Giving up Alcohol

[Parafox]

I refuse to ever look at this topic ever again... I have enough guilt in my life as it is 

Edited 29 July by Parafox

[grobyfox1990]

2 hours ago, Chris_OGrady said:

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. 

Pretty much exactly the same as you on all aspects. Counting units really helps, I try to be at 15 a week and when I’m at 13/14 my mind stops me from drinking anymore. I drink slowly on big days out because of it.

I don’t drink during the week, I do a lot of client entertaining or am entertained and honestly no one cares or notices if you’re drinking or not.

Likewise if go somewhere new I’ll want to try a few taps, half pints are great for this. Again no one notices when you’re on halves 

[westernpark]

3 hours ago, Chris_OGrady said:

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. 

This is why I left untappd. Probs gone down to about 20 units a week- all consumed at a weekend. I will probably push further in the new year. But I can go 6/7 days without any alcohol, so I’m quite happy! It’s the weekend pub crawl/ sporting outing that gets me.

[bovril]

I think even if a doctor told me I needed to quit I probably wouldn't. As above, I'll just try and stick to the half pints and small cans. 

[Lionator]

I think the frustrating thing for me is that I’ve always been quite a moderate drinker. For years I’d only ever drink on one or two nights a week max and it would never be to the point of being hammered, even during times when I’ve been depressed. This time I’ve been more isolated and alcohol became my best mate. And I know that I could only ever drink again if the rest of my life is stable because I know can have a healthy relationship with it at that point. I just hope this run has been a one off. 

[CornwallFox]

I've drunk too much lowish % beer for my entire adult life. I know it's not a good thing, 3-4 cans a night forever, and I can not drink if I'm ill or at a relatives etc, but it's an evil little thing that you keep doing even when you know you shouldn't but somehow can't ever stop. I know I should stop but don't really know where to begin with that. 

[spacemunky]

3 hours ago, Parafox said:

I refuse to ever look at this topic ever again... I have enough guilt in my life as it is 

Nothing to feel guilty about. Live your life how you want to. 

 

For myself my life without alcohol has been better. I was never a 'casual' drinker and I never will be. 

 

I didn't get the doctor's warning, mostly 'cuz I never seen one  But, I am in my mid 50's and I started getting sick a lot. 

 

Now, almost 8 months in(with two 1 day slips) I am feeling much better.

 

No more acid reflux. No more waking up soaking wet. No more waking up in a state of panic. I mean, I have some general panic, but that's just how I am! 

 

Lost a lot of weight and I am walking every day.

 

Now, it didn't solve all my problems, but it certainly took away one.

[foxy tiler]

22 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

I found that when I first stopped I could tell the difference but now after a few years it just tastes like normal beer. Ive no doubt it tastes much weaker or watery to someone who still drinks but for me AF just scratches the itch. Ive also found when going away with mates on weekends that most of Europe has a fantastic choice as well so I don't feel like ive missed out.

[Officer Doofy]

30 minutes ago, foxy tiler said:

I found that when I first stopped I could tell the difference but now after a few years it just tastes like normal beer. Ive no doubt it tastes much weaker or watery to someone who still drinks but for me AF just scratches the itch. Ive also found when going away with mates on weekends that most of Europe has a fantastic choice as well so I don't feel like ive missed out.

Cricket training tonight.....Always stick around for a couple of beers after in the club house but will be 0% as I am determined to drop it in the week. 

 

Also after any kind of exertion I always feel like shit when drinking afterwards. 

 

 

It's just a great option 

[foxy tiler]

27 minutes ago, Officer Doofy said:

Cricket training tonight.....Always stick around for a couple of beers after in the club house but will be 0% as I am determined to drop it in the week. 

 

Also after any kind of exertion I always feel like shit when drinking afterwards. 

 

 

It's just a great option 

Absolutely hope the cricket goes well👍

[Chris_OGrady]

13 hours ago, grobyfox1990 said:

Pretty much exactly the same as you on all aspects. Counting units really helps, I try to be at 15 a week and when I’m at 13/14 my mind stops me from drinking anymore. I drink slowly on big days out because of it.

I don’t drink during the week, I do a lot of client entertaining or am entertained and honestly no one cares or notices if you’re drinking or not.

Likewise if go somewhere new I’ll want to try a few taps, half pints are great for this. Again no one notices when you’re on halves 

 

I've read about your tactics before and thought they seemed very sound (Friday and Sat only). My only issue would be the rigidity of it (which is probably why it works). For example, I'm in Bakewell on Sunday and there's no way i'd be able to forego going to the Thornbridge taproom because it was outside my drinking days lol. I find half pints a little bit too small, 2/3rds are perfect but not everywhere does them. 

 

12 hours ago, westernpark said:

This is why I left untappd. Probs gone down to about 20 units a week- all consumed at a weekend. I will probably push further in the new year. But I can go 6/7 days without any alcohol, so I’m quite happy! It’s the weekend pub crawl/ sporting outing that gets me.

I think you're right and I need to do the same. It's a great research tool though and I use it to scope places out. My worst nightmare is going to a new place and ending up at some generic pub that only does macrolager, Guinness, and Doombar and therefore I'm wasting a good chunk of my weekly allowance 

 

2 hours ago, foxy tiler said:

I found that when I first stopped I could tell the difference but now after a few years it just tastes like normal beer. Ive no doubt it tastes much weaker or watery to someone who still drinks but for me AF just scratches the itch. Ive also found when going away with mates on weekends that most of Europe has a fantastic choice as well so I don't feel like ive missed out.

I think the non alcoholic beers are great. They definitely scratch the itch if you want a beer midweek at home. The 0.5% ones are much better than the 0% ones. I recently bought a load of Mash Gang Chug IPA off their website- it's the closest thing to a NEIPA i've had. I also like Charnwood Brewery Masquerade and Erdinger 0.5%. The non alcoholic selection is usually just the crap macro lagers when you go out, but I find the Guinness zero to be decent. 

[Officer Doofy]

And Charnwood at least put the Masquerade on draft in their pubs

[Chris_OGrady]

30 minutes ago, Officer Doofy said:

And Charnwood at least put the Masquerade on draft in their pubs

I did have an eggy one at the Fox Cub a month or so back. Maybe it's because it doesn't get the throughput