The benefits of giving up alcohol

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25 contributors in last 30 days

Looby Loo Dec 2021 12:19pm, 23 Dec 2021 1,833 posts	0 Looby Loo Thanks everyone. Hope to see you Christmas morning Grinch
GrinchHunt59 Dec 2021 12:27pm, 23 Dec 2021 2,861 posts	0 GrinchHunt59 Will likely be at Tunbridge Wells parkrun Looby but will be at Harlow in spirit.
Generation Xmas Dec 2021 12:38pm, 23 Dec 2021 65 posts	0 Generation Xmas Sorry to hear about the change in your plans Looby Loo. I hope you can have a lovely time despite the disappointment - it will be all the sweeter when circumstances allow, I'm sure. Still in, on an very shaky - in fact precarious - day 12. Very much taking it day by day at this time of year, and viewing each day as a victory of major import.
Looby Loo Dec 2021 1:07pm, 23 Dec 2021 1,834 posts	0 Looby Loo Ok Grinch see you NYD fingers crossed. Well done GX and thank you.
Grast_girl Dec 2021 7:53pm, 23 Dec 2021 2,494 posts	0 Grast_girl Well done GX. It looks like the Daily Mail is trying to undermine all the efforts of people who are drinking less/completely sober by having a headline saying "Christmas just isn't the same now my daughter has given up drinking"!
Looby Loo Dec 2021 7:54pm, 23 Dec 2021 1,840 posts	0 Looby Loo Nothing about the Daily Fail would surprise me.
Joopsy Dec 2021 8:35pm, 23 Dec 2021 11,238 posts	0 Joopsy Think about who they are appealing too.
Fields & fountain, moor & mountain Dec 2021 9:05pm, 23 Dec 2021 1,530 posts	0 Fields & fountain, moor & mountain I’m not in today, but wanted to share a story from tonight if that’s ok. If it’s against the tone of the thread please ask Fetcheveryone to remove it. I’m staying in a hotel near where I used to live and a friend came to meet me. He said he’d meet me in my room first as he was given a bottle of champagne from his boss which he wanted to share with me. As an occasional drinker socially it’s a nice gesture. He met me at 7pm, admitting he had already been on vodka since 3pm. The difference between someone sober and someone 4 hours in drinking heavily are rather stark. He had drunk his half of champagne within 20 minutes. We went on to the hotel bar where I ordered some food and a drink to go with it. His pint was gone within 5 minutes, and he was ordering another. He naturally didn’t want food. In the bar he was slurring, talking loudly, swearing, pouring his drink over him, staggering around. It was an effort to socialise with him as often his head was nodding and he’d be in his own world. Anyway, less than 90 minutes after he had arrived, his wife came to pick him up. As you know, I’m an occasional social drinker who abstains when at home on my own. I felt two things from tonight. Upset that he was in such a state - it’s not funny more sad, and to be honest a little insulted that he seemed to feel the need to “pre drink” before meeting me, one of his closest and oldest friends. He’s certainly an alcoholic and his drinking seems to be habitual rather than situational. Is he getting any real pleasure from it? I’m not claiming a moral high ground at all as I enjoyed a few drinks myself tonight but it felt uncomfortable at times witnessing him and for me the key word is enjoy. I’m finishing my last drink now and will retire to my room shortly. I don’t want or need to drink any more. Not sure what my point is but I suppose I understand why many people need to stop completely if they’re like my friend is tonight. It was horrible to watch him from a position of being sober / 2 or 3 drinks in and I felt guilty for enabling him (though I’d not realised he’d turn up hammered). I’m glad I’m able to take or leave it and to stop. Next time I will try to meet him outside of an alcohol based context.
LindsD Dec 2021 9:44pm, 23 Dec 2021 51,745 posts	0 LindsD I am your friend and that's why I don't drink. Thank you for sharing. I hope he can get some help when he's ready
Fields & fountain, moor & mountain Dec 2021 9:52pm, 23 Dec 2021 1,535 posts	0 Fields & fountain, moor & mountain I suspect he will remain in denial and not seek help. He has an egg shaped growth out of the back of his neck which friends have shown concern about and which he has denied even exists. His general health must be appalling and he doesn’t even have a GP. I suppose I would have been in the same state as him had I drunk as much as him. But I can’t, don’t and won’t as that’s far beyond the “enjoyment” stage which is where I’m happy to stop.

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