The benefits of giving up alcohol

3 lurkers | 280 watchers

22 contributors in last 30 days

Derby Tup Jun 2020 3:46pm, 4 Jun 2020 42,661 posts	0 Derby Tup I wouldn’t have one before driving or running
Bazoaxe Jun 2020 3:55pm, 4 Jun 2020 16,617 posts	0 Bazoaxe My only low or no alcohol beer was after the palma marathon. It looked great but tasted shit and I poured it away and drank the water and lucozade sport I had instead.
LindsD Jun 2020 4:20pm, 4 Jun 2020 37,465 posts	0 LindsD Oh had a 0% at lunchtime the other day and I was horrified. I think it's just social conditioning, though.
Gobi Jun 2020 4:22pm, 4 Jun 2020 69,985 posts	0 Gobi All - thank you for taking the time to answer me, my comments were in no way judgemental of anyone. I'm just from a different time and was curious. I think these days I have the opposite problem in that I am so ttotal it has spawned a new level of obsession :¬)
Derby Tup Jun 2020 4:57pm, 4 Jun 2020 42,662 posts	0 Derby Tup That obsession isn’t a bad thing. Stef had a small shot of Cointreau last night and offered me a taste. I declined although I’m sure it wouldn’t have ‘hurt’ me
Captain Malcolm Reynolds Jun 2020 6:02pm, 4 Jun 2020 1,013 posts	0 Captain Malcolm Reynolds Low/no alcohol & full strength are two totally different beasts for me. First time I got sober I was dry for 9 months & was convinced I’d got things under control. One evening I had one mouthful of Stella Artois,(Usual story, 1 drink won’t hurt etc) the pleasure receptors lit up & I knew I was fucked before I’d swallowed the stuff. I was pissed for the next 18 months. I’ve never had that sensation or the concomitant craving with low/no beer. I’ll go up to 0.5% in drinks but won’t eat food cooked with alcohol because I can taste the alcohol in the food. With the drinks I can taste the drink but not the alcohol. It’s worked for me for 20 years now, if ain’t broke don’t fix it & all that.
Derby Tup Jun 2020 6:19pm, 4 Jun 2020 42,666 posts	0 Derby Tup It wasn’t the taste that I got a ‘buzz’ from but the mechanical act of glugging down what felt like beer I think. A couple of the 0.5% (the well hopped ones) taste a bit like beer to me but not of alcohol. I was really into beer (and not really into other drinks that much), but unfortunately I was also really into getting as pissed as possible
Grast_girl Jun 2020 6:39pm, 4 Jun 2020 1,166 posts	0 Grast_girl The brain is a powerful thing, but it can easily be tricked.
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble) Jun 2020 8:09pm, 4 Jun 2020 3,074 posts	0 Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble) Welcome Winniefree Lots of interesting discussion taking place and how people are here for different reasons. Also talk of triggers, replacements and coping methods is really welcomed so thank you. I forgot that I had my work's (online) social evening tomorrow so I won't be weeding the garden now (to keep my mind occupied on one of my danger days). It is only for 90 mins but I need to think carefully about what I am drinking - I was going to pop to the shops to pick up some nice tonic water but not sure I can be trusted on a Friday so I am going to make up a jug of squash instead.
LindsD Jun 2020 8:44pm, 4 Jun 2020 37,473 posts	0 LindsD I had that 'pleasure receptor' thing with LA wine and it really scared me. I tipped it down the loo. Not sure why I have it with that but not LA beer.

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! :-)

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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