Drink break

White Ninja

I was never a big drinker, but I still used to go off the drink for spells of a few months at a time for years. Then about 3 years ago, I basically gave it up for good. Now I might have 1-2 pints twice a year.
It's becoming more common to not drink in this country, I know lots of people who don't drink, I think younger people are becoming a lot more educated about the down sides to drink, like all the cancer risks, and other health risks associated with it. I have young cousins who are 18 and don't drink, it's just becoming more accepted.
Even when I first stopped drinking, the non alcoholic choices in Tesco was basically just Becks. Now there's loads of choices, and a lot of them are often sold out when I go to get them, so something is changing.
One big difference I noticed since I stopped drinking is that I enjoy nights out more. The best craic on night out is the first few hours when everybody is still semi-sober, thats when you'r catching up with mates, and people are still coherent and funny. When people get drunk they just become obnoxious, they talk too loud, they stand too close, they spit when they talk, so once that starts I just go out to my car and drive home, and leave my mates to join the zombie hoards. I've never felt like I've missed anything except the feeling sick, standing in taxi queues, and smell of spilled beer, all things I can live without.
The longer I'm off it, the less I understand it, I'll never go back to drinking, I see very few upsides and a lot of downsides. What I would like though, is if Guinness made a non alcoholic version!

The Bishop Basher

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

I wonder what the stats show

I can appreciate that my views are based on anecdotal evidence.

I'm not suggesting that young lads aren't going out getting hammered. They are. It just doesn't seem to be as prevalent as it was in our day.

This thread is making me sound older and older by the post !!

White Ninja wrote: »

The best craic on night out is the first few hours when everybody is still semi-sober, thats when you'r catching up with mates, and people are still coherent and funny. When people get drunk they just become obnoxious, they talk too loud, they stand too close, they spit when they talk, so once that starts I just go out to my car and drive home, and leave my mates to join the zombie hoards.

And then while staggering around, dribbling and spitting on themselves, telling the same joke for the 8th time that evening and wondering why you didn't laugh, they'll have the cheek to tell you you're no craic :pac:

Kobe248

Ive stopped drinking since I came home from Toronto

I cant say I ever was anyways never drank till I was 25

But since Im back I feel better saving for holidays and gigs than going out spending money on the same kinda night every Friday

I feel better for not tbh

smacl

ozzy78 wrote: »

During the summer I tend to drink most nights. Hard to resist a cold IPA on a warm summer's day. This would be mostly at home. Only get out to the pub once or twice a month nowadays due to young baba. I do worry that I'm drinking too much and would consider taking a few weeks off. Did it in January and had much more energy.

Pretty much the same here, couple of beers at home with the wife after work most nights, though probably only out at the pub once a month or less, and tend not to get drunk often even then. Currently taking a break from the booze and making fresh juice mixes as the alternative, which I'm really enjoying. At 50, I think it is the habit of having some kind of treat/reward after a hard days work which has taken the form of a cold tasty beverage. Not being a smoker, into drugs or junk food, illicit pleasures are thin on the ground.

HalloweenJack

28 and no kids so I go out at least once a weekend, usually two times. I tend to meet up with friends for a few drinks two and three times a week.

Honestly, I've never felt the need for a break from drinking. I did have to reevaluate my way of drinking 'cause I'd got into some bad habits. I think it's more about how you drink as to how much or how often you drink.

I also feel that if you feel you need to take a break from drinking then you need to have a closer look at your drinking behaviour.

helimachoptor

Was at a wedding friday.. took me two days to get over it.

wont have a drink now til the end of the month and that will be only 2/3 and then i have 5 day stag in Prague :eek:

bb1234567

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

Don't mean to be a dick but do you really drink 5 nights a week? Is that normal in your circle?

drinking 5 nights a week doesnt mean getting plastered 5 nights a week.
one beer every few nights can be drinking 5 times a week, and leads up to a much lower alcohol consumtpion than friday and saturday night bingers.
Not saying this is that posters case maybe he does drink too much, but drinking 5 nights a week doesnt mean you have a problem

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

ancapailldorcha

I can only really drink socially which means a few times a year as most of my friends live in Dublin so it's never been much of a problem for me.

Thundercats Ho

I've been drinking less and less as i've gotten older.

In my 20s it was twice a week, sometimes more, going full tilt when drinking. Then working it off in the gym during the week.

In my early 30s it was once a week on average, 8 pints or so (including the occasional binge, be it a stag or football weekend, where it'd be no holds barred drinking).

In my mid-late 30s it was once every fortnight on average, 7-8 pints, with the weekender binges (stags etc) less frequent.

I'm 41 now, and up to 6 months ago, it was maybe 2-3 long necks at home of a Fri or Sat night, and once a month i'd head out for 7-8 pints.
Then I had a soccer weekend away, and drank like i was 20 again, and haven't been able to drink very much since.
Now if i have 4 pints i have to stop. That kinda suits me tbh as i generally wouldn't drink more than that anyway.

