Smoking and drinking/social situations

youcancallmeal

I've been thinking a lot about drinking/socialising and smoking over the last week and after re-reading the chapter in the Allen Carr book that addresses this I felt I had to make this post. I think the Allen Carr book in general glosses over the effect of drinking and quitting smoking. The chapter in his book "A Social Habit?" is literally a single page and doesnt address anything in particular, its just a couple of anecdotes that arent particularly helpful.

Its been nearly 3 weeks for me now and the physical cravings seem to be pretty much gone (Although still lots of dreams of smoking and then waking up feeling guilty). I've been worrying a lot that I'm not going to enjoy future nights outs without smoking. After getting through last Saturday night I've come to the realisation that the physical battle is over and its psychological from here on out. I spent a lot of the night trying to figure out in my head how I was going to enjoy future nights out if I am going to spend the whole night having to keep telling myself not to smoke. I came to the conclusion that I need to re-condition myself not to associate drinking with smoking. Its not a quick fix the way physical cravings disapear within a week or two, it will take time but I think it will get easier with every social situation I overcome

What are other ex-smokers experience with learning to enjoy yourself on a night out without smoking?

Vizzy

From day one I decided that giving up the cigs was not going to alter my social life so I conciously decided that I would go out for a drink when I felt like it.
I had a few reasons for this;
Firstly I still luvvvv the smell of a cigarette ( it creates no urge in me to smoke though)
Secondly I was putting myself through enough torture just giving up the smokes and I needed something to reward myself with.
Lastly I had enough to be worrying about when I started first that I didn't want to be stresing myself anymore.
Does this make sense to you?

I know it is a very personal journey and what works for me may not work for you at all but why don't you tentatively try it with one eye on the exit if the temptation gets too much .

Neadine

I am 3 weeks and 1 day nicotine free. Now I haven't had a night out in the past 3 weeks, but it's something I am almost dreading, especially the idea of going out in the company of smokers. I have always smoked much more when I am out and having a few drinks, there have been nights where we have pretty much camped out in the smoking area.
And I know that after having a few drinks it will be so much harder to resist having a smoke, especially if friends are going out for one.

username123

I quit on Jan 1, was smoking 20+ years.

I was very worried about drinking too and about not enjoying a night out as a result. I didnt drink more than a couple of drinks at a time until April. So just over 3 months off the smokes before I let myself go. I was really really worried about the night out in April, it was a hens so I knew Id be on a bit of a session.

The bizarre thing was, it was a big nothing! I got drunk alright, but I didnt even consider going to smoke, and because these days youve to go off somewhere to smoke, I only noticed late into the night that people were disappearing now and then to go smoking. Later on, in the nightclub, the group gathered on a smoking balcony, and it was still fine. I had the odd pang when I saw people smoking of 'that used to be me' but no overwhelming feeling of 'i want to smoke'. It just isnt an issue the way you think it will be. I had visions of being so overcome with cravings that there would be no way I could not smoke (pretty much the same way Id thought it would be to give up at all tbh!) - but its not like that.

Nights out are as good if not better now.

sudzs

I used the Allen Carr method to stop a good few years ago... but I remember being around a week off them and having a can of beer at home. I started a second can and found I was thinking about smoking so I chucked out the rest of the second can and was fine!

So take it slowly i'd say. If you find drinking is driving you to smoke, give it a rest for a week or 2 and try again. Practice!!!

It didn't take long before I could drink away and not want a cigarette. BAck then there was still smoking in pubs but it made me hate the things even more.... the stink from my clothes the next morning etc....

Good luck, stick with it.

youcancallmeal

Nearly 2 months on now since I've quit and I've been out in social situations at least once a week. I haven't smoked at all and I am beginning to enjoy my nights out more. At the start I would spend a significant amount of time sitting there thinking about smoking and how everything revolved around it on a night out. As time progressed I simply stopped thinking about it as much. So as I said in my first post, it takes time but it gets better

Halloween Jack

I'm six weeks off them now, have been out drinking pretty regularly since then. I have an e-cigarette, which I bring to the pub. I don't use any nicotine replacement at all during the week, but find that the e-cig will get me through a night in the pub. Hopefully I'll get to the stage when I won't need it at all. Good luck;)

earlytobed

It took me years to finally give up totally and that was due to going to the pub (in the days before the smoking ban)
My advice would be to avoid situations where you can be tempted while drinking--house parties etc.
The pub should be ok except in a situation where all your friends disappear regularly for a puff

Banzai600

I quit them coupl e of yrs ago

You just gotta realise they stink, they're bad for you and you wont feel "manky" the following day.

I dont knock ppl smoking but I am happy to be off them.