After all moderate drinkers live longer.
Wasn't this research proved to be flawed as the non-drinkers group included people who had previously been drinkers?
Well done on being honest about your previous habit, it’s not easy. As previously mentioned around this time last year I retired due to mental health and has been very heavily alcohol dependent. This I have reduced considerably but still drink and still occasionally have a session or a binge.
You’re absolutely spot on with how society promotes alcohol, it partly the reason I haven’t stopped altogether but that said I continue as I do like alcoholic drinks. I limited myself to 3 pints if out 99% of the time and don’t drink every day.
Fizzy water with ice and a healthy squeeze of fresh lime. It has a sort of 'bite', provided by the cold/ice, the fizz and the lime, which sort of replaces the 'bite' of an alcoholic drink. It's a very refreshing and pleasant alternative.
Good call this. Lime cordial (bar lime) with fizzy water, very cold, is also pretty good. Bit of sugar, bit of bite as you put it, and not as expensive as non-alcoholic alcohol.
Robinsons do a Lime & Mint Cordial, that works really well with Soda or Tonic water and feels like you're having something a bit "fancy"
@Drac this thread was intended just to encourage and help as I said, I noticed people on the dry January thread who needed a bit of encouragement and guidance.
To the critical, I posted a selection of links for folk to read for a bit of background, whilst the science may not be perfect, the general consensus is to that alcohol isn’t good for you!
It’s a great thread hopefully it will help a few reduce or stop.
Reporting back in with good news and a couple of small wins for me.
Saturday, sun shining, took the dog to the beer garden. Had 2 0% IPA's and had as good a time as I'd have had drinking "proper" beer. Turns out I still like pubs and still like a sunny beer garden even when there's no booze involved.
Sunday, out for lunch, normally a bottle of wine, sometimes 2. Mrs Lunge had 2 glasses of wine, I had a lime and soda and a 0% beer. Again, had a lovely time, no issues at all.
Both of these were scenarios I'd been concerned about how I'd enjoy sober. Turns out neither were an issue. The next 2 challenge are a holiday in Italy which would normally be very wine heavy, and a trip to a Michelin starred restaurant where the tasting menu would always be accompanied with the tasting wine. Will report back on how those go.
And to the person who suggested a dash of apple cider vinegar in sparkling water, thank you, it's bloody lovely.
We went to see “Warhorse” in Nottingham yesterday afternoon, fantastic! Had some nice food beforehand with a Lucky Saint .5% but it was over £5 for a small tin! The walk from and to the car park wasn’t so pleasant, the smell of vomit, urine and rotting takeaway food near to Rock City was quite something…
Fell off the waggon this weekend, and weirdly glad I did.
Stroll after work Friday, had 2 pints then went home. Had a crap nights sleep, woke up feeling a bit "meh".
Saturday went to the local street food place, again, 2 pints and went home. And again, woke up after a bad nights sleep feeling very "meh".
So I think that's settled it for me. I feel like I needed to remind myself what even a couple of beers does to my sleep and head the next morning. This weekend has done that.
Tha is one of the biggest issues I have with drinking; sleep. I have a hard enough problem staying asleep now as it is, but waking up at 3am either needing to pee (yes, at that age now) or because I have snored myself awake, is just not good.
Weekends and beer are, just now, difficult to avoid, but I have noticed that I am now regularly leaving the socialising early and going to bed after a couple of beers. Even that is enough to make me feel a bit crap the next day. Weekdays are better (I don't drink during the week), but my sleep is still terrible.
Similar to @lunge - i've not had any alcohol in a couple of years. I was at a birthday party this weekend and had a couple of glasses of champagne. Didn't feel great yesterday....it just reinforces the fact as to why i gave it up in the first place! Quite pleasant at the time, but don't miss the feeling the following day whatsoever.
My name's Qwerty and I'm 20 days sober.
Current tipple of choice is Lidls finest lemon iced tea which can easily look like a pint of ale or a small spirit.
