The benefits of giving up alcohol

2 lurkers | 280 watchers

22 contributors in last 30 days

HappyG(rrr) May 2020 9:09am, 28 May 2020 34,985 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) 12 of my 15 sober years have been with the help of this thread sweetpeas. It's no overstatement to say that it was probably my saviour - a safe place, a sounding board, my crutch when I was feeling wobbly, always reassuring and supportive. Not sure I would have made it without you all. G
Nicholls595 May 2020 9:13am, 28 May 2020 20,560 posts	0 Nicholls595 Nudged into double figures with the help of a couple of these, lots of ice... Finished work early and sat in the garden reading Keith Floyd's "In the soup"
Grast_girl May 2020 9:18am, 28 May 2020 1,142 posts	0 Grast_girl 1 not out for yesterday, no plans for today either. I did manage to buy a crate from Virgin***** without really meaning to* when they called yesterday, so won't need to buy anymore for months. *I'm sure I asked them not to call me. And they seemed to ask about our usual order, and then somehow it's arriving tomorrow. I suppose I can't blame them for being good at their job, but I can see how if you have a problem with alcohol their calls could be very dangerous. Will have to tell them to sod off next time.
LindsD May 2020 9:41am, 28 May 2020 37,113 posts	0 LindsD Yup. I've falled for the Virgin Wine thing in the past. I'm in for today.
Derby Tup May 2020 8:05am, 29 May 2020 42,373 posts	0 Derby Tup No plans for a drink today here
sweetpeas May 2020 8:06am, 29 May 2020 15 posts	0 sweetpeas Had a rubbish evening last night, felt very low, shouted at the kid etc... but I’d said I was in, and so had a Magnum and a decaf tea. Truly it’s a DAAT. Deep breaths. And thank God for this thread. I’m in for today.
LindsD May 2020 8:10am, 29 May 2020 37,174 posts	0 LindsD Well done. I'm going for a swim later with a flask of tea
Diogenes May 2020 8:15am, 29 May 2020 49,204 posts	0 Diogenes That’s nice. I’m back again today.
Captain Malcolm Reynolds May 2020 8:16am, 29 May 2020 964 posts	0 Captain Malcolm Reynolds Congrats on the time off Joopsy & HG. I’m in again today
mrs shanksi May 2020 8:32am, 29 May 2020 10,675 posts	0 mrs shanksi Well done sweetpeas. It's another hot & sunny day here, I'm in for today. Have a lovely day guys.

About This Thread

Maintained by Merry Christmas and Happy NewG(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! :-)

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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