Giving up Alcohol

[DJW1]

3 hours ago, goose2010 said:

John Robbins the comedian has just released his book (its on audio book on Spotify as well) that is about his battle with alcohol, i haven't read it yet as it only came out on Friday however its meant to be great and his stand up (Howl) i have seen live and it is brilliant albeit a bit dark in places as it is about his drinking. I've listened to a few interviews he has done about drinking and he never was a bottle of whisky a day alcoholic it was the dependents of alcohol rather than the addiction. 

 

it might help hearing about drinking from a different angle. 

 

me personally i have cut my drinking down massively in the past 18 months mainly down to health - my 40 year review was a scary time with the docs. i, like others have tried to replace it with exercise, not at the time i would normally drink but the morning after, no way would i used to have gone the gym or out for a run on a Saturday or Sunday morning but i tend to do it now. My liver health is improving, my health is better and i actually feel alive at the weekends (i have also cut out LCFC so that has probably helped) 

 

 

 

 

Frank Skinner was also an alcoholic for many years.

He initially gave up booze because he was ill and had to take antibiotics for a week. After that he took up running and that became his obsession rather than drinking. I imagine exercise helps in three ways: it occupies your time, it helps you sleep and it helps your general health.

Another leisure activity might also have similar results. Each person needs to find the one that they can maintain in the long term

[grobyfox1990]

4 hours ago, Alf Bentley said:

 

I take your point, I think. If you have a completely stuck habit of weekend drinking (even if you're not completely happy about it), then it could be beneficial to find a psychological means of ensuring 2 nights per week doesn't become 4 or 7.

 

Particularly so, if your risk is mainly of drifting into drinking most or all nights, not drinking excessively on particular occasions. The opposite was the case for me: I never wanted to drink every day, but often drank too much on drinking days. I still suspect that an awful lot of drinkers would be like me and would end up getting wrecked at weekends and/or drift into the odd extra night. But maybe it's a strategy that could work for someone who had more self-control than me when they were actually drinking...

 

p.s. The fact your 5-2 win becomes a 6-1 this week maybe suggests your habit isn't as completely stuck as you suggest?

Yeh I framed that confusingly given the thread title lol, I mean it is stuck because now I can only drink on weekends no matter what (unless on holiday obvs),

This Thursday I am meeting a big group of mates at Bagatelle, love it there but I won't drink as it's Thursday. I've got loads of garden work to do on Saturday then driving in the evening so I won't drink hence 6-1

Next Thursday I have a big corporate do with all my people, free bar, will be loads of fun. But there's no way I'll be tempted to have a drink.

Both weeks it's more sensible to drink thurs/fri. But once I say I'm gonna do something it becomes stuck in my mind with no flexibility. 

[Lionator]

5 hours ago, goose2010 said:

John Robbins the comedian has just released his book (its on audio book on Spotify as well) that is about his battle with alcohol, i haven't read it yet as it only came out on Friday however its meant to be great and his stand up (Howl) i have seen live and it is brilliant albeit a bit dark in places as it is about his drinking. I've listened to a few interviews he has done about drinking and he never was a bottle of whisky a day alcoholic it was the dependents of alcohol rather than the addiction. 

 

it might help hearing about drinking from a different angle. 

 

me personally i have cut my drinking down massively in the past 18 months mainly down to health - my 40 year review was a scary time with the docs. i, like others have tried to replace it with exercise, not at the time i would normally drink but the morning after, no way would i used to have gone the gym or out for a run on a Saturday or Sunday morning but i tend to do it now. My liver health is improving, my health is better and i actually feel alive at the weekends (i have also cut out LCFC so that has probably helped) 

 

 

 

 

I have actually ordered it tonight. I actually resonate with a lot of things I’ve seen him say in interviews! 
 

How long was your heavy drinking for? I’ve always had a healthy relationship with it but I have some life crap happen and the past year it’s got problematic. Hence why it’s important I stop now, let things rebuild then hopefully reintroduce it in a healthy way, IF I can. 

