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I’m still going since last May, away in Berwick the week before last that has included some epic solo sessions (including dogs) over the years. Bear Claw Nano brewery, The Curfew and The Barrels have all entertained me over the years and I have met some great people. The brewery was closed for a rest when I was there but I did visit The Curfew and had a Lucky Saint IPA. £3.60 for a small tin! I think a lot more pubs will be going out of business unless they wise up, a lot of younger people don’t drink much and people like myself would still drink similar amounts of alcohol free if it was reasonably priced and there was more choice. The localish micro pub and brewery tap where I’ve spent a fortune over the years hasn’t increased it’s offering for dry January at all - it’s provided grudgingly. There’s an interesting article in the paper today that discusses the weight loss medication available today and the effect it has on the desire for alcohol- some of them are so good they might help treat alcoholics. There’s a big investor also pulling out of alcohol investments as he thinks it’s affecting profits, quite ironic that one part of the drugs industry is reducing the profits of another part of the drug’s industry - that’s how I view the alcohol “industry” and”nighttime economy” now - pushers of drugs that they, and The Government, know are harmful to health and society. Rant over!
I fell off at a family hurdle.
My Mum (mid 70s) has taken a couple of falls and has been hospitalised for a couple of weeks now. Went down to to spend time with her and my Dad. And my Dad offered me a Dram in the evening, which is one of the few shared experiences we still get to do, and I wasn't going to turn him down.
It was lovely to see him taken away from the stress and anxiety for a short while. Not a "turning to drink" thing, but a father and son spending time together thing.
I guess the way I should approach this, is I should only have a drink of it's with my Dad.
I’m pleased with myself, only had one bottle of wine in January.
Found it fairly easy. I was worried that my alcohol consumption was making me dependent. However pretty happy to have had no pangs of desire. Fridge has plenty of beer and wine in and I’ve managed to ignore it. The bottle of wine I did drink was a planned works event that I kind of knew I was going to drink at. But for me, even just having a single bottle of wine that night was a major improvement.
It is about the change of relationship with alcohol. I’ll be doing my best to keep my drinking down to scheduled nights only. I have a planned night out in Feb so will drink no more than 4 pints. Will try to stay dry for the rest of the month.
I think I've drunk as much this month as I would've done in an average week in November. My crisp intake is down as well, and my mtbing is up. I'm honestly feeling better than I have for years, and I'm not missing alcohol at all. I've paired some decent beers with some properly tasty home-cooked meals, but the desire for a second bottle? Nope, not there.
However.
Spring is around the corner. Post-ride beer? Cold pilsener whilst tending barbie? They're going to be harder to ignore.
Well i've actually put weight on which is unfathomable - toppled back over the 100kgs. Friday night wine replaced by Zwift session, and Saturday pub replaced by weights. My fancy scales tell me my BMR has increased a fair bit.
Was at a birthday party in a restaurant with a big group of OH's friends most of Saturday afternoon. Started off with a couple of AF beers and then a water, then just decided to have a proper pint. Unexpectedly 1) it didn't taste very nice - could really taste the ethanol in it 2) it gave me a headache 3) kind of lowered my mood for the rest of the day 4) it was still enough to have me start thinking about drinking more when I got home, which I didn't. All of which has left me a little more likely to prolong some sort of blended abstinence/reduction strategy, especially as OH is also considering quitting completely.
Still going here although I'm out on the 1st on a day session so the good work will be undone!
That's a big issue with drinking for me, even one beer and your mood is subdued after about an hour and the only thing to combat that is either have another pint or go to bed.
"Spring is around the corner. Post-ride beer? Cold pilsener whilst tending barbie? They’re going to be harder to ignore."
Aldi sell a six pack of AF pilsners which are pretty decent. Definitely good enough to hit the spot on a warm day.
I'm still going too. I've not really had a desire for a proper pint as yet, and I've discovered Joker A/F is almost as good as the real thing, so much so that I'll be drinking much more of it at the weekends and enjoying the benefits of no alcohol
I fell off the wagon over the weekend. Winter camping with old friends. Went to the pub which had no AFB and that did for me. Drank a few pints (a few more than I meant to) and a bit of hip flask whiskey.
It could have been worse ...but I wasn't as well behaved as I could have been.
However I did get towards the middle/end of that session thinking 'why am I doing this it's not fun anymore' and that stopped me drinking, when I could easily (and would have usually in the past) carried on to make it much worse. That's definitely an improvement in attitude.
Committed to getting back on the wagon for a bit. I have enjoyed the progress I've made, the good sleep and the clear head. I've also lost a few lbs without really trying. Am also noticing my clarity of thought is loads better and I generally look healthier too I think.
I don't intend to drink this weekend to make up for last weekend's slippage..and also going forward more generally I think I've decided that the sensible way forwards is to drink as an exception rather than a rule, and also to limit myself as well as I can when I do drink.
I.e. if it is a special occasion then I'll indulge, but I won't get home on a Friday and open a beer out of habit.
