The benefits of giving up alcohol

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25 contributors in last 30 days

Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble) Apr 2022 8:02am, 19 Apr 2022 3,993 posts	0 Wombling Plodder (Welsh Womble) Morning 😊
Fields Apr 2022 8:04am, 19 Apr 2022 4,053 posts	0 Fields In for the day
Sigh Apr 2022 8:16am, 19 Apr 2022 13,367 posts	0 Sigh Just checked, it's 12 days to my next milestone: I always find the 'you and xxx others' gives me a lift, reminds me (as this great thread does) that I'm not odd or unusual in the slightest by choosing not to drink. In fact, it seems it's the other way at times
LindsD Apr 2022 8:19am, 19 Apr 2022 54,149 posts	0 LindsD Well done all. I'm in
Diogenes Apr 2022 8:31am, 19 Apr 2022 69,041 posts	0 Diogenes Just hearing on the radio about the 'bottomless brunch', where you get all the alcohol you can drink along with your brunch food, the only limit is generally time. Words fail me, but at least the idea puts me off drinking. Lots of horror stories being shared as amusing incidents. Makes me cross.
HappyG(rrr) Apr 2022 8:36am, 19 Apr 2022 42,121 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Dio, where do they do that? I'm surprised it's allowed, unless it's a private club? There have been restrictions on happy hours, all you can drink, 2 for 1, buy a glass and get the bottle for free etc. type promotions for a while now, as they encourage binge drinking. Or maybe those restrictions just here in Scotland? I can't remember. Pretty ridiculous in this day and age when we know so many people have problems with alcohol and that even a small amount of alcohol is damaging to health. Can you imagine a "chain smoking brunch" or "overdose on drugs brunch"? Sad. Cross. Yes, agree.
HappyG(rrr) Apr 2022 8:38am, 19 Apr 2022 42,122 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) metro.co.uk North Shields was this weekend's report. But when I googled "bottomle..." first results were "bottomless brunch glasgow... bottomless brunch dunfermline..." so it obviously happens here too. Sad.
Derby Tup Apr 2022 8:41am, 19 Apr 2022 55,193 posts	0 Derby Tup ‘Bottomless brunch’ is just another phrase for bender or all-dayer really isn’t it? I’m glad I’m away from it all
HappyG(rrr) Apr 2022 8:42am, 19 Apr 2022 42,123 posts	0 HappyG(rrr) Ah, but further following links, it turns out it is more limited in Scotland, thought so! "13 Best Brunch and Bottomless Brunch in Edinburgh 2022 by Admin Best Brunch and Bottomless Brunch in Edinburgh – Scotland has slightly different licencing laws to other countries and ‘bottomless brunch’ can refer to bottomless food rather than drinks. There are still plenty of drinks to be had but these can be limited to four or perhaps six drinks rather than being bottomless." I'm quite proud of this. Not good enough, but at least it's a step in the right direction. Scotland has the worst relationship with alcohol and drugs in the UK and we need to take strict steps to improve things.
WA Apr 2022 9:31am, 19 Apr 2022 9,798 posts	0 WA There's a couple of places locally that offer a bottomless brunch. It would certainly have been top of my list of things to do today until recently. I'm in 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