in 13 years, once when his mum died and again when his dad was in hospital following a nasty fall. No known family history as he's adopted. I think he thinks he's still 25 and it wont happen to him. (he's 47) I was hoping to avoid the big health scare.
Metro_Nome Apr 2020 3:11pm, 28 Apr 2020 5,352 posts	0 Metro_Nome Could the money aspect work? anything he could be spending the money on if not booze?
iaincr Apr 2020 4:04pm, 28 Apr 2020 632 posts	0 iaincr cb, it also makes it harder because as you say he doesnt seem to binge or get drunk so from his point of view he probably thinks he is just enjoying a few drinks every night and not overdoing it so what is the problem. However, do you feel as if the qty consumed is increasing?, any secret drinking that you have discovered? doe he finds reasons to stay away overnight when travelling when he could get home, from personal experience these are all signs of escalation of the problem. Sadly having been on the opposite side of the problem from you, I was the drinker, I also know that unless he wants to change and cut down, there is only frustration ahead for both of you as trying to get him to cut down may just entrench his position. Good luck!
Grast_girl Apr 2020 4:10pm, 28 Apr 2020 1,015 posts	0 Grast_girl With the improvements in the non/low alcohol versions, could he be persuaded to switch out a few?
cackleberry Apr 2020 6:58pm, 28 Apr 2020 1,768 posts	0 cackleberry I'm concerned about his health, I feel like he's heading towards a disaster and he's completely oblivious. There's no secret drinking or binges. He's more of a home bird if anything. I'm also concerned that he drinks when he shouldn't, ie on a work night, when he's meant to be giving friends a lift or when he has his daughter to visit. That lack of responsibility or consequences.
mascott514 Apr 2020 12:27am, 29 Apr 2020 388 posts	0 mascott514 Cackleberry,I can't offer any advice, just a bit of virtual support, and best wishes to you both.
Captain Malcolm Reynolds Apr 2020 3:14am, 29 Apr 2020 873 posts	0 Captain Malcolm Reynolds Hi CB, I’m afraid your other half is drinking dangerously. Though because he’s not getting drunk, to him, it won’t appear like he is. Speckled Hen, at 5%, works out at 0.45 units of alcohol per 100ml (1 unit = 10ml pure alcohol), or 2.25 units per 500ml can. If he’s drinking 4 cans per night, that’s 9 units per night, if he’s drinking that every night that’s 63 units per week or over 4 times the UK Government’s recommended 14 units per week for both sexes. It used to be 14 for women 21 for men, although there’s no international consensus on safe alcohol limits, the WHO says there’s no safe alcohol intake. I don’t know whether he’s safe to drive after drinking that much. The NHS says it takes approximately 1 hour to clear 1 unit of alcohol. I used to work on 1 hour per unit plus 1 hour to work out if I was safe to drive (the extra hour was to allow the alcohol to enter my system before it could start clearing) so by my method 9 units takes 10 hours to clear completely. I’m afraid it’s not an exact science working out alcohol clearance so this may well not be accurate. If there’s any good news, as your OH is a steady regular drinker, his liver will be more efficient at clearing alcohol, so it may take him less time to clear. I’m afraid there’s no easy answer or method to help him. He’s got to see the light himself. When I was drinking well over 200 units per week I knew I was damaging myself & those around me, but the mental gymnastics I could go through to justify my drinking were incredible. Good luck. If you want the NHS or WHO links I’ll post them, if you want any help or support I’m here, can’t guarantee my advice will work or be any good though, but if it counts for anything I’m over 20 years dry now.

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! :-)

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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! :-)

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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