Giving up alcohol

QJ18

Hell yea. I don't drink either. My tips would be, don't hang out in big groups of people that plan on drinking or barhopping (because it's like being on another planet), and find NA drinks you like for weddings and dinners. I like Tonic water with lime, and it looks like gin and tonic so no one gives you a hard time about not drinking.

carrieonline

Part of the challenge in quitting is the ritual around drinking - the opening of the bottle, the smell, how it feels special, like you deserve it at the end of the day or week. When cutting back or stopping altogether, I try to replicate that ritual by having a "special" non alcoholic low sugar/cal drink. Club soda with lime, kombucha, or adding an elixir. Anything bubbly. My biggest challenge is breaking out of the habit of drinking with family - it's the thing we do when we gather for family dinners. Helps to have a plan in advance, like when you look at the menu before going to the restaurant and decide what to order. Do the same mental exercise for social gatherings, and maybe bring your own non alcoholic drink so you're not stuck just drinking water.

Unknown

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sofchak

I don't drink - the last drink I had was a glass of wine while on a cruise back in 2015 to help me sleep. Otherwise, I think the last drink I had was on my honeymoon in Vegas in 2011.

With that said, at social settings with coworkers, I feel the peer pressure - often times with coworkers it's very stressful because they equate drinking with having fun. No drinking = "you must not be having fun yet! Let me help by ordering you a drink!" Worse are those who assume you aren't drinking because you don't have the money. Even worse - those who assume you gave it up because you were a raging alcoholic.... and that's how rumors start...

Regardless, my friendly tips below:
1. Order a drink which looks like an alcoholic drink - I drink a bit of Perrier with lemon or if I have the calories, a sherly temple. If you have a drink in hand, you will be way less likely to be questioned about your change in behavior
2. Offer to be the designated driver - gives you a solid excuse not to drink and doubles as incentive to really follow through on not drinking
3. Come late, leave early - arrive after people are already tipsy and no one will remember if you had a drink or not. Leave early to avoid temptation.
4. Find your reason "why" and be passionate about it when others ask - or if your reason why is personal, you can say that, too. I usually say it's personal, but when people press, I tell them the truth - "my mom was an alcoholic and died from it at the age of 44. I don't want to walk in her shoes." That shuts people up and teaches them a lesson about minding their own business at the same time.
5. Recommend alternative options for a meeting place - if the group always goes to the same bar, even a different bar might reduce/remove any rituals you might have had. Bonus if you can get people away from the bar altogether - like go see a local band, a comedy show, etc. They might still be drinking venues, but at least the locations come with a dose of entertainment that can distract you/them.

All the best on your journey.

jemalme

I want to cut back or even quit drinking, but I work in the tasting room of a winery, so I am around wine all the time! I am not permitted to drink at work, but if there is a tasting bottle with just a little left, I can take it home. So basically I drink for free. I used to be able to keep my drinks to one per night, but since my husband was laid off from his job one month ago, I find that I am drinking more (and so is he). I know we are self-medicating, and I know it's not good, but when 8 o'clock rolls around, I feel like I need and deserve that drink. I am currently in maintenance with my weight loss, but cutting out empty calories would be beneficial. Any advice?

ritzvin

nowine4me wrote: »

The explaining why you're not drinking is more difficult.

ritzvin wrote: »

I usually answer "because calories".

Although, If I'm out of calories and in a snarky mood and someone were to make a comment: "because I like not being fat" is probably what would come out of my mouth.

ritzvin

I rarely go to stuff where people are going to be hanging out and drinking and doing absolutely nothing else. I get bored easily. dancing at a bar-yes. 'hanging out' at a bar - no.

jaymijones

I've never been a drinker, so I can't weigh in on how to quit (long family history of addiction, I'm not interested in finding out if I got the gene). But I can comment on how to handle the peer pressure.

The most important thing is to stick to it. If someone is bugging you about it, if you give in "just this once" they will learn that all they need to do in the future is to apply more pressure. Not everyone cares, but I have met enough people who take it personally when I say "I don't drink" that I know it happens. As a non drinker by choice I tend to pay attention to other non drinkers out of curiosity. Those who give in even just occasionally tend to get pressured much more often and heavily than those of us who never do. The first few weeks or months when your friends don't understand why you stopped and might be feeing judged (not that you are judging just that they assume so) or insecure about their own choices might lay the pressure on thick. But once they figure out that you're serious, they'll be more likely to leave you alone, then it will get easier. But if you give in sometimes you'll always get "what's the harm in just one? You've been good this long!"

So stick to it, I'm sure it will get easier.

dunnee88

Try running a beer mile instead

dunnee88

Either that or Mocktails to keep up with your social life

JJBCPP

The health benefits are compelling not to mention the energy and clarity that comes with not drinking. I schedule early morning workouts after nights a plan to go out. Just doesn't appeal to me when I know I have to get up early and hit the gym.

SSGKunze

I just went to friendly drinks that don't have many calories and limit that night out to once a month. GL

sosteach

When I choose to drink I figure it in to my calorie allotment and choose lower calorie drinks. When I go to a party I take water with me. When go to a bar I order a diet soft drink or water with lemon. If you can't stand up to peer pressure to drink you have a bigger problem than this forum can solve and you need some new peers.

toxikon

I've never been a big drinker... I don't like beer, wine or strong drinks. So when I'm out with friends I may just have one or two diet cokes with rum - very few calories.

curtismccall

Ive quit drinking just to get in better shape as well. I never drank often but when I did I was out of the gym for 2-3 because it took a while to get feeling normal again. Definitely makes it harder being social because a lot of my friends don't understand what i'm trying to do. Otherwise i've seen nothing but benefits from it. Its all in the head. Just keep that self discipline and you'll be fine.

mildakazlauskaite4281

I drink quite rarely (a few of times a month), always fit my drinks into the calorie plan, try to avoid sugary cocktails and most importantly - never have more than 2 drinks (shots, glasses of wine, beer etc).

jrowden0711

Offer to be the designated driver when you go out. Makes it a lot easier to not drink when you are responsible for other people's lives.

BPRKEY

Which is not something the average person would be taking, given it is a prescribed drug.

peckchris3267 wrote: »

Antabuse. One pill a day and you can't drink at all. It takes a week to get out of your system.

BPRKEY

Moderate alcohol (in most cases) is fine. I would be concerned though if the reason for giving it up is due to regular hangovers. The concern would be the excess alcohol, not the alcohol itself. I'm not saying you shouldn't give up alcohol. But if the reason is hangover, it might be that you're drinking more than you intend to.