Giving up alcohol

LovelyLaura

I know we all say this on New Years Day, but I am seriously considering giving up alcohol. I dont drink that often anyway, but when I do, I tend to go a bit overboard and am just sick of it now. Any tips on how to still have a social life as a non-drinker and how to tell people that you dont drink without coming across as a party pooper?

amacachi

As long as you're not doing it just to show that you can, that's a sign of being an alcoholic.

msg11

After last night I am seriously considering it.. Actually yeah, I am finished with the devil !

woodoo

Its not that easy giving up drink. Why can't you just take a few drinks when you are out?

Amirani

It's not that difficult to give up but why would you bother unless it's actually problematic. Drink sensibly yes but no reason to not enjoy a few pints every so often. When I see some of the diets and "detoxes" that people go on these days I pity them. Complete exclusion is boring and isn't generally the only solution.

Johnny Foreigner

LovelyLaura wrote: »

I know we all say this on New Years Day, but I am seriously considering giving up alcohol. I dont drink that often anyway, but when I do, I tend to go a bit overboard and am just sick of it now. Any tips on how to still have a social life as a non-drinker and how to tell people that you dont drink without coming across as a party pooper?

I thought about it myself, then I remembered how good Baileys Biscotti flavour is over ice.
You can wear a pioneer badge. This is a subtle way of telling people you don't drink. Once people are used to you drinking soft drinks only they will gradually start deleting your number from their mobiles. Best of luck. You will need it.

biko

AH -> Non Drinkers Group.

44leto

I give it up every year till Paddy's day, but I probably will give it up for whenever after that.

Although not an alcoholic I have a contentious relationship with Mr Booze, when I do hit it I hit it hard, also I have a tendency to binge, which is never good especially for someone in his forties.

Right now after 3 nights on the tear I am suffering for it, I am actually going out again tonight and after that.................

Immaculate Pasta

Why would you want to do a daft thing like that?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKIqNTJ-yus

:cool:

Johnny Foreigner

woodoo wrote: »

Its not that easy giving up drink. Why can't you just take a few drinks when you are out?

Very true.
I don't drink during the week, but when Saturday night comes; boy do I have a thirst!

thisiswar

Life's a bitch and then you die, that's why we get high. 'Cause ya never know when you're gonna go.

effluent

I'm thinking the same myself, I'm trying to decide whether to cut it out alltogether or just moderate it a bit more. I haven't had a drink in a few weeks. The reasons why I'm thinking of giving up or moderating it is for fitness/health.

I've gone out a good few nights without drinking. Being the designated driver isn't that great because if I'm out with a group of friends they don't want to be split up so go and get a mini bus anyways. I usually order a small glass with a soft drink in it to stop drawing attention to me.

To be honest though I'm leaning more to the moderate drinking than cutting it out altogether

Sunnyisland

I hate to say good luck to people when talking about quitting or moderating because it ain't luck that works. So i wish you strength and determination on your choice, & may you have a happy New year.

coffee_cake

LovelyLaura wrote: »

I know we all say this on New Years Day, but I am seriously considering giving up alcohol. I dont drink that often anyway, but when I do, I tend to go a bit overboard and am just sick of it now. Any tips on how to still have a social life as a non-drinker and how to tell people that you dont drink without coming across as a party pooper?

You don't need to tell anyone, just say "i don't feel like it" if they ask

I gave up all alcohol over 15 years ago, because I was having such a bad reaction to alcohol. I was getting massive hang overs and also other reactions like a red rash, and swollen hands and face the next day after just one pint?

I had blood tests done after one particulary bad incident, (my doctor couldn't believe I was so sick - I spent four days in bed after only three pints) and it turned out I have an intolerance to alcohol which was triggering an allergic type reaction. I didn't always suffer from this intolerance, I was never a heavy drinker but it got worse over time.

Many times since I have been asked about my non-drinking and when I explain why I get a funny look - usually followed by the whispers "she must be an alcoholic".

So now I don't bother explaining. If I am in a pub or setting where I don't want to have to explain myself over and over again why I am not drinking, I just drink non-alcoholic beer - people don't usually notice the "0% Alcohol" on the label of the bottle. And you'd be amazed how often people try to push alcohol on a non-drinker (in a well meaning way).

Kobra Zero ice cold is really nice, if you can get it.

sunflower27

Johnny Foreigner wrote: »

I thought about it myself, then I remembered how good Baileys Biscotti flavour is over ice.
You can wear a pioneer badge. This is a subtle way of telling people you don't drink. Once people are used to you drinking soft drinks only they will gradually start deleting your number from their mobiles. Best of luck. You will need it.

Oh for God's sake, what a ridiculous comment.

I know people that don't drink that have plenty of friends and still enjoy going out socially to pubs. Drinking soft drinks doesn't make you mute.