I had my first pub beers* in a while on Saturday afternoon. It was warm, atmosphere was good and, more importantly, the pub was selling my favourite beer - DarkNess, so I gave in to temptation. One became two became three, but I extricated myself at that point to go home and eat. Strangely enough, I didn't really suffer any after-effects other than a poorer sleep. I still managed to get up and run 18km though. In a weird way, maybe I'd have been better waking up with a thick head as it might have helped stave off future temptation 😂
* (Other than two cans of Hazy Jane when out for a bivvy with Piemonster I can't recall my last alcoholic drink)
I did dry January and enjoyed it, and for Feb/March I was doing pretty well at drinking in moderation.
I have definitely gone backwards to old habits over the past few weeks though. I need to sort it out.
How’s it going for you all? It’s Sunday morning, any of you thinking it would be better without a hangover?
It is!
Sobriety isn’t a magic solution to the problems that we all have to deal with throughout life but it does make dealing with them easier, my mental state has been so much better in the last year and a bit since I stopped drinking.
Difficult in the holiday period and the warm weather but give it a try, you might be surprised how good you feel and realise that you don’t need alcohol to have fun!
Very similar start to drinking to the original post here. Very poor relationship with alcohol, highlighted by numerous occasions getting absolutely paralytic and being sick so much I haemorrhaged my throat.
However, I caught a viral form of hepatitis from poor drinking water while working on a ship that led to me having to give up drink for 2 years in my late 20s. That broke the dependency for me. The hepatitis still lives on in my liver and rears it's ugly head whenever I get run down, so it has generally kept me away from regular drinking for over 20 years.
Saying that, it took me a long time to get away from the occasional binge when "out out".
I'm now in the place where I rarely drink. Maybe a glass of bubbly on birthdays/anniversary, but that is mostly it.
I have found that nights out with colleagues and friends are frequently "difficult" to get into the swing of things, but that's the price you pay.
It has been so long, I can't point to any health benefits, but I would recommend pushing alcohol consumption down to the point where it isn't regular.
That way, it is super nice when you do have a couple of glasses of whatever and you get that low level buzz/relaxation easily without any real effect the next day.
I am rapidly approaching 18 months sober and have no intention of drinking ever again. I wake up much happier with who I am these days and I am not giving that up.
I'm on amitriptyline for nerve pain and was advised to avoid alcohol, that was about two months ago, I can't say I've noticed any difference not drinking though I didn't drink too much really, a very small glass of whisky each evening. Now I drink slimline tonic water chilled with a drop of apple juice with ginger, trouble is the amitriptyline makes me thirsty so I drink more volume and that often gets me up in the night!
Hot weather makes it compulsory to have a barbecue or visit a beer garden and drink to excess?
It isn’t necessary to have the alcohol part to enjoy it, there are lots of alcohol free drinks available, I picked up some Kronenberg and Thatchers zero today from Tesco to enjoy in the sun (probably shade) even Wimbledon had Stella zero on draught this year.
Drink less and keep yourself safe!
Erdinger alcohol free wheat beer on offer at Tesco, four, 500ml cans for £6.
When on holiday I always used to search out local brews, now I look for local alcohol free brews. I found these in Tesco’s Porthmadog, brewed in Swansea. Very nice they are too!
I went to a family event on Sunday - in my favourite brewery!
I had Erdinger, some good laughs, enjoyed the food immensely, and drove home. I think that I’ve cracked it 😁😁😁
When on holiday I always used to search out local brews, now I look for local alcohol free brews. I found these in Tesco’s Porthmadog, brewed in Swansea. Very nice they are too!
Looks like there's an interesting story there. The address of Drop Bears is that of Tomos Watkins brewery, beer I've enjoyed many times over the years. According the the internet, TW were bought out by Drop Bears a couple of years ago. Not bad for a company that claim to have been developed in a kitchen just before Covid. (Although, when I worked in food development, anything I worked on would have started in my development kitchen, just not a domestic kitchen!)
