Did ya ever give up the gargle?

The Scientician

And for how long? Seriously considering it myself. Have already cut down quite a bit. Waste of time, fun, but big bleedin' waste.

Logical Fallacy

Stopped drinking about 4 years ago, haven't drank since.

Dudess

I've given up one type of booze: vodka. Plan not to drink it again. Because it fuks me up physically - get locked on it Friday night, still feeling crap Sunday, unusually wrecked Monday, feeling back to normal Wednesday. Drank just three one night, wasn't even drunk - felt wrecked next day though. I've replaced it with Guinness now.

Drinking wine at the moment.

So to answer your question: no.

Chips Ahoy

I thought you were on about mouthwash. I'm disappointed

gcgirl

Seriously it's over 2 yrs. since I last got drunk and the longest I have went without a hang over

im invisible

i dont know why, but the thirst has gone off me the last few weeks, last time i was proper drunk was a month ago, (staying up till half 9 drinking) so maybe i needed a break after christmas, had a few cans since, but nothing for two weeks...

mostly gave up years ago
have one or two the odd time but i would be drunk less than once a year probably
not interested

the fuss people make about giving up makes them sound like they have a problem

Fromthetrees

When I got arrested I did for two weeks. Been back on it since because people are retarded after drink so it was either join in or spend every night of the week cuming into my **** sock, as opposed to 5 nights a week doing it.

AG2R

and you call yourself Irish

johnners2981

Haven't drank this year, well maybe a few hours at the very start but shur that doesn't count

Dudess

The Scientician wrote: »

Waste of time, fun

You take that back! :mad:

Dudess

bluewolf wrote: »

mostly gave up years ago
have one or two the odd time but i would be drunk less than once a year probably
not interested

the fuss people make about giving up makes them sound like they have a problem

Well I guess it's the same as giving up anything you enjoy. I definitely don't have a drink problem, I only drink one night a week - and it's a treat, so I'm not prepared to give that up.

Dudess

Dudess wrote: »

Well I guess it's the same as giving up anything you enjoy. I definitely don't have a drink problem, I only drink one night a week - and it's a treat, so I'm not prepared to give that up.

nah i wasnt being preachy or saying people do have problems, i just get bemused at all these announcements and discussions about it

i'd have a problem giving up the internet for a while though :pac::pac:

admiralofthefleet

practically off it now. i might have a drink once every few weeks now

DEFTLEFTHAND

No I love alcohol and enjoy the use of it regularly, moreso than any other mood altering drug I've experienced.

imitation

I'll never kick my Listerine habit

DEFTLEFTHAND

imitation wrote: »

I'll never kick my Listerine habit

Lol, a mate of mine who ended up in St John of Gods said that Listerine is like a currency up there.:D

Seomra Mushie

bluewolf wrote: »

the fuss people make about giving up makes them sound like they have a problem

Don't think that's it. Giving up drink in Ireland is a pretty big thing sadly because you will have to contend with cajoling from drinkers. Well, this would be many people's experience if they gave up. And it can be difficult to socialise with drinkers if you don't, because when you are sober you realise how fúcking annoying drunk/tipsy people are!

ihsb

Gave up for a while and then realised drunk people annoy me so much I need to drink to be able to deal with them

Professey Chin

Did for the best part of a year before.
Think ill start again. I liked being sober that long

Spread

Gave it up from 1984 to 2004 ........ 20 years. That was after years and years of heavy drinking and 3 road bans (England). Now I drink a bottle of wine twice a week and have only been pissed twice in the last 8 years. Before, I couldn't stop now I can't be arsed to start (most times)

zenno

I gave it up a few times throughout the years and i have to say i felt great until the 2nd-3rd week and boom, shakes, sweats, paranoia, severe cramps, edgyness and only then was i enticed to forward myself to the nearest offo and so was back on it again. if only those first 2 weeks of feeling ok stayed like that i'd be off alcohol for life.

Chuck Stone

First weekend off it this year. Been off it for a few months at a time before.

Love my beer but can't handle the hangovers any more so off it now.

christ on a bike!