I'm going to really have to keep in top of that though as it will be very easy to slip back into a bad routine and make excuses when there really isn't an excuse.
@mister-p Aldi here's rubbish, but I can get radlers and panache easily. Decent cold ice tea can work as a great substitute as well, I've found. We shall see...
However I did get towards the middle/end of that session thinking ‘why am I doing this it’s not fun anymore’ and that stopped me drinking, when I could easily (and would have usually in the past) carried on to make it much worse. That’s definitely an improvement in attitude.
Speaking from (a lot!) of experience I can very confidently say that this is the only bit that matters
I still haven't found a good AF Cider or Wine, so as a non-beer drinker, this does present a problem.
Still going here…found it surprisingly easy though Guinness Zero has helped me there…almost feels like cheating. Avoided pubs other than the usual post-ride ‘beer’ on a Weds night but still had AF. One thing that boils my piss is the profiteering in some pubs. We all know what a can of Guinness Zero costs, so why charge nearly £5 a can decantered into a glass when people are taking the AF option for whatever reason? 4 of us had post-ride cheesy chips and a beer on Sat - mine was AF yet my combo was the most expensive - grrrrr. Been sleeping better etc though the wheels will be coming off Saturday night!
I seem to have narrowed down my AF choices to Aldi pilsner, Corona 0.0 and GZ. All of which I actually now enjoy!
Agree with @el_boufador that slipping back is my 'default' after Dry Jan. Need to remember all the benefits before reaching for another beer. We tend do our big ride Saturday's now, so that's another good reason not to cane it just as it's Friday night.
Come on you lot! Carry on the sobriety- one day at a time, you will have more money to spend on bike stuff, more energy, no more waking up trying to remember what you did last night, greater clarity of thought and you will feel free! Leave the alcohol for cleaning your rotors and out of your bodies - if you get pressure from friends and family to start drinking again then that says more about their problems than yours…
I’m out tomorrow, going to be very interesting to see if I can just drink AF beer. Going out to watch the rugby then to a pool hall…..I’d normally have a good few Guinness while I was out.
I’m out tomorrow, going to be very interesting to see if I can just drink AF beer.
You can definitely just drink AF beer. You might need to focus on the health benefits and the clear head Sunday morning to help you with the determination to do so though.
My dry January had a blip mid month and so turned into moist January. Other than that one day I've managed pretty well considering I've found that I don't really like any of the 0% beers that I tried. Looking forward to a few light ales tomorrow though!
im a bit late to the party- about 7th jan i got some different medication, and was/am desperate for it to work so stopped the beer.
I saw a youtube with an addiction expert saying that 2weeks off your 'drug'was just the start, its a month before the effects wear off.
And at any time, if you start again, the behaviour triggers things back to where they were before
Im hoping that i wont start again, but i liked the taste of good ale.
Mrs el_boufador is out in the piss tonight which is good for dry januarying because my plan is to fiddle around spannering my bikes with a Guinness 0.0% or two.
Planning an early ride tomorrow maybe, then planning to not drink tomorrow night either
if you get pressure from friends and family to start drinking again then that says more about their problems than yours…
Easy thing to say it's their problem...but unfortunately...being realistic...it's societal norms.
And that means it is in fact a problem that teetotalers have to face into and deal with (hence the scale of the challenge)
Despite how much I think we'd all wish otherwise...
I haven't touched a drop not even an alcohol free beer. I haven't missed drinking at all .
I now have a tea drinking problem.
@el_boufador yes, unfortunately it is a societal norm in this country to regularly drink far too much, regularly. I know as I did it for fifty years. I challenge whenever I can that to celebrate, mourn, watch sport that it has to involve alcohol. The purpose of most hospitality venues and publicans is to sell as much alcohol as possible, hence two for one offers, happy hour and bottomless brunches. They don’t care and The Government don’t care about the impact alcohol consumption has on public physical and mental health and the cost to the country from associated public order offences, road traffic collisions and domestic violence. I use my anger at the lack of sensible policy and education for my determination never to drink again!!
Sitting here with a cider, my kids and a home made chilli, watching Star Wars Skeleton Crew. I’m happy. One of my two allowed drinks per week. I’m happy with this system - it works for me.
I’m over alcohol I think. Doesn’t agree with anymore.
A very successful month for me, and a great reset. Happy to have the odd one here or there, which was the ultimate aim, so happy with it.
4 more days for me to make up for our city break. Off for a ride later and it's so good not to wake up with any kind of hangover!
Well done to all- seems like most of us got what we wanted out of a months sans alcohol.
Oh and I know there's not many that like it, but I'm still a fan of Heineken 0.0. Fourth in my list, but still on there.
And at any time, if you start again, the behaviour triggers things back to where they were before
This is not my personal experience. I basically don't drink as I am on medication which places some stress on my liver, so consultant says don't. I used to drink a fair bit, beers in the week wine with weekend meals etc. But I do occasionally have one drink. This does not lead on to more drinks, or make me want to do the same the following day.