Lovelylaura - do what feels right for you. Any friend worth their salt is not going to dump you as a friend because you don't want to get rat-arsed with them.

Honestly, Johhny Foreigner, your comment is totally ludicrous.

Oh, and I have never seen a non-drinker wear a pioneer badge. :rolleyes:

sunflower27

Deleted User wrote: »

I gave up all alcohol over 15 years ago, because I was having such a bad reaction to alcohol. I was getting massive hang overs and also other reactions like a red rash, and swollen hands and face the next day after just one pint?

I had blood tests done after one particulary bad incident, (my doctor couldn't believe I was so sick - I spent four days in bed after only three pints) and it turned out I have an intolerance to alcohol which was triggering an allergic type reaction. I didn't always suffer from this intolerance, I was never a heavy drinker but it got worse over time.

Many times since I have been asked about my non-drinking and when I explain why I get a funny look - usually followed by the whispers "she must be an alcoholic".

So now I don't bother explaining. If I am in a pub or setting where I don't want to have to explain myself over and over again why I am not drinking, I just drink non-alcoholic beer - people don't usually notice the "0% Alcohol" on the label of the bottle. And you'd be amazed how often people try to push alcohol on a non-drinker (in a well meaning way).

Kobra Zero ice cold is really nice, if you can get it.

Well done on putting your health first. There are so, so many horror stories out there of people developing serious symptoms through excessive drinking who go on to continue to drink and in the process put their lives at risk.

I am not drinking through choice and fortunately so far have found my friends to be really supportive. When asked why, I simply say that I don't want to, and I will continue to say that because it is my business.

As far as I am concerned, people can judge away, think what they like. If I wanted a drink, I know how to ask for one but I don't.

Anyone that wants to judge me can do as they please, but it won't stop me abstaining. We all have our own minds and if any friend decided to not what to be friends anymore simply because I wouldn't partake in consuming an alcoholic beverage with them.... well, they know what they can do.

brock landers

Not a huge drinker but certainly enjoy a few while cooking dinner, chilling or on a night out, After even a few drinks(3-4) the next day i'm irritable,depressed,paranoid and just generally cabbaged...Dont know if this is normal or perhaps its just some sort of bad reaction with me.

anyway,Im on day 6 now without alcohol and must say I feel much better,more positive,more productive,confident(ironically) and overall better functioning.
not sure whether to try give it up altogether or just be moderate, but I'm thinking the former is a wiser option. Happy new year!

thephantom1

i am so sick of drinking so often for the last ten years that i have officially made the plunge and havent drank in the last few months.

Went to a big social event last night that was a big drinking affair. was a real confronting experience, I had never realised how much I had relied on it as a crutch for anxiety in scenarious like that.

Here's to a future clear of hangovers, regretful memories and empty pockets!

Xim1

hi all,
I don't drink now for some months and I feel great!
Stop drinking has changed my life , is not easy but ...if you try to meet people that also doesn't drink, it's easier to stick non drinking, as you can have fun and still go out..
I was recommended this site in a private message from my other thread (non drinking group in Dublin )
http://www.meetup.com/A-sober-slice-of-Dublin/

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056576745

harr

Hi
Sorry for bringing up an old thread,
I have made the decision to give up the drink,i don't have a problem and dont even drink once a week i might go out on a good session twice a month or so the problem is i binge when i do,i would drink up 11 or 12 pints with some shots.
I started drinking at 15 so nearly 20 years drinking at this stage.The problem is my hangovers i get them so bad,i vomit from the second i wake up and could continue right through the day and i have to stay in the bed so i know when i have a good session coming up i will need the whole next day off to recover.It has been like this since i started to drink and i have just got used to it.
The problem is i am shy and withdrawn person without drink but after a few pints i can talk,dance and have a great time but i know that with no drink in me i would just sit in a corner watch everyone else have a great time and this is my biggest fear,i don't want to stop going out but i know i have to give it up because my body wont take this much longer and the doc thinks i am allergic to something in the alcohol.
How did you guys find going out and peoples reaction when you stopped,everyone i know drinks and the social life revolves around a session.So i an going to find this hard.
Sorry about the long post and thanks for reading.

seanrose

hi harr

good luck with whatever decision you make but i was the same as you,would drink maybe a few times a month,didnt have a drink problem but had problems when i drank

drinking since i was a kid and it always always got me into trouble and had so many regrets then when i did drink but felt that alcohol had so much power over me and it turned me into a horrible person,a person that im not

going tea total is not for me as i know that this wont make me happy but what i did was went off it for 8 weeks and now try to moderate it,i know its gonna be a long hard road until i become comfortable with myself and my relationship with alcohol but feel i have more control over my problems

you have to do whats best for yourself harr and the way that i get around peoples view is that they arent there to pick up the pieces the next day when you are feeling low and sick

newmug

Ah the aul "will I give it up ta fcuk" debate. Been there manys a time.