It’s the time of year when there’s lots of pressure to “enjoy”ourselves. The pressure to drink alcohol will come from all directions and the hangover “cures” on TV and in the papers give the appearance that it is normal to drink so much that it makes you ill.
As a previously very enthusiastic drinker for fifty years I’m very happy with my decision to stop completely over 20 months ago.
I am having a cheaper, much nicer time that is much more relaxing and fun.
If you’re thinking of packing it in, read some of the articles linked to above, they helped me, good luck!
10 years, 11 months and 1 week in. Absolutely no regrets and I can safely say I ain't goin' back. 🙂
My favourite brewery, I’ve been lucky to drink it draught in California. It’s available in Britain, but importantly, in alcohol free! I’ve just enjoyed this with cheese and chutney!
After a few months of fairly light consumption, whilst doing the 100 day exercise challenge, I have very quickly remembered that my nearly 60 yr old body just can’t handle the day after….
some Christmas Day wine and port, my sons, aged 19 and 23 both probably had double the number of units that I did and were up bright and breezy. I still feel a bit off par..
traditional, for us at least, Boxing Day curry this evening, I’m glad I’m driving, and will be on the soda and lime 😁
I'm finding my Garmin a great source of encouragement with giving up the booze. After a few days off it, my sleep score went up, had a glass Xmas eve, and it dropped dramatically, didn't drink last night and it's back up.
I've never been a particularly big drinker but I have found over the last few months I'm a bit less keen on drinking. I went out drinking one night during a week off and it took most of the next day to get over the hangover. Something about this particular one made me wonder whether it's worth it. Since then I've found a couple of times that a single bottle of beer after work has left me feeling a bit rough the next day. I think it's the lower quality of sleep that gets me.
Anyway, I'm some way from swearing off alcohol but I have felt a bit of a shift in my approach to it this year.
Interesting thread. I very rarely get drunk nowadays but have started having 2-3 beers most nights normally accompanied by a family sized packet of crisps or tube of Pringles.
This started as a way to "take the edge off" and help me relax but is doing my health and fitness no favours.
It is a habit that I am going to try to address in 2026. I am planning to save the £30'ish quid a week that I spend on this and spend it on things that I would not normally buy for myself but will use regularly and so server as a reminder that I have them because I stopped spending money on "home booze".
I am not planning on giving up alcohol entirely. I normally go out with work colleagues every fortnight or so for 2-3 post work drinks, have a couple after my monthly 200km audax and will be sharing a nice bottle of red if I go out for a meal.
Well I enjoyed drinking on Christmas day (1 glass champagne, 1 glass red wine and 1 small glass Sauternes). The dessert wine in particular, you just can't get that combination of flavours in any other way afaik. But I had absolutely no desire to join the younger generation in a beer in the evening, and will probably revert to my one drink on some occasions but mostly no drink policy. My favourite drink, where possible, is a no-rum mojito these days.
Boxing Day 2023 was my last drink. I woke up on 27th December and realised I was no longer in control of it. One drink became all the drinks far too regularly. I knew there was only one way to deal with it, moderation is not a word my brain appears to understand. It's been an interesting couple of years but it's the best decision I ever made. It's not easy, you have to be 100% determined, but it's worth it.
I've always enjoyed a drink but hated getting drunk so rarely ever got to an actual drunk stage but in recent months I've started to not even enjoy having a drink.
I've had very little over Xmas which has been nice. Think I bought six bottles of red and we have 4 and a half left. Few glasses of red wine for me and the misses. No spirits. The crate of beer I bought has had 2 drank out it.
I've entered a big race in May which I'm training hard for and the plan already was to stop drinking between new year and the race. The way I've felt about booze over recent months, I'm very much looking forward to it.
As I've got older I've definitely noticed that even 1 or 2 drinks makes me feel less than optimum the next day and I'm at the stage now where that negative aspect outweighs any positives
I could have posted a very similar thread myself. You're right that the UK is obsessed with alcohol. It's completely unavoidable.
