Giving up the booze

judgefudge

Let me preface this by saying I don't believe I have any type of drinking problem, fortunately.

I'm just a typical mid 20s girl, go out maybe more than average. Usually at least once a week, more likely twice. Lately I've been noticing that hangovers are worse, getting a very upset stomach now which is a new thing. Maybe I'm getting old but either way I can't take it anymore.

Luckily I don't get the fear or anything, but I'm getting a bit tired of throwing all my money at something that makes me feel so rough. I also smoke socially I suppose. So drinking and smoking go hand in hand and I think I'll have to give them both up together.

Plus it's Christmas in a few days! It's probably the worst time of year for this, maybe I should wait til the new year but I just don't want to drink anymore.

Just a couple of questions for you non drinkers. Is it realistic for me to think that I can go out as often, and stay out with my mates for as long, while not drinking? I'm not particularly worried about my social abilities, I just worry that it'll be very boring to sit around for 5 hours in a pub with no alcohol.

Also what do you drink when you're out? I'm afraid my hands will feel so empty especially without cigarettes too. I usually drink pints so I'm used to actually physically drinking large amounts.

Any other advice would also be welcome.

Wattle

judgefudge wrote: »

Let me preface this by saying I don't believe I have any type of drinking problem, fortunately.

I'm just a typical mid 20s girl, go out maybe more than average. Usually at least once a week, more likely twice. Lately I've been noticing that hangovers are worse, getting a very upset stomach now which is a new thing. Maybe I'm getting old but either way I can't take it anymore.

Luckily I don't get the fear or anything, but I'm getting a bit tired of throwing all my money at something that makes me feel so rough. I also smoke socially I suppose. So drinking and smoking go hand in hand and I think I'll have to give them both up together.

Plus it's Christmas in a few days! It's probably the worst time of year for this, maybe I should wait til the new year but I just don't want to drink anymore.

Just a couple of questions for you non drinkers. Is it realistic for me to think that I can go out as often, and stay out with my mates for as long, while not drinking? I'm not particularly worried about my social abilities, I just worry that it'll be very boring to sit around for 5 hours in a pub with no alcohol.

Also what do you drink when you're out? I'm afraid my hands will feel so empty especially without cigarettes too. I usually drink pints so I'm used to actually physically drinking large amounts.

Any other advice would also be welcome.

Some people are ok with still going out with their mates but they tend to be the exception. If your friends purpose is to go out and get wrecked you are no longer part of that mindset and you may feel alienated from the whole situation. They may also resent you and put you under pressure for not drinking and being part of the gang. Personally if I'm going out with people intent on getting wrecked I never stay for the whole thing. It gets messy and drunk people can be a pain in the arse when you are sober. Once you put down the drink your attitudes start to change. If you really really want to quit my advice would be to stay away from drinking situations at least in the beginning. Give yourself breathing space. You might be able to find a socialising alternative that doesn't involve going to the pub to get hammered. You've said yourself that you are tired of throwing money at something that makes you feel bad so why put yourself in that situation?

I drink sparkling water or very occasionally a NA beer like Erdinger. I couldn't care less that people know I'm a non drinker. The one's who pull you up on it usually have issues of their own.

judgefudge

While I say my friends would be down in the pub 1-2 times I week it's actually more of a social outlet. I mean we all drink, but it's not a matter of "let's go out and get hammered". They are not that type. It's more of a "let's meet up after work for a few drinks". I don't think a single thing would be said to me if I stopped drinking, again they are not like that.

I guess I'm worried that as people get more drunk id get more bored, but there's only one way to find out. If I gave up meeting them altogether I'd end up back drinking just to see em.

Thanks for the reply

Wattle

judgefudge wrote: »

While I say my friends would be down in the pub 1-2 times I week it's actually more of a social outlet. I mean we all drink, but it's not a matter of "let's go out and get hammered". They are not that type. It's more of a "let's meet up after work for a few drinks". I don't think a single thing would be said to me if I stopped drinking, again they are not like that.