Enjoy a drink - never plan to get drunk but it happens quite a bit
Actually, the thought of getting drunk puts me off - like when there's a big night out ( you know, house beforehand and a big bus after) and you know it's gonna be messy - have a great time when it happens but the thought of knowing it will happen puts me off

These days i like a bit of red at home or a pint out, and if i get drunk that is just how the night transpires and it's great - but i don't go out with the intention of getting hammered

but i wont give up the gargle cos i work hard and the most relaxed i am all wee is with a good friend or the girl i'm falling in loe with and having a nice beverage that causes your inhibitons to drop lower, and lower, and lower until it's f *cking hilarious

Lapin

Used to drink every day when booze was the main decision maker in my life.
Never really enjoyed it. Thought I did at the time though.

Now I only drink only when I want to. Special ocassions etc, or an ocassional glass of wine with a nice meal. Seldom more than once a month. And I enjoy that immensely.

I control it now, rather than the other way around.

Coriolanus

Gave it up last year for the guts of the year. Now drink very little, but not comepltely teetotal.

zenno

I will be going off it again soon. but if i get that relapse again it will take an act of God to keep me away from it. 100% positive thinking this time coming but i know what the barrier is and once through that i'm done. or done trying.

Ellis Dee

I read somewhere that it takes 40 days for the last traces of alcohol to disappear from your liver, so every now and then I give it up for that long. The habit of taking a break from the drink is something I learned from the Finns, who call it a nenänvalkaisu (nose bleaching). This is day 28.:):)

TeddyTedson

goiug to bedndruk and more

angel01

Yes, I haven't drunk in about 10 years or probably more. Growing up with an alcoholic parent showed me that I don't need alcohol in my life. Showed me the horrible side to it and something I want no part of.

I don't need it, don't miss it and certainly have no interest in it. I am quite happy to live my life this way and don't surround myself with people who drink to excess because after growing up like I did, I never want to go there again.

df1985

i go off it for a month every now and then. i exercise quite a bit but if i drink and the associated take aways that go with it, then I stay in the same shape. if i go off for a month but keep the exercise up i see a big improvement.

kelle

Having a glass of wine some afternoons became a glass of wine every afternoon became a half-bottle .......................................................

It was sink or swim and I knew I had no choice but to give it up, as I felt I could no longer be content with one or two drinks.

That was 6 years ago and I haven't drank since. I don't miss it one bit especially the hangovers - and believe it or not I socialize and have the craic with people who do drink.

Nope and I've been steadily drinking more and more over the last few years. I rarely get hammered (slurring words, getting sick etc) but I drink more than I should. I get free drinks every Friday night at work so that doesn't help. I had 2 pints, 3 G&T's and a vodka and orange last Friday, just because I could, really. Love wine with dinner as well. I only used to drink when I went out with friends, never at home and it would be nice to go back to that. Some of my friends don't drink for religious reasons and when I hang out with them, I never feel like I'm missing out. I think I'll try to go back to only drinking outside the house, but chilling out with a glass of wine is so nice......:(

saa

On and off I've gone a year without drinking but without really noticing as I don't really have an emotional attatchment to it so I wouldn't have to really brace myself for giving it up. You can cut down first and if you get to a point where you say you're completely off the drink don't give up if you slip up just keep going if thats what you want to do or become an occaisional drinker.

AngryBollix

im invisible wrote: »

i dont know why, but the thirst has gone off me the last few weeks, last time i was proper drunk was a month ago, (staying up till half 9 drinking) so maybe i needed a break after christmas, had a few cans since, but nothing for two weeks...

A nice early night. Sensible drinking at its best

kylith

I haven't really drunk in about 4 years. No real reason, I just can't be bothered.

HazDanz

Off it the last two weeks. Going to continue that for a bit mainly as I want to save money for a trip or two coming up towards summer.

Worst feeling for me is looking at your funds and realising you've squandered so much on pointless drinks. Also knowing there's a kebab lurking in your system from the night before, it's fcuking toxic

Eve_Dublin

I once announced to two of my friends I was with at the time that I was quitting for a month but caught myself an hour later in a bar with a beer in my hand (with the two friends)! I completely forgot what I promised and I'd ordered one without even reasling :eek:

I don't drink a huge amount....never get messy anymore, so I won't stop as I don't think I need to.

Dravokivich

For a year when I was 20.

Thought I was an alcoholic, after a year off I learned it was my attitude to drinking that was a problem for me, not drink itself.

TeddyTedson

TeddyTedson wrote: »

goiug to bedndruk and more

Jaysus! No memory of this.

mconigol

Currently in the process of giving it up. 3 weeks down and so far so good.