On the contrary, I would say that it’s gambling that the country is obsessed with - I watch quite a lot of telly in the evenings, on a range of different channels, and it’s rare I see any ads for alcoholic drinks, every ad break is pushing phone based gambling ‘spins’, there seem to me dozens of them and they’re impossible to avoid. These things are insidious, and I would argue are at least as dangerous to a person’s health as alcohol, the mental damage and damage to the family because of the spending habits is just as bad.
I drink, moderately, there are times I can go for two or three weeks and barely touch it, I’ve had a presentation box of Penderyn whiskey I bought nearly two years ago, and I’ve only just got around to opening it.
Very good it is, too, but it’ll probably last at least a year, possibly longer.
@CountZero I agree with you on the insidious nature of gambling, also I agree you on the amount of advertising, it’s a torrent on certain channels.
I also agree that gambling causes a lot of harm to individuals and families, I have witnessed this at close hand where once the gambling companies have got their claws into someone they don’t let go. Sufferers who have lost fortunes are encouraged to lose more with tempting offers and free hospitality to sporting events.
Gambling is normalised and encouraged in a similar manner to alcohol (and before that tobacco) with the glossy adverts involving famous people to make it “respectable” and “fun”. It follows the same evil pattern as sponsorship of sport, arenas and events of terrible inhumane regimes.
The bottom line is that Governments and companies are making HUGE amounts of money from misery.
Happy New Year Y’all!
As enthusiastic as a reformed smoker to help people quit, here I still am…
Forget dry January, a month of abstinence followed by a binge, don’t set any targets - just take it a day at a time. If a weak willed, never achieved much in my life OAP like me can do it then you high net worth, high achieving STW members should find it easy.
Nothing to lose, better health (both mental and physical) and more money to spend on bike bits/skiing/music lessons!
Good luck and check in here for some mutual support - the best of STW.
I have historically done the dry January thing, but have decided this time to work on more of a long term moist situation. A few drinks most days over the last week or so of festivities has taken a toll on my sleep score, and goodness knows what else. My Withings Scales App numbers have deteriorated a bit too over the period, so bit of a reduction now commencing, starting with a few totally dry days to kick things off.
Day 2 of kicking the booze and the nicotine at the same time.
Done both before for periods of time, but not both at the same time
Grrrr..
Good effort mate, at least The Druids has shut meaning one less mid-ride temptation!
This article and the other in my OP helped me, good luck.
GCN just released this
I briefly experimented with sobriety yesterday, due to an absolutely massive hangover that felt like my head was being kicked in by demons in pointy shoes. I discovered that it is massively overrated and only filled me with existential dread.
Normal service has now been resumed with a couple of post-walk beers in the pub, then a nice bottle of Malbec and a selection of decent cheese to go with it. You can’t have a cheeseboard with a Vimto can you?
Why anyone would stop drinking in January is utterly beyond me. If you’re going to arbitrarily stop drinking for a month, at least have the good sense to do it when it’s not -7 outside and dark for what seems like 22 hours a day. Makes no sense whatsoever
Cheers! And a happy new year! 😃
I did a dry January last year, it was a dreadful experience. Met my mates down the pub the first week and couldn't understand them at all.
As above January is an awful month for this kind of thing.
Is that to help people or dissuade them? I can’t work out whether it’s a positive contribution or an attempt at humour!
Why anyone would stop drinking in January is utterly beyond me. If you’re going to arbitrarily stop drinking for a month, at least have the good sense to do it when it’s not -7 outside and dark for what seems like 22 hours a day. Makes no sense whatsoever
I'll do more than a month. Did 7 months in 2024, got really fit. Then had a TIA for my troubles....
Starting in January for me is good for a couple of reasons.
1) I've kicked the arse out of it for two weeks and my body has been telling me a need a break
2) When the beer garden weather arrives, I'll have done a few months off
I need to curb my drinking (again) and winter is definitely better for me than summer
