The benefits of giving up alcohol

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25 contributors in last 30 days

Rebel 2 Dec 9:28am, 2 Dec 2024 20,205 posts	0 Rebel Well done Hipps. I’m in
mrs shanksi 2 Dec 9:35am, 2 Dec 2024 16,570 posts	0 mrs shanksi Morning, in again
plodding hippo 2 Dec 10:02am, 2 Dec 2024 51,885 posts	0 plodding hippo morning, still here
Merry Christmas and Happy NewG(rrr) 2 Dec 10:45am, 2 Dec 2024 51,479 posts	0 Merry Christmas and Happy NewG(rrr) Amazing numbers ph. In for a Monday. Morning everyone. G
Diogenes 2 Dec 11:32am, 2 Dec 2024 89,624 posts	0 Diogenes In for Monday
Mrs Jigs (Luverlylegs) 2 Dec 3:46pm, 2 Dec 2024 45,514 posts	0 Mrs Jigs (Luverlylegs) Here 👋
Looby Loo 2 Dec 4:21pm, 2 Dec 2024 4,449 posts	0 Looby Loo Survived another holiday. Well done everyone.
MabelMoonface 2 Dec 4:58pm, 2 Dec 2024 11,586 posts	0 MabelMoonface Apologies in advance but this is going to be a bit rambly. I really, really want a drink. Not right now, but in general. I want to drink with my family at Christmas, I want to drink with my friends on holiday. I want to feel that buzz. I haven't found it this hard before. So far every time an opportunity arises I am choosing n/a options - we've just come back from holiday and I chose soft drinks or n/a beer in restaurants and bars. We went to one of those restaurants where you get offered a liqueur at the end and I said no. So I haven't had anything but it's almost overwhelming. I keep reminding myself why I stopped in the first place and the huge positives of not drinking, and how far I've come. I keep popping in here and feeling inspired. It's just stupidly tough at the moment.
Derby Tup 2 Dec 5:16pm, 2 Dec 2024 69,295 posts	0 Derby Tup Hang in there. You’re not the only one tempted. You know you’ll hate it next day if you do drink
Jingle Jaks 2 Dec 5:22pm, 2 Dec 2024 9,729 posts	0 Jingle Jaks I know it’s not any help to you now but I’ve just been through the exact same thing. I had to get the support from people on here. I had to give my head a right talking to and kept saying ‘alcohol is poison’ out loud. I think I’ve come out the other side but I’m not taking anything for granted. It’s so hard sometimes. Sending you lots of hugs 🤗

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