The benefits of giving up alcohol

2 lurkers | 280 watchers

22 contributors in last 30 days

sweetpeas Jun 2020 8:00am, 4 Jun 2020 25 posts	0 sweetpeas G, thanks. I've been up since half 4, it's the only way I can exercise and get any work done at the moment zzzzzzzzzzzzz
Diogenes Jun 2020 8:16am, 4 Jun 2020 49,421 posts	0 Diogenes To answer your question, WP, I don't use an app, I just keep an record in my notebook.
HappyG(rrr) Jun 2020 8:20am, 4 Jun 2020 35,080 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Good effort sweetpeas! Maisels Weisse Alkoholfrei - came in my mixed 12 zero alc. If you like Weiss Bier it is absolutely yum! amazon.co.uk That link out of stock. Go via the Fetch Amazon link and search again, if you like. G
Gobi Jun 2020 8:28am, 4 Jun 2020 69,974 posts	0 Gobi Sitting on my old man stool I still find low /no alcohol strange. As someone who went cold Turkey and doesnt even eat foods that are cooked in alcohol I have to ask this. Isnt drinking beer, drinking beer? surely low alcohol just keeps the fire burning ? This is genuine curiosity rather than anything else so please feel free to tell me to bugger off.
Bazoaxe Jun 2020 8:32am, 4 Jun 2020 16,602 posts	0 Bazoaxe I am with gobi on the no/low alcohol beer and am not sure on that. Maybe it’s a bit like a nicotine patch to transition. Anyway. That’s two days for me now and I will make it to three today. Tomorrow though is my sons birthday and also Friday has been a traditional lockdown takeaway night for the family. Chances are I will not make four but start again on Sunday.
McGoohan Jun 2020 8:49am, 4 Jun 2020 45,614 posts	0 McGoohan Well, for myself I'm a cutter-downer rather than a giver-upper. I think we all have to have our own standards which we apply to ourselves. I used to sit of an evening reading or watching telly with a beer or a glass of wine and one would lead to a second and... I'd get up the next morning with bad guts and a sore head. And now, I'm quite happy just to sit there and enjoy the taste of a single na/la beer. (Not the zero wine, I draw the line at that. It's all foul IMHO.) I genuinely like the taste of beer but I like the ability to taste it and not have after-effects.
Oscar the Grouch Jun 2020 8:49am, 4 Jun 2020 1,609 posts	0 Oscar the Grouch For me, Gobi, it was just a curiosity. I like the taste of an IPA, so if I could have one without the alcohol, would I still like it? I did like it but as I said above, probably one cold from the fridge was enough. One beer was very rarely enough. Conclusion for me is that I can use it as part of my cutting down armoury. I'm not full abstinence and probably never will be, but equally, I haven't experienced what some of you guys have, thankfully.
Oscar the Grouch Jun 2020 8:50am, 4 Jun 2020 1,610 posts	0 Oscar the Grouch Cross post with McG but essentially the same point I think?
McGoohan Jun 2020 8:53am, 4 Jun 2020 45,615 posts	0 McGoohan Yes, pretty much I think
funkyPOM Jun 2020 9:12am, 4 Jun 2020 534 posts	0 funkyPOM Liking the relatability of stuff in this thread. Had a friend over last night and managed moderation, 3 bottles (beer, not wine 😁) . Will have the other 3 as they're over again tonight. Weekend is interesting so need to plan an early adventure for Saturday, so early to bed Friday. The talk of apps has got me looking. Writing it down makes it real and concious. Did the same with food a few years back and lost loads. Good work everyone

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! :-)

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