The benefits of giving up alcohol

3 lurkers | 281 watchers

33 contributors in last 30 days

McGoohan Jun 2020 8:16am, 18 Jun 2020 45,783 posts	0 McGoohan It does froth up a bit doesn't it?
GregP Jun 2020 8:18am, 18 Jun 2020 120,337 posts	0 GregP Unfortunate totp...
Bazoaxe Jun 2020 8:24am, 18 Jun 2020 16,723 posts	0 Bazoaxe Big test last night. I prefer my wine chilled and do to reduce temptation the bottle for Friday was on the shelf beside the fridge. Mrs Axe being unaware of this put the wine in to chill. I opened the fridge after tea get a bottle of fizzy wAter and there was a chilled bottle of wine smiling at me. I ignored it.
Sigh Jun 2020 8:30am, 18 Jun 2020 6,704 posts	0 Sigh @Bazoaxe, the first conversation I had about cutting down was with my wife. From memory, it was mid-morning on 1 July 2018, and was along the lines of "I'm going to stop drinking for a while, because I'm drinking far too much and I want to dry out for a bit." She was immediately supportive, but it also meant that she knew not to do the well-meant nice gestures such as putting a wine glass out for me in the evening. By the way - she's now cut down from drinking 7 days a week (like I used to) and only drinks on Friday and/or Saturday evenings, and a lot less than previously on those nights too. She feels much better for it.
Sigh Jun 2020 8:30am, 18 Jun 2020 6,705 posts	0 Sigh Forgot to say (most importantly) - well done!
mrs shanksi Jun 2020 8:39am, 18 Jun 2020 10,818 posts	0 mrs shanksi Well done Baz. I'm in for today.
LindsD Jun 2020 9:01am, 18 Jun 2020 38,070 posts	0 LindsD Well done Baz.
Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble) Jun 2020 9:05am, 18 Jun 2020 3,116 posts	0 Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble) Well done Baz
Winniefree Jun 2020 9:50am, 18 Jun 2020 1,702 posts	0 Winniefree My spouse is supportive, if not altogether helpful. One of the problems is his capacity to make gallons of delicious apple wine and cider from the orchard that we have - it’s one of the main sources of blossom for our bees. Thankfully mead is a much smaller production as it takes so much honey. So even if I don’t buy the stuff it’s there in the house. Still doing well though, only ginger cordial last night.
Metro_Nome Jun 2020 10:06am, 18 Jun 2020 5,449 posts	0 Metro_Nome I'm in for today. and whispers I get to go for a (very short) RUN today

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! :-)

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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