I drank heavily for the last ten years, I'm just sick of it at this stage. I think everybody gets to this point, its just your attitude evolving. Thats why you would often see middle-aged lads who you know would be well able to knock them back, just sitting there nursing their pint. They dont want to give it up completely, but they're sick and tired of hangovers and wondering if they made a tool of themselves. So they compromise - they cut back and only have a few pints when they're out, and they enjoy them. It is do-able, it just takes a bit of getting used to.

I gave up drink completely for 3 months 2 years ago. It broke the habit big time, but now I still can go out every now and then and have a session when I feel like it. I used to drink 3, maybe 4 nights a week, now I'd say I drink 3 or 4 nights a month. Thats all my old way of drinking was, a habit. I'd only do it out of boredom really, I was on shift-work and a few of us had the same shift pattern, so we'd all end up goin out together. Good craic at the time, but I wouldnt do it now.

But after my 3 month purge, I couldnt drink to save me life! It took a while to get used to it again. 3 pints would fill me up, whereas before I'd easily drink 10 or 12. And the hangovers! I dont know whether its just age (30, not old!) or the fact that I was too immersed in drinking culture to realise how bad they were, but fcuk me were they bad. It seems to me that its worse they're getting, does anyone else experience that? Even now it takes me half a week or so to be back to me normal self.

I dont want to give up drinking completely, cos I love drinking! I absolutely love it! There's nothing like being in a cosy pub with a bit of good music and a bit of time for yourself. For that reason, I dont think I'll ever stop totally. I'll become one of those middle-aged men who has 4 pints on a saturday afternoon before all the youngsters come in, and I'll savour every last drop.

Leslie91

newmug wrote: »

Ah the aul "will I give it up ta fcuk" debate. Been there manys a time.

I drank heavily for the last ten years, I'm just sick of it at this stage. I think everybody gets to this point, its just your attitude evolving. Thats why you would often see middle-aged lads who you know would be well able to knock them back, just sitting there nursing their pint. They dont want to give it up completely, but they're sick and tired of hangovers and wondering if they made a tool of themselves. So they compromise - they cut back and only have a few pints when they're out, and they enjoy them. It is do-able, it just takes a bit of getting used to.

I gave up drink completely for 3 months 2 years ago. It broke the habit big time, but now I still can go out every now and then and have a session when I feel like it. I used to drink 3, maybe 4 nights a week, now I'd say I drink 3 or 4 nights a month. Thats all my old way of drinking was, a habit. I'd only do it out of boredom really, I was on shift-work and a few of us had the same shift pattern, so we'd all end up goin out together. Good craic at the time, but I wouldnt do it now.

But after my 3 month purge, I couldnt drink to save me life! It took a while to get used to it again. 3 pints would fill me up, whereas before I'd easily drink 10 or 12. And the hangovers! I dont know whether its just age (30, not old!) or the fact that I was too immersed in drinking culture to realise how bad they were, but fcuk me were they bad. It seems to me that its worse they're getting, does anyone else experience that? Even now it takes me half a week or so to be back to me normal self.

I dont want to give up drinking completely, cos I love drinking! I absolutely love it! There's nothing like being in a cosy pub with a bit of good music and a bit of time for yourself. For that reason, I dont think I'll ever stop totally. I'll become one of those middle-aged men who has 4 pints on a saturday afternoon before all the youngsters come in, and I'll savour every last drop.

I've got to the stage where I am questioning whether it is worth it tbh. Like you I like a drink out with the lads, watching the match yada yada yada. But when out I tend to 'go a bit mad' and not just have the 2 or 3. This might be once every 2 weeks.

But it has got to the stage now where I'm wondering could I give it up for good.

I'm thinking of it for a few reason but these are what I can come up with now (1) save money and (2) health/weight.

Problem is I don't see myself getting away from the 'going out/on tour' with the lads. This means even if I stop drinking I'll most probably still be in the rounds and so not save any money after all. As for the second reason there is no doubt healthwise I'd be better off. No more hangovers, maybe lose some weight etc.

It's a bit of a dilemma tbh. I'd love to meet like minded people who can have the craic/do something without having to end up having a few pints. Don't get me wrong I love my mates and will not stop doing what I've been doing with them, I'd just like to meet others who want to experience a different type of socialising. I know a couple of people in AA and don't get me wrong AA can be cool for some and the people are great but I'd be more interested in like minded bodies who are most probably not alcoholics but are just tired of the same ol same ol.

harr

Hi
Just a little update,i stopped drinking on the 29 of April and since then i have gone to 2 weddings a few BBQ'S,2 birthdays and a work conference with a free bar and i am glad to say i don't miss the drink,wakening up hangover free is a great feeling and the pint bottle of cidona is my new tipple.
At this stage i cant see myself drinking again.