[foxfanazer]

6 hours ago, goose2010 said:

John Robbins the comedian has just released his book (its on audio book on Spotify as well) that is about his battle with alcohol, i haven't read it yet as it only came out on Friday however its meant to be great and his stand up (Howl) i have seen live and it is brilliant albeit a bit dark in places as it is about his drinking. I've listened to a few interviews he has done about drinking and he never was a bottle of whisky a day alcoholic it was the dependents of alcohol rather than the addiction. 

 

it might help hearing about drinking from a different angle. 

 

me personally i have cut my drinking down massively in the past 18 months mainly down to health - my 40 year review was a scary time with the docs. i, like others have tried to replace it with exercise, not at the time i would normally drink but the morning after, no way would i used to have gone the gym or out for a run on a Saturday or Sunday morning but i tend to do it now. My liver health is improving, my health is better and i actually feel alive at the weekends (i have also cut out LCFC so that has probably helped) 

 

 

 

 

If you could let me know how you achieved this I'd greatly appreciate it

[Miquel The Work Geordie]

I flutter between finding John Robins either really funny or an absolute twat but Thirst is really really good.

[goose2010]

10 hours ago, Lionator said:

I have actually ordered it tonight. I actually resonate with a lot of things I’ve seen him say in interviews! 
 

How long was your heavy drinking for? I’ve always had a healthy relationship with it but I have some life crap happen and the past year it’s got problematic. Hence why it’s important I stop now, let things rebuild then hopefully reintroduce it in a healthy way, IF I can. 

I do still drink but the levels are completely different, if i am out i have 1-2 max in a night and mix it up with soft drinks or 0%,  the rise of 0% has helped me no end. 

 

I was your typical binge drinker, 5 o'clock on a Friday = pub. then it was Thursday nights, Saturday all dayers with the football then cricket through the summer. Then beers after playing football on a Sunday followed by back to the pub for the 2 and 4 o'clock games. This went on from 18-35 years old every weekend without fail. I then got badly injured which finished my football and stopped some of the boozing. a typical week i was probably doing 40 - 60 units of boozes - probably more. 

 

Covid was probably the worst for me gin and tonics, craft beers and Guinness working at home, being sent ready made cocktails in the post by my employer for after work drinks even! 

 

Then 18 months ago i received a letter inviting me for a 40 year old check up, i thought nothing of it, i was (still am) over weight, i thought i would get told everything is fine you just need to lose some weight. I was wrong. my blood test came back and I was told to go straight to A&E and get some further checks as there was concerns over my blood tests. My liver wasn't working correctly, it was extremely fatty and at risk of failure. 

 

Hearing this first hand was scary i have a 4 year old, a wife, a mortgage and needed to do something about it. 

 

i spoke to the GP and had a few sessions with a PT to  understand what i could do. 

 

i was far from your typical alcoholic but i wouldn't go out anywhere without seeing what beers were on tap, what gin did they sell and i was making decisions on where to go to make sure i got that pint but that obviously turned into 5-6.

 

So fast forward 18 months, i have now recently been back to the doctors they have re ran some tests and its improving, i have dropped some weight needs to be more but my addiction to sugar and fatty foods is another vice that i am trying to get on board with. 

 

I have started swimming on a Thursday morning i am the youngest by 30 years i would say but its a great way to just relax and take you mind off everything! but it the past 8 weeks i have gone from not being able to do 4 lengths to completing a 64 (a mile) which i am amazed by. 

 

I go to a spinning class on a Wednesday and have just completed couch to 5k - next goal is 10km 

 

so really i am just filling my boredom (where i used to just drink or eat) with exercise. 

 

This country (probably the world) is full of alcohol dependent people most dont realise it but if you were to take it away they wouldn't cope with it. The bottle of wine with dinner, the couple of pints after work and we are encouraged as a nation to drink - its mad to say it but is true, you only have to walk into a supermarket currently and the first thing you will see if stacks of beers on offer and the industry props up the economy. 

