Sober October

[briantrumpet]

Oddly enough not missing alcohol in the slightest [...]

Same here - I had a health concern to cut it out initially, but was surprised that I didn't miss it. Since then bottles of spirits or wine given to me reside in the cupboard until being taken to friends or given away. There's just one special pub where I will have the occasional half or two (maybe about five or six times in a year), and on my extended stays in France I'll drink a glass or two of wine with meals (but only when friends come to stay).

The thing was, I didn't plan abstinence as an extended thing ... but the old cliché of 'one day at a time' ("Do I want a drink today? No.") just carries on. There doesn't seem to be any point in getting back into a habit that I don't miss.

 

[sunrise65]

For me it was always social drinking, I have never drank by myself but the social work drinking at various points got a bit out of hand but thankfully I never became dependent. I do love malts though but again I have it as a treat and not an everyday thing. After a nice walk yesterday I did have a hankering for a pint but..

 

[Hacienda71]

Despite having been a smoker for many years (now given up) drink has never hooked me in a similar way. I enjoy a drink occasionally, but can go for weeks without a drop passing my lips and not even think about it.

 

[coffeejo]

I enjoy Baileys over Christmas and New Year, which is always difficult to give up in January, but I don't miss it during the rest of the year. Chocolate on the other hand...

 

[Brightski]

Everything in moderation

 

[ColinJ]

Everything in moderation

Except for moderation itself!

 

[Broughtonblue]

Biggest test came yesterday, down the pub before the match. Got a round in, £3 for a pint of lemonade, enough to turn you to drink!!!

 

[Sara_H]

I gave up alcohol almost three years ago. I lost about a lb evry week for the first few weeks, without changing anything else.

Never looked back, feel much fitter than I did when I was still drinking. I'd fallen into the trap of drinking more or less a bottle of wine every evening, which I knew wasn't doing much good, so decided to make the change for good.

 

[Hugh Manatee]

So far so good...but only by accident. I haven't touched a drop so far this month. In main, this is down to a pretty naff cold which means I haven't been able to taste much at all. Not much point drinking ale or whisky then.

It's a blow as the mother in law is staying with us and if I ever needed a drink.....

What's worse is that she has brought her own cold with her so it looks as if we're all about to get ill again!

Good luck to everyone doing it for real!

 

[DaveReading]

I do wonder if all the other months are in the process of being brain-stormed by charities - after Movember and Sober October, what next?

Not forgetting the ladies' equivalent to Movember, at the beginning of the year: Fanuary.

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Anybody doing this?

No, I'm saving myself for Cannae Remember December.


GC

 

[Low Roller]

And I'm saving myself for when those "stop drinking tablets" become available. I'll wash them down with a pint of beer.

 

[Broughtonblue]

I gave up alcohol almost three years ago. I lost about a lb evry week for the first few weeks, without changing anything else.

Never looked back, feel much fitter than I did when I was still drinking. I'd fallen into the trap of drinking more or less a bottle of wine every evening, which I knew wasn't doing much good, so decided to make the change for good.

Well done on giving up.
I'd fell into in the same trap, booze most nights then even more at weekends. It had become 'the norm', a habit.
Do you ever fancy a tipple, even if you go out for a meal or sociable with friends?

 

[Sara_H]

Well done on giving up.
I'd fell into in the same trap, booze most nights then even more at weekends. It had become 'the norm', a habit.
Do you ever fancy a tipple, even if you go out for a meal or sociable with friends?

No, I read the Allan Carr Easy way to stop drinking book. Before I'd even finished reading I couldn't stand the thought of drinking at all. Never had any cravings or urges.
I've replaced the nightly bottle of wine with a bottle of sparkling water.
I must admit, I don't really enjoy going to the pub anymore, just seems pointless to me. I'll generally try to steer friends down the route of going out for a meal rather than a pub crawl if we're going out.

 

[Broughtonblue]

No, I read the Allan Carr Easy way to stop drinking book. Before I'd even finished reading I couldn't stand the thought of drinking at all. Never had any cravings or urges.
I've replaced the nightly bottle of wine with a bottle of sparkling water.
I must admit, I don't really enjoy going to the pub anymore, just seems pointless to me. I'll generally try to steer friends down the route of going out for a meal rather than a pub crawl if we're going out.

Mmm, might have to give the book a try, obviously hard hitting from what you've said