I was at a boys get together last weekend (3pm start), and it was the usual blowout, but after 4 pints, i had to go on the coffee.
I had eaten earlier but had some more food and water, and after 4 or 5 hours i had 4 more pints. I was plastered after them, and was hungover for 3 days.

I'd spoken to my GP a few months ago, as i was alarmed that my alcohol tolerance had dropped so much so quickly.
He basically said it was just me getting older, and was my bodys way of telling me what my limit was now.
(he ran tests, and everything was A-ok)

TLDR:
I used to drink heavily when i was younger, now 4 is my limit.

smacl

bb1234567 wrote: »

drinking 5 nights a week doesnt mean getting plastered 5 nights a week.
one beer every few nights can be drinking 5 times a week, and leads up to a much lower alcohol consumtpion than friday and saturday night bingers.
Not saying this is that posters case maybe he does drink too much, but drinking 5 nights a week doesnt mean you have a problem

Tends to be the case in many countries in Europe where a glass or two of wine would be had with most meals. It would be interesting to know the relative health risks of drinking the same quantity of alcohol spread evenly over the week versus knocking it all back in a weekend binge. AFAIK, the latter is far more damaging, but I'd need to dig out references.

Mind you, as others have already said, if you think you need a break from the drink, chances are you do.

gizmo555

The liver is a pretty robust organ, if it's given time to recover.

I generally make a point of not taking any alcohol Monday to Wednesday. Usually don't drink in November at all, given the tendency to greater than normal indulgence around Christmas time.

The scary thing is, you can have done lethal damage to your liver before you experience any symptoms at all. Have a read of this:

“What happens is people buy wine and in some cases people drink half a bottle a night several times during the week and a bottle each day at the weekends. That’s enough to cause liver failure.

“The awful thing is that people frequently have no premonition or warning that they’re going to develop liver failure, and to die as a result of alcohol because the vast majority of people who develop cirrhosis, develop liver failure, haven’t got symptoms before the crisis, and the life threatening component develops.”

Blood tests

He [Professor Frank Murray] said that blood tests are not very precise and can often pick up the effects of alcohol rather than alcohol damage.

“The sad fact is we don’t have a great test of impending liver failure or impending advanced damaged leading to cirrhosis and liver death. Any abnormality should be a very serious warning to patients if they’re drinking substantially."

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/sharp-rise-in-number-of-women-dying-from-alcohol-related-illness-1.2742383

sky88

I probaley drink at least one day Friday or Saturday. ive noticed this year that ive began to cut down and its getting rare for a night out between my friends.

never had a problem being off the drink. since i dont drink during the week and on a rare occasion at home. The problem i have is i have little will power and either have none or too much.

boobar

helimachoptor wrote: »

Was at a wedding friday.. took me two days to get over it.

wont have a drink now til the end of the month and that will be only 2/3 and then i have 5 day stag in Prague :eek:

A 5 day Stag, to me that's the stuff of nightmares. One day is more than enough for a light weight like me.

Jon Richardson the comedian does a great sketch where he realises that he could leave the stag night and everyone was so drunk they wouldn't even notice...so that's what he did and then retired to his hotel to eat crisps and watch snooker....funnier the way he tells it...I'll get me coat.

Charizard

White Ninja wrote: »

I was never a big drinker, but I still used to go off the drink for spells of a few months at a time for years. Then about 3 years ago, I basically gave it up for good. Now I might have 1-2 pints twice a year.
It's becoming more common to not drink in this country, I know lots of people who don't drink, I think younger people are becoming a lot more educated about the down sides to drink, like all the cancer risks, and other health risks associated with it. I have young cousins who are 18 and don't drink, it's just becoming more accepted.
Even when I first stopped drinking, the non alcoholic choices in Tesco was basically just Becks. Now there's loads of choices, and a lot of them are often sold out when I go to get them, so something is changing.
One big difference I noticed since I stopped drinking is that I enjoy nights out more. The best craic on night out is the first few hours when everybody is still semi-sober, thats when you'r catching up with mates, and people are still coherent and funny. When people get drunk they just become obnoxious, they talk too loud, they stand too close, they spit when they talk, so once that starts I just go out to my car and drive home, and leave my mates to join the zombie hoards. I've never felt like I've missed anything except the feeling sick, standing in taxi queues, and smell of spilled beer, all things I can live without.
The longer I'm off it, the less I understand it, I'll never go back to drinking, I see very few upsides and a lot of downsides. What I would like though, is if Guinness made a non alcoholic version!

I agree with you about nights out being just as much fun, I do the same, once they start getting drunk I head off home, I always found when I drink that thats the stage I would spend stupid money aswell.
Thankfully I didnt have much drinking years 25-29 since weve had our baby I dont drink anymore, Like I wouldnt say I dont drink more Im happy to have a few 7ups and head home