Peoples' relationships with alcohol vary greatly.
I didn't stop at dry January. Only have a handful of drinks throughout the year now at special occasions. Been like it for 6 years now.
Thank you to all who have read and commented on the thread. Hoping it’s given some folks a bit of a reset, or encouragement to ponder options.
Thanks IainC for starting the thread - it's been a good place to check in for some team spirit. I was out in the HopTub yesterday evening, but stayed on their AF/0.5% . I'm not sure if i don't feel ropey this morning, but presumably the chemicals in taht perhaps. I found after 3 pints I couldn't keep drinking it. I wonder if that would be the same with real beer, but you don't notice cos boozy.
Anyway, Jan is done, but I'm going to keep going mostly, we have a nice bottle of white that i might have a glass of with dinner tonight, but will keep the AF thing going cos i do feel better without, and sharper in the mornings
Good luck everyone with your next steps
Completed it mate. Unfortunately now have a hangover after meeting up with old friends yesterday.
Sitting here with a cider, my kids and a home made chilli, watching Star Wars Skeleton Crew. I’m happy. One of my two allowed drinks per week. I’m happy with this system – it works for me.
Pretty much where I've been since kids came along 20 years ago. Didn't have the time or money to get drunk - which never took much - and recover the next day.
I love nice ales, but am lucky I can stop at one. Quite often choose a decent low alcohol instead. Discovered yesterday the O.5% Jaipur is not a decent low alcohol beer though. I very nearly cried.
I went out on Saturday to watch the rugby and an evening in town with missus. Just drank Guinness 0%. Surprised myself to be honest. The missus ordered cocktails and I was tempted to get a whiskey sour but held strong. In a sports bar I did order some 0% IPA that was genuinely disgusting, forgot the name of it, but the bar had ran out of Guinness 0, does seem to be selling well.
I am going out on the 14th with my brother so will aim to drink normal Guinness on his round but get 0% on mine. Should be no more than 3 pints of alcohol then. My plan is to continue with the significant reduction for the year. No drinking on a weeknight and 5pm on a Friday isn’t the default time to get a beer out of the fridge and start the weekend binge drinking.
Since New Year’s Eve I’ve only had a single bottle of wine on one night mid Jan. In terms of benefits, not really noticed anything other than not having a hangover. No weightloss. No skin improvements. No better sleep. But I do think in my case I was heading down a path where the amount of binge drinking was unhealthy. At my age (51) I had to do something about it. I wanted to prove to myself that I hadn’t developed a dependency on alcohol. So in that regard it’s been very successful.
Everyone is finishing and I am just starting. I always do dry Feb as we're away skiing in Jan.
First weekend is always a little weird but I had some Leffe 0 which was pretty good (although did make me a little burpy). Just got some Brewdog AF Wingman to try, there was little choice in the supermarche this morning for some reason.
I'm like @W00dster in my drinking habits so always do a dry month just to reset
I have mentioned before that since DJ 2024 I kind of carried on not drinking (mostly - couple drinks on special occasions here and there so I don't consider myself teetotal. But certainly not weekly Friday beers or "reward" beers after very minor things.)
I actually went out to meet an old friend on Saturday night and I had 2 pints of IPA. I actually very much enjoyed it at the time, and was quite happy to stop at 2, go home and have a cup of tea and go to bed. No way I'd have been able to do that a couple years ago without feeling like another would have been good. Really nice evening.
Jesus though - I woke up Sunday and whilst I wasn't hungover or feeling physically off at all, I had absolutely zero motivation and was very restless, and craving a greasy breakfast roll. I had planned to go for a 50km XC ride on Sunday, and it took me until 11.30am to actually be bothered with it, after scaling back my plans 2 or 3 times through the morning and settling on some lazy local loops on my road bike for an hour. Very familiar feeling from before 2024.
Still not saying I won't drink again but after so long away it's wild how much it affects me just in terms of mindset from such a small amount. Kind of interesting as well.
I find this and it becomes a convenient excuse “ahh well, sack it off as I do t feel the best.”
Just thought I'd resurrect this thread as I have recently cut back on my drinking after my wife pointed out I was drinking a beer or two (or sometimes more) almost every night. The thing that triggered the conversation was when she found an empty bottle of whiskey in the recycling that I'd only been given a couple of weeks earlier (in fact, that bottle was still unopened – I had just finished the last bit of the previous bottle that I had been hanging on to until I got another as a present)! Anyway, no more drinking on a school night, but still having a few at the weekends. The difficult thing for me was always that I don't get on well with sweetened drinks (cordials, pop etc) and hot drinks don't feel refreshing, so I have always reverted to beer. So I thought I would try this Guinness 0.0 that keeps being mentioned and it's really nice – I can have a can and not want more (unlike normal beer that always makes me want another). Only on my second week of it but it's working well so far.
But I don't sleep any better or feel any more energised!
I had a pint in May and previously before Christmas. I have just lost any desire to drink.