It's tough though since I've basically become dependent on the stuff to socialise. I'm having to re-train myself so that's going to take some time but will ultimately be worth it I hope.

I've started drinking non-alcoholic beer the last couple of nights so maybe that's cheating a bit but I really like to have something in my hand and don't want to be standing around drinking 7up all night.

No hangovers and not spending disproportionate amounts of money on a night out is awesome though. :cool:

Liam Byrne

Never had a need to. 90% of nights out are between 2 & 4 drinks, with the occasional heavy (by my standards) 6 or 7 maybe 3 or 4 times a year.

Mind you, if I were to believe half of the macho crap Irish people go on with, that'd be considered having given up!

b.harte

Stopped about 4 years ago.
I was a stupid drunk, not nearly as funny as I believed myself to be.
Started to see a trend developing in always wanting to drink more bottles of beer.
Also I used to do a lot of driving from Cork to Kerry so had to cut back.
When I started to do that I just took it a step further.
Best decision I ever made, bar none.
I couldn't imagine holding my marriage and kids together if I was still supping.
Having said that,I get a thirst every now and then, Alcohol free Erdinger, satisfies the taste.
Worst time lately was on a work trip to Southern Germany, prime beer country, I stuck with the NA stuff while everyone got trolleyed.
Going to Munich next week with work again so will just stick with the alcohol free stuff again.

Corruptedmorals

Effectively given it up..I don't have more than 3 drinks, and there could be several weeks if not months between those occasions. The fear after a stupid night out last June works wonders...I don't miss it. I used to always go overboard, though I'd go out maybe every 3 weeks so wasn't hardcore or anything.

Swampy

Tried for a month. Lasted 2 weeks. Worst 2 weeks ever.

Quick edit: I was in a bet not to drink. Being told I can not have a drink is what killed me. I'm not a huge drinker by any means but do not like to be told I can't.

Liam Byrne

Swampy wrote: »

Tried for a month. Lasted 2 weeks. Worst 2 weeks ever.

Quick edit: I was in a bet not to drink. Being told I can not have a drink is what killed me. I'm not a huge drinker by any means but do not like to be told I can't.

But you weren't "told" that you can't.....you decided to in order to win a bet (money?)

If not drinking = "worst 2 weeks ever" then I wish I had your life!

Chuck Stone

Dravokivich wrote: »

I learned it was my attitude to drinking that was a problem for me, not drink itself.

I suspect that's how it is for everyone. After all drinks don't force themselves upon anyone.

The Scientician

The Scientician wrote: »

And for how long? Seriously considering it myself. Have already cut down quite a bit. Waste of time, fun, but big bleedin' waste.

Off it for the most part at the moment. When trying to get one of my gfs pregnant she decided to give up until after the whole thing and after breastfeeding. So we gave up with her in solidarity. Now that we are trying for baby number 2 we have given up again. So could likely be off it now for over 2 years. Couple of small exceptions but nothing notable, or often.

Sunnyisland

Gave it up 3 years ago,For me it was the best desision I ever made :-)

TeddyTedson

I've given it up on a good few occasion successfully for months at a time. Well once I went about 5 months. The rest was usually for a few weeks before exams or something, or in the new year.
It's all or nothing for me really though. I only really drink during the weekend to the point black outs. Even if I try to have "just a few" after 3 or 4 pints forget about it. I don't really see what I can do in this situation apart from give up alcohol completely, which I won't be doing anytime soon, or only have 2 points but what's the point in that...

Dravokivich

Chuck Stone wrote: »

I suspect that's how it is for everyone. After all drinks don't force themselves upon anyone.

Yeah, I know where you are going with that and it's pretty much what made me cop onto myself. Then again with that train of thought, "a drink is just a drink," I'd concur that an item someone is addicted to isn't nessicarily the problem, but there can be issues with addiction and to a major extent it'd be a catalyst for a problem. More so trying to say, addictions amplify problems and in their very nature are self destructive.

It took me a long time to realise I wasn't addicted, figure out I didn't have any problems to deal with and what lead me to think I had a problem in the first place was nothing more than me being young, foolish and niave. But I'll not use my own personal reflection as a measurement against anyone else who considers/considered themselves as alcoholics. All I had was the wrong attitude. As much as it can be used as an insult, Alcoholic simply refers to someone who feels that they have to drink all the time.

Its not drink that puts someone there, its urge for a drink that keeps someone there.