why give up drink ?

action jackson

I put this in here as to not offend the non drinking crowd.

ok, I do not see the point in giving up drink unless you cannot control it or yourself when you are out. Is this why ? Please explain your views and why.

Going out and socialising is good for your well being, admittedly alcohol is not completely needed, but it is definitely a lubricant for social enhancement and is also part of our culture, wine at xmas etc.

I had a mate who claimed to give it up, he said that one night he fell into a dublin canal whilst hammered and promised to give it up after that.

Surprisingly he has become more reclusive and is still a virgin at 28 years old, so this guy should keep on it, laws of probabilty and all that !

So unless this lad was an exception to the rule that giving it up is better for you, I fail to see that it does. A happy medium should be aimed for, not a uniform ban, i.e. couple of drinks, glass of water and so on.

Ok, I am sure there is a nice fresh feeling acquired and fitness levels go up, however people will find themselves excluded from lots of events and get designated to drive most times they are out. That surely would be a total nightmare !

watna

I gave up drink for a while due to a scary blackout one night after a lot of vodka. It was terrifying. It only lasted a few months but I don't drink nearly as much now.

There's lots of reasons, health and finances being the main one. I would say hangovers is also a big one. I get killer hangovers and I've reached an age where I think being hungover on a saturday/sunday is a waste of my weekend. I used o be happy enough to be in bed all day sunday puking... no any more.

Rob_l

Whatever you do is OK with Jesus!

Mena

I prefer a glass of coke (cola!!!) with ice to any form of alcohol, so for me it's purely a taste thing. Besides, I got the binge drinking bug out of my system in the army, did enough there to floor a Roman garrison :cool:

Dragan

I will go off every now and then, for any numbers of reasons! I might be on a "cut" ( such as i am on now ), i might be training for something, i might want to save some cash ( nights out cost ) or just couldn't be arsed drinking and want to work on a book or something that i am writing.

I don't think going off every now and then needs to be a sign of something bad!

whiskeyman

i cut down heavily on my alcohol intake and spending around a year ago.
Since then, I've felt much better, found the love of my life, and have been able to save like never before... and spend on lots of holidays.
When I think about how much I used to spend on nights out, it's horrific!! :eek:
I'm doing so many other things besides going to the pub and having the best time of my life.
I still enjoy a good pint of guinness and bottle of wine, but there's just no need for the excess that so many people indulge in.

Terry

I've been sober for five days now. This is the longest I've gone without alcohol in about 18 months.
It sucks. I'm getting drunk tonight.

Dave!

Some reasons given here... eg:

-medication
-general health (eg. want to get fitter)
-alcoholism (liking it too much, it's getting to be a problem)
-reduces inhibitions, sometimes too much, and leads to bad decisions!
-it's not healthy to rely on booze for social interaction/confidence

Unless it's having a detrimental effect on your life then I don't see any reason to give it up. In moderation most drugs are grand

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Chances are your mate is a virgin for other reasons than non-drinking. Seriously, if we can only score when pissed, the hiuman race is well and truly ****ed (unlike said mate...)

Baudelaire

watna wrote: »

I gave up drink for a while due to a scary blackout one night after a lot of vodka. It was terrifying. It only lasted a few months...

That's not a blackout hon, it's a coma :D

I think drink is fine as long as you moderate yourself, drinking during the week is just wrong, the worst feeling in the world is a hangover in work so it's just not worth it. Alot of people give up for finacial reasons but then after a few weeks find theres other benefits and never go back, others just can't socialise without it and end up back after a few weeks. It depends really on the person but if someone feels they need to quit then they most likely have a good reason that's personal to them.

I am off it now myself since the New Year and am planning to stay off it until July. Going well so far and already feel the fitness levels going up & I am feeling alot healthier. Alcohol is great in one way and terrible in the other. Its all about responsibility which I am trying to learn while off it lol.

action jackson

Terry wrote: »

I've been sober for five days now. This is the longest I've gone without alcohol in about 18 months.
It sucks. I'm getting drunk tonight.

HAHA ! Love it !

I have been sober since 09/02/08, I think by 13/02/08 I will be off the wagon again.

derek27

OP, you're right on the bloody money there... In fact, I'm going to print off your post and show it to some of my boring mates.

Chubby

action jackson wrote: »

Ok, I am sure there is a nice fresh feeling acquired and fitness levels go up, however people will find themselves excluded from lots of events and get designated to drive most times they are out. That surely would be a total nightmare !

Maybe if more people give up the drink then there'll be more things to do in Ireland that doesn't involve alcohol.

zuutroy

I drank like crazy from 18 to 25. I would estimate that I haven't been drunk in around 3 years since. Its grand when you're young but its just the same old tedious crap eventually. Plus I love not ever having hangovers.

Holsten

This thread makes me want to drink.

action jackson

derek27 wrote: »

OP, you're right on the bloody money there... In fact, I'm going to print off your post and show it to some of my boring mates.

I feel somewhat honoured ! thanks !