 

like any addiction it isn't easy, but you just have to start somewhere, like running. You never will just go and run a marathon, you have to build up to it. If i was to put my relationship with booze into running terms i am probably up to 30km out of the 42km. but its taken me a long time to get here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[goose2010]

10 hours ago, foxfanazer said:

If you could let me know how you achieved this I'd greatly appreciate it

filling my time with something different. My post above talks about how i needed to change my habits so now i will make sure i am booked into go to the gym or purposely book something to do with my daughter. Saturday 3 o'clock now is when we go swimming as a family - not every week but then if not it is bowling, the cinema or just going on a walk or out on our bikes.  Anything but being a home where i can stream a match. 

 

i gave up my season ticket last year mainly because of the way the club is ran but the championship is brutal and work and life had to start coming first so I got rid of it - it did help that my 3 mates i went with also did the same so i didnt get that FOMO.  

 

But you know what they were an addiction but when you realise it is what it is, they were easy to drop compared to the other vices in my life! Football is a broken corporate machine and for me now is no different to watching something on Netflix. 

 

I have watched 3 Leicester games this year and 2 of them was because i was at a friends house who had it on and i havent missed it. I rarely post in the main forum as i dont really have an opinion on the game any more. 

 

 

 

 

[spacemunky]

5 hours ago, goose2010 said:

I do still drink but the levels are completely different, if i am out i have 1-2 max in a night and mix it up with soft drinks or 0%,  the rise of 0% has helped me no end. 

 

I was your typical binge drinker, 5 o'clock on a Friday = pub. then it was Thursday nights, Saturday all dayers with the football then cricket through the summer. Then beers after playing football on a Sunday followed by back to the pub for the 2 and 4 o'clock games. This went on from 18-35 years old every weekend without fail. I then got badly injured which finished my football and stopped some of the boozing. a typical week i was probably doing 40 - 60 units of boozes - probably more. 

 

Covid was probably the worst for me gin and tonics, craft beers and Guinness working at home, being sent ready made cocktails in the post by my employer for after work drinks even! 

 

Then 18 months ago i received a letter inviting me for a 40 year old check up, i thought nothing of it, i was (still am) over weight, i thought i would get told everything is fine you just need to lose some weight. I was wrong. my blood test came back and I was told to go straight to A&E and get some further checks as there was concerns over my blood tests. My liver wasn't working correctly, it was extremely fatty and at risk of failure. 

 

Hearing this first hand was scary i have a 4 year old, a wife, a mortgage and needed to do something about it. 

 

i spoke to the GP and had a few sessions with a PT to  understand what i could do. 

 

i was far from your typical alcoholic but i wouldn't go out anywhere without seeing what beers were on tap, what gin did they sell and i was making decisions on where to go to make sure i got that pint but that obviously turned into 5-6.

 

So fast forward 18 months, i have now recently been back to the doctors they have re ran some tests and its improving, i have dropped some weight needs to be more but my addiction to sugar and fatty foods is another vice that i am trying to get on board with. 

 

I have started swimming on a Thursday morning i am the youngest by 30 years i would say but its a great way to just relax and take you mind off everything! but it the past 8 weeks i have gone from not being able to do 4 lengths to completing a 64 (a mile) which i am amazed by. 

 

I go to a spinning class on a Wednesday and have just completed couch to 5k - next goal is 10km 

 

so really i am just filling my boredom (where i used to just drink or eat) with exercise. 

 

This country (probably the world) is full of alcohol dependent people most dont realise it but if you were to take it away they wouldn't cope with it. The bottle of wine with dinner, the couple of pints after work and we are encouraged as a nation to drink - its mad to say it but is true, you only have to walk into a supermarket currently and the first thing you will see if stacks of beers on offer and the industry props up the economy. 

