I’m always amazed by the candidness and openness of people on here.
It’s refreshing.
For me, I used to drink every night a beer or two at home, but then stay off for a week (or more) when on call out duty.
I would rather give up beer than butter, for me it’s not something I think about.
Then I got done for drink driving and my consumption went up through the roof.
No more having to drive to the wedding/bbq/Christening/ every single party I was drinking when I wouldn’t normally be. Every person I’ve spoken with in the same situation has said the same. Lost job, no reason to stay sober for the next day. Goes into a spiral.
I realised what was happening and completely cut down to what I would say was my normal quota.
I wouldn’t consider myself a big drinker but look at units consumed. I’m not a guy that goes into pubs and watches football with mates and drinks copious amounts of lager.
I like proper beer, a can or two in an evening 330ml, but if I’m out and about able to and let loose I can’t be trusted.
Have massive insecurity issues that I pretend will be absolved by alcohol.
I think I am amazing when I’m in town and have had a few beers, I think most people find me quite funny etc but then I can’t stop drinking and it disintegrates into crawling home.
I do want to stop drinking so much I guess, I did 21 days of dry January, then went loco again.
Big doctor test to give me back my licence and everything was ok so
I’ve never smoked, disgusting habit to me, done a few low level drugs in my teenage years, never had a reaction that I need to do it more. Gambling, just don’t get it, but I do understand why some people do.
Alcohol is just a normal killer.
Hopefully we can continue the conversation here.
If there is anyone that would like to talk about alcohol then please be free to contact me. I know from my experience that I would like to lend a hand and even to talk shit.

My dad died through suicide (when I was 3 or so)and I was told he had an alcohol problem but he was adopted as a baby and probably had issues. Nan just said he was a Teddy Boy and normal.
My brother died recently of alcohol related issues. He drank from the age of 15.
The most amazing thing is that when he died he didn’t have anything in his system and no alcohol in the house.
Almost as if someone from above took him to a better place and just told him to clean up because before it was alcohol every single day for 25 years.
My grandad just died before Xmas. He drank nice whiskey, but maybe too much according to my aunt. For ducking sake he was 91, my Nan who has Alzheimer’s and doesn’t know us at all. I **** wish I could talk with her now to know if she liked gin. I hate the stuff.
These drugs, alcohol are not an issue, it’s our mindsets, mostly habits/craving that can be stopped by a swift fizzy water or; just going to sleep.
This is why I need to stay off alcohol, give too much information away.

In my case when I do binge drink it is related to job stress, loneliness, and the inability to process difficult situations/conflict in a productive way – too much people pleasing.
Ive downloaded a good app with CBT where you basically rewrite your worries and joined a swimming pool to try and stay out of the pub on weekends. My dad asked why I go to the pub and I said as I have friends there, he corrected me and said no you have drinking acquaintances, which is very true.

I’m just reading this:

Its more of a descriptor and real life user experience than a self help guide, but its highly rated and gives a very good perspective of the faux world of aclhohol which is on a parallel with Markd’s account up there.

and +1 to those revealing the extent of thier issues, very brave people.

I’m just reading this:

I mentioned that earlier in the thread (but the link wasn’t as good as yours 🙂 ) and completely agree. The thing with that book, even though my life has not gone anything like as far “wrong” as hers did with alcohol is that even now, there is so much I can recognise in my own experience with alcohol that is exactly comparable to hers that I could no longer really convince myself that I was in some way different. I’m probably not as far out in the depths of the sea, to use her metaphor, but there are many of the thought processes, feelings and consequences that I really can’t say don’t apply to me too…

Well written too, easy to read and entertaining (in places… 🙂 )

Yes, it’s with thanks to your recomendation I’m reading it.  Although my op or situation is nowhere near some of the depths this thread has delved into, I’m likewise, as am now realising even a couple of drinks is my entry into social acceptance, which – crossing over to the counselling thread – I’ve realised my attitude to not enjoying sober socials is based upon a social anxiety for which alchohol would have a inhibition remover / confidence booster.  CBT helped me realise I can only be me within the realms or moral decency and attitude, and I’m not 100% responsible for people’s attitude or assumptions toward me, so I no longer need alcohol to provide a perceived personality boost aka to act in a way that I felt is more acceptable to others than the personality I was born with and have matured throughout life.

I’m not a big drinker, but do enjoy a few beers or glasses of wine with dinner.

I used to go out at uni and get smashed with my mates because we all did it – sad thing is that I never really questioned why getting trashed was the key to a good night out. It does seem to be very much ingrained in English culture. Once I let uni, I drunk far less. These days I don’t enjoy getting drunk properly because I hate feeling rough the next day. Even more so with a little ‘in who wakes earlyish. I had six pints at the Christmas do this year (got a bit over excited) and I felt really grim the next day.

Usual consumption I guess is around four bottles of ale over the course of a weekend because I actually like the taste. What we are trying to make more of an effort with is having a beer or glass of wine because we want / fancy one rather than just because its Friday night. We’ve drink far less as a result since Christmas and I’ve not really missed it.

When my kids and my Mrs go to bed I get my guitar out, headphones, a few beers, YouTube, My Time.

As much as i enjoy a beer on an evening with the better half, I’m very wary of making it a regular habit. I grew up with a Mother who went from ‘social’ drinker to rampant hideous selfish alcoholic as i and my siblings grew up (somehow she’s still alive, which frankly defies all logic from my medical training, im sure her bloodstream is 95% formaldehyde). The hours from her waking to sometimes around lunchtime are great, from which point shes rat arsed to the max. Frankly we’d have been placed in care these days with the neglect we put up with (my younger brothers in particular). I do tend to avoid socialising around alcohol because of this. I also have a job where i couldnt get close to booze even if i wanted to for half the year (oil and gas)….although crew change culture is to get smashed as much as possible (last chance to drink for a month/first to have a drink for a month depending on which way we’re heading). I hate this and do my damnedest to stay well clear.