Sugar Drunk

thanks Op you make a valid point I can never understand why people go off the drink completely rather than just cutting down? and why do they feel the need to tell everyone?? 'oh, im off the drink'? right thats nice I dont smoke but I don't go around telling everyone.

I have a severe distrust of anyone who is tee total though they freak me out especially when they go around proclaiming it.
especially when everyone is drunk and they are sat there...sober...remembering everything that happened or that was said.

I did'nt drink for the best part of two years and started again for a few weeks when I began my current job. Even then I'd only have a bottle or two of Miller or Koppenburg or a JD and coke. That lasted about three weeks and since the end of November I haven't bothed with drink. I used to get a lot of hassle from a poster on ehre who would constantly buy me drinks and insist that I drink them. When I refused he would start calling me names and being a prick.

I never saw the appeal of going out specifically to get drunk. I can understand going out for a drink or two but people who go out for the sole purpose of gettign absolutly **** faced makes no sense to me.

Last night for example my brother staggered in barely able to walk and spent the best part of the night throwing up and acting like a twat. That jsut does'nt appeal to me in the least.

AlmightyCushion

Giving up drink (well going out anyways) is a brilliant way to save money.

orestes

I only gave it up recently cos I was a wee bit too fond of it, I was drinking heavy pretty much every night of the week. Breaking point was when I got home one night hammered and put my fist through a window in my house. My dad heard the smash upstairs and came down and found me passed out on the floor with glass everywhere and my hand cut to sh!t. I have never done a violent thing in my life before that so it frightened the crap out of me and I figured it was time to quit for a while.

I'm not off it for good, just for the forseeable future until I get myself back to the stage where I feel I can have a few drinks without having to get absolutely wrecked.

Someone posted earlier about non-drinkers saying they are off it, I do that too but it's moreso a self reinforcement thing for me. I say it mostly to remind myself that I'm fine without having a drink. Sounds a bit weird, I know, but it helps me to feel more comfortable when I'm out.

I don't think that not drinking has had any impact on my social life though, I still go out to the same places I used to and with the same people, I just don't get f*cked up while I'm there anymore

gracehopper

whiskeyman wrote: »

I'm doing so many other things besides going to the pub and having the best time of my life

what other stuff are you doing? cos i cant think of any other stuff to do. in this country there nothingto do except drink

orestes

gracehopper wrote: »

what other stuff are you doing? cos i cant think of any other stuff to do. in this country there nothingto do except drink

There's plenty of other stuff to do, especially with all the money you save! This place is actually a great place to find stuff, and not just on the non-drinkers forum either. I'm planning on going to an airsoft meeting on Sunday because I checked out their forum on here, I never would have thought of it until then but I'm really looking forward to it

Kur4mA

I think it's an absolute waste of money. I have things I'd much rather spend my money on than something I will drink and then piss up against a wall.

Tar.Aldarion

I don't drink much anymore, it's bad for you. :-s

orestes

orestes wrote: »

I only gave it up recently cos I was a wee bit too fond of it, I was drinking heavy pretty much every night of the week.

I'm not off it for good, just for the forseeable future until I get myself back to the stage where I feel I can have a few drinks without having to get absolutely wrecked.

Someone posted earlier about non-drinkers saying they are off it, I do that too but it's moreso a self reinforcement thing for me. I say it mostly to remind myself that I'm fine without having a drink. Sounds a bit weird, I know, but it helps me to feel more comfortable when I'm out.

I don't think that not drinking has had any impact on my social life though, I still go out to the same places I used to and with the same people, I just don't get f*cked up while I'm there anymore

Very same as me mate, especially that part in bold.

doonothing

I've got such a ****ing hangover...
Don't tempt me

Dragan

Sugar Drunk wrote: »

and why do they feel the need to tell everyone?? 'oh, im off the drink'? right thats nice I dont smoke but I don't go around telling everyone.

Normally because i am asked to be honest.

People seem to find it weird when you sit in the pub without a pint in front of you.

zuutroy

gracehopper wrote: »

what other stuff are you doing? cos i cant think of any other stuff to do. in this country there nothingto do except drink

Whereas in other countries I could...............which I can't do in Ireland. Fill in the blanks.

RandolphEsq

I would give up drink for fitness reasons. But luckily I'm not a hardcore fitness freak so I drink a lot. Almost always I'm in a club drunk and can't remember much. I enjoy the feeling of being drunk, it's not used as a social 'crutch'.

DublinWriter

Why give up drink? Because sometimes it gives up on you.

IanCurtis

Sugar Drunk wrote: »

why do they feel the need to tell everyone?? 'oh, im off the drink'?

The ones that tell everyone are either the ones with a drink problem or under the bloody thumb, so they can't drink anyway.

I agree 100% with the OP.

To "give up" drink for a few months is boring, it's pointless and it's pathetic.

Either give it up altogether or keep going - either way shut-up you sanctamonious crowd of bores.

Ahhh............that felt good.