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The benefits of giving up alcohol

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27 contributors in last 30 days
Metro_Nome
Metro_Nome
Jun 2020
9:32am, 1 Jun 2020
5,405 posts
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Metro_Nome
:)
iaincr
iaincr
Jun 2020
10:22am, 1 Jun 2020
648 posts
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iaincr
Dio, good luck.

whenever I felt like wavering in my first year, I rewrote my list, one side benefit of drinking, the other side benefits of not drinking. Needless to say what side was bigger. it really helped keep me on track.

whateever happened at the weekend is in the past, its the start of a new week, a new day. a good day to not drink!
HappyG(rrr)
HappyG(rrr)
Jun 2020
10:35am, 1 Jun 2020
35,015 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
That's a good technique iain - the list of benefits of drinking really isn't much is it?

* Some drinks taste quite nice;

* there's some pleasure for some people in the numbing effect (for a period of time perhaps) and

* the social/cultural involvement side (though that's really just conditioning, but worth admitting that there is a societal pressure that's easy to give in to).

That's probably about it, I'd assume?

The benefits of not drinking...? Well, about 20,000 posts in this thread describing them, so I won't even begin to try and summarise. There's a good article over there listing about 3 pages of benefits if anyone needs inspiration > > >

Happy days! :-) G
DocM
DocM
Jun 2020
12:21pm, 1 Jun 2020
34,784 posts
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DocM
im here today too, not sure what my tipple will be today but it wont be alcohol
Metro_Nome
Metro_Nome
Jun 2020
12:57pm, 1 Jun 2020
5,406 posts
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Metro_Nome
I've just removed the alcohol from tomorrow's Tesco delivery
Diogenes
Diogenes
Jun 2020
1:04pm, 1 Jun 2020
49,318 posts
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Diogenes
Well done.

I just wanted to say that while ODAAT is the way to go, it can really help to have a long term target in mind too - a dry month for example, or maybe a financial saving or an fitness goal - or else ODAAT can easily translate to one day doesn't matter, I'll start (again) tomorrow.

That's my experience, anyway.

I also find it harder in the hot, sunny weather. That's why this time I have been experimenting with zero alcohol beers. My last dry spell ran from November to March and I found I was quite happy with a cup of tea or a glass of squash then.
DocM
DocM
Jun 2020
1:08pm, 1 Jun 2020
34,789 posts
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DocM
i love getting to the end of a sunny afternoon and grabbing a chilled alcohol free beer, you are right, cup of tea wouldn't be quite the same
mrs shanksi
mrs shanksi
Jun 2020
1:29pm, 1 Jun 2020
10,686 posts
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mrs shanksi
That's great MN.

I'm a weirdo who likes tea on a hot day, it's supposed to cool you down isn't it? Unfortunately I don't like the taste of beer!
HappyG(rrr)
HappyG(rrr)
Jun 2020
1:47pm, 1 Jun 2020
35,029 posts
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HappyG(rrr)
Dio, you're absolutely right, the target approach works for lots of people. A dry month, a streak of days, total number of units or pounds saved etc. Lots of the tracking apps help with that.

As long as it's a motivator and doesn't make you feel like you've "failed" if you have a bad day. Or make it feel too hard to think about forever: just the month, the week, the day (or as Joops and other experienced AAers have said, just this minute, this hour etc.)

M_N, that sounds really positive, well done.

I do find a cold fizzy drink in the sun is refreshing, but to be honest, I ended up with water or coca cola recently. The alco free beers can be useful but I've got to be a bit careful with them too, that I don't start "hankering" after the flavour. At the moment I'm ok. But gotta be vigilant! :-) G
Bazoaxe
Bazoaxe
Jun 2020
2:06pm, 1 Jun 2020
16,558 posts
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Bazoaxe
I am with Dio on the ODAAT. Doesn't work for me as I can do one day then let it slip. I need a long term target and then my sheer bloody mindedness does the rest.

If I could get to not drinking on school nights that would be good for me.

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 medal Contact TBOGUA medal 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 star
Joopsy star

Note: we're none of us experts, but we're happy to listen, to answer any questions and to offer support if you think it would help you. Except star marked above. Who are experts! :-)

(Note II: at Christmas some names may change a bit, but I'm sure you can still find us to fmail!)
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