Haven't touched a drop in...

I made a decision to give up drinking on the 2nd of February 2010. I was basically having a very **** time in work and other personal problems, and the stupid behaviour whilst drunk didn't exactly help me out. I honestly thought it would be impossible for me to live without it, the first few weeks being off it was horrific. I was terrified of a life without alcohol, I didn't think I could succeed, and more to the point I knew that most people thought I couldn't live without it.

I was a major binge drinker on a weekly basis, at least once if not twice a week, and I'd drink to get wasted almost every single time. I'd say over the 10 years I was drinking I'd only have had about 8 nights when I wasn't obviously drunk on a night out, and usually it would be extremely obvious. I'd excuse myself because I was able to go a few weeks without it if I needed to concentrate on studies etc, or that I didn't drink at home alone, or every day....but I knew I had a problem and even now if I had one I know I'd find it very difficult to stop.

Since then I've had just one slip, and that was September 2010, after which I have not touched a drop. To be honest I felt quite silly after having those few drinks, I didn't enjoy them at all, I didn't really feel a great need to have them (before my first one), and funnily enough I haven't really been tempted to go back since then. I must be honest and say that the last year has been vastly easier to live sober than the first 8 months because of this experience.

As it goes, I've been unemployed since last October and even though my troubles in that regard are worse that anything I've faced previously I tend to be much more philosophical and positive about things than I would have been before. Living sober has made me feel better about the sort of person I am/want to be, I don't worry on Friday mornings about what I'll get up to that night, what I'll lose, what I'll say to people, the money I'll spend, the stuff I'll forget, the drunk calls and texts I'll make when wasted....so many things that I no longer have to concern myself with.

I do say that I miss the craic and the truly awesome feeling that alcohol can give you, there aren't many feelings in life that can match the feeling you mostly have when you're under the influence of alcohol. Ultimately though there is a greater long-term reward for you in knowing that you made a choice that wasn't selfish, was thoughtful to those you care about, and that you've acted responsibly in that regard.

People (boozers mainly) used to asked me why I had stopped drinking. My stock reply was because I found abstinence easier than temperance. Which in my case was true. I always had to have at least 5 pints of an evening; usual reasons- the round system, needed to relax/forget or fear of being unable to sleep.
When I say easier it does not mean that I achieved sobriety easily, I did not.
But it was worth the pain, if for no reason other than I'm still here.

Guys how do you cope with the withdrawal symptoms? The kind of feeling of oh it is the weekend and I would love a drink but now I am of it?

Off it three years on new years day. Feel good being off it and don't miss it but do miss the craic. Still go to pubs with my mates but the ones that are packed wreck my head.

One of the definite perks when going out is not having to get taxis, just hop in the car and home in 5 minutes.

Have a real good bunch of friends too and although they'd be out every weekend and dragging me out with them never once did they urge me to have a drop.

I tried cutting down sooo many times and had varying amounts of 'success' but I felt it just wasn't worth it for all the debating that has to go on inside your head in order to limit your intake. It drove me mental, all the self talk before and during nights out, then the post mortem the day after. If I stuck within the limits, I was invariably miserable. If I didn't, I was miserable. No win situation.

To me, abstenance wins hands down over temperance. All that mind talk is GONE. No more having to think up dumber and dumber 'strategies' in order to fool myself into drinking less than I really wanted.

Day 168 today and I ain't never going back!

I don't count the days anymore but wife just told me its been 5 years since I last touched a drop. It wasn't easy getting outta the habit and there's some days I'd love a wee dram but as they say "one day at a time folks" ;-)

There is a notion abroad in Ireland that we are somehow genetically adapted to comsume hugh quanties without ill effect.
And of course we could not possibly enjoy ourselves without 'enough of the rare auld mountain dew'.