 

like any addiction it isn't easy, but you just have to start somewhere, like running. You never will just go and run a marathon, you have to build up to it. If i was to put my relationship with booze into running terms i am probably up to 30km out of the 42km. but its taken me a long time to get here. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks for sharing that goose.

 

I'm still in what I guess would be the early stages, but lately I've been struggling.

 

Live with my brother-in-law, who's weapon of choice is tequila.  Found him on the floor(again) last week and he's in the hospital now.

 

The rest of my family is the same. Don't see much of my 'friends' these days, but I know where I'd find them.

 

It's always helpful to hear about someone who's doing well.

 

 

[Lionator]

33 minutes ago, spacemunky said:

Thanks for sharing that goose.

 

I'm still in what I guess would be the early stages, but lately I've been struggling.

 

Live with my brother-in-law, who's weapon of choice is tequila.  Found him on the floor(again) last week and he's in the hospital now.

 

The rest of my family is the same. Don't see much of my 'friends' these days, but I know where I'd find them.

 

It's always helpful to hear about someone who's doing well.

 

 

Big love @spacemunky

[Lionator]

14 hours ago, Miquel The Work Geordie said:

I flutter between finding John Robins either really funny or an absolute twat but Thirst is really really good.

I’d imagine that’s the opinion he has of himself too and why he drank to escape from it!

[Lionator]

Three weeks sober, finally. 

[foxy tiler]

I also gave up like Frank skinner went on tablets for a bit and when I came off I realised I'd not missed it. I was a social binge drinker before so could go weeks without any then bang ....weekend on it from morning until night getting into some right states. When I came off tge tablets just wondered how long I could stay off it....coming up to five years in october. My next battle though is my cholesterol......turns out eating what I like has now given me another battle so currently three weeks into a dietary change......and once thats sorted more excersise ......😫

[bovril]

Have to say it's incredibly difficult when the weather is like this. 

 

Maxi kudos @Lionator

[Lionator]

18 minutes ago, bovril said:

Have to say it's incredibly difficult when the weather is like this. 

 

Maxi kudos @Lionator

I had a blood test and it showed I needed to stop before I did damage. I don’t need that, I’m starting therapy soon because I’m depressed (hence the drinking). It’s actually been a lot easier than I thought once the initial phase ended, just a lot of distraction, coffee and Pepsi when I get a craving. 

[Thefox81]

33 minutes ago, Lionator said:

I had a blood test and it showed I needed to stop before I did damage. I don’t need that, I’m starting therapy soon because I’m depressed (hence the drinking). It’s actually been a lot easier than I thought once the initial phase ended, just a lot of distraction, coffee and Pepsi when I get a craving. 

I had to have an ultrasound and was given an ultimatum of basically stop drinking now or its highly likely you wont be here in 12 months time. Stopped there and then. Still go to meetings ocasionaly now which seems to put back on the straight and narrow if i start to feel im going of track a little. Good luck on the rest of your journey.

[The Quick Brown Fox]

I would love to give up alcohol, I drink far too much. It's just something that happens, meet a friend, pint. 

See family beer.

After work, drink 

 

Not going to lie, I enjoy a beer, but sometimes I think could I have said no to that

[Lionator]

9 hours ago, The Quick Brown Fox said:

I would love to give up alcohol, I drink far too much. It's just something that happens, meet a friend, pint. 

See family beer.

After work, drink 

 

Not going to lie, I enjoy a beer, but sometimes I think could I have said no to that

Would a zero not fill the gap? Zero Guinness for example tastes exactly the same!

[Lionator]

9 hours ago, Thefox81 said:

I had to have an ultrasound and was given an ultimatum of basically stop drinking now or its highly likely you wont be here in 12 months time. Stopped there and then. Still go to meetings ocasionaly now which seems to put back on the straight and narrow if i start to feel im going of track a little. Good luck on the rest of your journey.