I guess I'm worried that as people get more drunk id get more bored, but there's only one way to find out. If I gave up meeting them altogether I'd end up back drinking just to see em.

Thanks for the reply

Well it's good that they are supportive and wouldn't put you under pressure but you may well find yourself getting bored in that situation. Like I say you are not going to be on the same wavelength as them come the end of the night.

Carpet diem

Wattle wrote: »

Well it's good that they are supportive and wouldn't put you under pressure but you may well find yourself getting bored in that situation. Like I say you are not going to be on the same wavelength as them come the end of the night.

Esp at Xmas time everyone is on a different level of drunkenness than usual. It can be scary!

I'd like to think when I drank before I wasn't intimidating like what I seen out the last night.

L'prof

Thinking of doing the same OP. went on a 4 day bender with a few friends to set up what was a pretty unbearable day yesterday. Really don't want to feel like that ever again. Gonna go off the drink for as long as I can and reassess what I really want to do at a later stage. I enjoy drinking, makes me feel far more comfortable socialising with others, but it's such a waste of money and the hangovers are ridiculous!

username123

I gave up drinking for a year in my late 20s. Not because I thought I had a problem with drinking, I was just sick of it. I had IBS and drinking used to trigger a bad stomach that would last days. Plus it cost so much and I was finding the whole scene boring. I used to drink quite a lot - although I didnt realise that until I stopped.

I did not avoid drinking situations but I did find them boring so over a period of time I scaled back on activities that centered around drinking. I began to do other things and rediscovered the pleasure of things like theatre and concerts as a night out and not just as something to go to before going to the pub.

Some friends resented my decision hugely and were no longer interested in me if I wasnt drinking. It was a combination of them feeling that I was showing them in a bad light and the fact that the only reason they went out was to get locked. The experience showed me who my real friends were and I was never sorry that the ones who didnt like me not drinking fell by the wayside.

There is nothing more pleasurable than a Sunday morning in the summertime with a clear head and full of energy to get out and go for a walk/run/drive/day out. I had never before appreciated the sensation of pretty much always feeling well. Prior to not drinking I was used to 2 or 3 days a week being spent getting over the effects of 1 or 2 nights out a week. So I was only really living a half life.

When the year was up I drank again. But I never went back to the binge drinking ways I had been used to before that. I became a much lighter drinker, would go weeks between drinking. I no longer saw Saturday night as a reason to go out and drink, for no other reason than "thats what you do".

These days I have the odd gin and tonic, the odd few glasses of wine. I could not drink for 6 months and not notice. I might get drunk 3 or 4 times in a year now, or less, I dont think I was drunk at all in 2013.

Its well worth quitting for a period of time anyway, it helps put in perspective what its about and why you do it.

Sunnyisland

A lot of my family are/were heavy drinkers, out with my brother this morning and he hasn't taken a drink or smoke in just over three months, Well this morning he told me he has made a decision that he won't be drinking or smoking ever again, he had enough, delighted for him I was,best news I heard this morning.

judgefudge

I've only seen these posts now. It's nice to hear that some people are successful. Well giving up Christmas week was a mistake as I've slipped up more than once. Still feeling awful for it though. Perhaps a new year, new start. I don't want it to really be a "resolution" though as those are rarely kept!

bob21ennis

Hey Guys, hows things?
I need help anyway and advice on how to stay away from drink. I don't see myself as having a problem with it. I'm in College and studying for a degree. I'm in my early twenties now and just bored of throwing away my money at it. I would go out maybe twice a wike but the hangovers are setting in and I hate feeling like crap the next day, St Stephens night was my wake up call. I went out got smashed and cant remember a thing from it. I was told what pubs and people I met and couldn't even remember it. I want to start fresh for 2014 no more drinking,smoking for me. I just want to concentrate on College. I have ruined relationships and now I realise that drink just does not suite me anymore. Any advice would be really appreciated. Thanks guys