Thank you, there’s so much to do and explore in life, I think it was just like a ‘get a grip, what the hell are you doing moment’. 
 

One day if I can sort my mental health out and I’m stable in life then sure I can go back to how I drank in my 20’s (tame for someone in their 20’s) but I know what was causing it and it’s time to stop trying to ignore it.

 

also good article in the guardian yesterday 

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jul/28/first-alcoholic-drink-16-by-26-six-months-to-live

[Thefox81]

39 minutes ago, Lionator said:

Thank you, there’s so much to do and explore in life, I think it was just like a ‘get a grip, what the hell are you doing moment’. 
 

One day if I can sort my mental health out and I’m stable in life then sure I can go back to how I drank in my 20’s (tame for someone in their 20’s) but I know what was causing it and it’s time to stop trying to ignore it.

 

also good article in the guardian yesterday 

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2026/jul/28/first-alcoholic-drink-16-by-26-six-months-to-live

A lot of that article rings true with my story. I find talking helps even if its on here. We all have our own battles and are here to help. All the best for yourself.

[Officer Doofy]

11 hours ago, bovril said:

Have to say it's incredibly difficult when the weather is like this. 

 

Maxi kudos @Lionator

Genuinely find the 0% stuff much nicer when it's hot out. Give it a whirl. 

 

I genuinely dislike Corona but the Cero version is actually good

[The Quick Brown Fox]

1 hour ago, Lionator said:

Would a zero not fill the gap? Zero Guinness for example tastes exactly the same!

No, I tried the zeros, I like lager and none of them taste the same. I had a few Heineken which were not too bad but soon wear off. 

[JonnyBoy]

alcohol has a social benefit up to 2 pints, there is no benefit after this. Never do you wake up and think, "do you know what.. wish i drank more" i was never a heavy drinker, but it completely rights me off for a few days if i had a big session, even 2-3 drinks I feel it the next day.

 

There is still such a stigma around going out and not drinking, go out and order a coke or non alchoholic drink and people lose their minds

 

A great charity I have ran a half marathon for last year was alcohol change, i really like their  mantra - it isn't about giving up completely (for some people. giving up is the only solution i get that) sometimes, it is just being more conscious around drinking and how much you drink. There is no safe amount for human consumption, it is the most harmful drug around, yet it is often the social norm to drink multiple times a week. I probably have 2-3 drinks a month on average, i feel so good for it. 

 

For anyone who is struggling with alcohol - this is the link to the charity page I hope it can offer some help- https://alcoholchange.org.uk/ 

 

Edited 29 July by JonnyBoy

[Chris_OGrady]

I've started counting my alcohol units on an app and I average about 25-30 units a week. If i didn't do this, I suspect I'd be at 30-40. There's obv some weeks that are way higher (eg stag dos/holidays) and lower when i try and have a week or two off. I started counting because i read an article about how consuming 35 units or more is really bad for your brain. When i looked up how much I drank, I realised I wasn't far off. I also have friends who drink far more than me so I'd always assumed I was fine.  I'd like to get my average down a bit further but i do find it hard. 

 

My issue is that beer and pubs are one of my main hobbies. I don't really drink anything apart from beer, and could happily leave alcohol if I was somewhere where the drink selection didn't interest me. 

 

When i go out, i exclusively go to places with a good beer selection and like to drink 3-4 pints so I can try a few different ones. I find if I can avoid drinking in the week I can get my units down as it's so ingrained in me to have a drink at the weekend. 

[goose2010]

8 hours ago, Officer Doofy said:

Genuinely find the 0% stuff much nicer when it's hot out. Give it a whirl. 

 

I genuinely dislike Corona but the Cero version is actually good

Cero was still brewed in Belgium until recently, but agreed it is one of the better ones. Especially if you stick a bit of lime in it 

[JonnyBoy]

really informative podcast around alcohol

 

 

I listen to a lot of the ZOE podcasts when driving, really really interesting.