Been off the booze for two weeks....

Yes - it was more on how to tell my mate that I'm off the booze, not whether to drink again or not. Having any sort of alcoholic drink right now would be a sure fire way of ending right back drinking the amount I was before. Booze isn't an option right now.

Part of me wants to make excuses and say we can't go due to a prior engagement, but I can't avoid him for ever. I've got a couple of weeks to decide what to do. Cheers all :)
 
Suarez7 said:
If this is the case then I can only recommend being honest with him, if he doesn't support your decision then sadly he's not really a friend just an acquaintance.
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He's deffo a mate, but I'm ashamed for my friends to know I'm an alcoholic. I have relative anonymity here - not something I have irl.

I AM ashamed to be a dirty alcoholic, but I'm doing my best to change :o
 
Quink said:
He's deffo a mate, but I'm ashamed for my friends to know I'm an alcoholic. I have relative anonymity here - not something I have irl.

I AM ashamed to be a dirty alcoholic, but I'm doing my best to change :o
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Don't be. I certainly sympathise with the anticipation of doing it though. It feels like you're telling them you're gay. Now I just straight up tell people. "Why don't you drink Dev?" and I say "I'm allergic to alcohol, I break out in a rash of handcuffs" :p . If they push it then I give a serious answer, it gets a bit heavy and serious for a second because they feel like I just told them I'm gay (it works both ways I think), but then it passes and they stop trying to get me a beer, and they usually back me up next time someone else asks me if I want a beer.

It's just easier to get it out there and then there's none of that tension where you feel like you're deceiving them.
 
I personally wouldn't be ashamed for something I never had much control over (the addiction in your case). I imagine that once you tell your pals, your perspective about the situation will change for the better.
 
Just stop. Stop. STOPPPPPP. I can't be bothered deleting any more posts quoting anything else. I'll just go absolutely mad and start suspending people. Play nice or get a slap.
 
uniQ said:
From the OP as a non drinker what does 25 units of alcohol equate to?
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Sorry - missed your question. For me, I was drinking 10 500ml cans of Kronenbourg per evening :o I used to drink Stella, but didn't like the taste when it went down from 5% to 4.8%.
 
haaammit said:
Yay - go me. I've not had an alcoholic drink for two weeks now.

"So what?" you may well ask - well I've had an alcohol problem for certainly the last 20 odd years. I've stopped a few times before but either money for relationship problems caused me to start again.

We are expecting our second child (a boy!) in the new year and it's really made me want to sort it out - so here we are. Drinking 25 odd units a day was really taking it's toll.

Feeling really confident this time - so far so good. Had a few temper issues for the first week, but it's all getting better now. Drinking loads of squash and water, but not really hungry. Trying to relearn sleeping. All I used to do was black out, I'm now having to actually go to sleep. If you've not been there I guess that doesn't make sense!

No real point to this thread other than a bit of self praise :)
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How are you getting on Haaammit I owe you a thank you as this thread motivated me to quit drinking back in November 2015. Never felt better in myself and wallet!

I sincerely hope you're still off the booze and thanks again for the motivation.
 
Such a shame teetotalism isn't as acceptable or praiseworthy as it used to be.

Goog going man, keep it up life is better when you can see straight!

Been off the sauce for 3 years now and honestly dont miss it, although i wasnt drinking for long before i found out theres nothing in the bottom of a vodka bottle but shame and regret
 
I agree- I wish teetotalism was acceptable and normal. People are almost suspicious when you're in the pub with them and ask for a soft drink rather than a beer.
Countless times when you say no I'm not drinking and people then take it upon themselves to badger you into drinking. Or if you say I'm not drinking because of x (for example antibiotics/painkillers/medication) they will then attempt to inform you that you are wrong and can drink.

Why? I don't get it!?

I had a few months off recently and it made me rethink how I approach the booze.

edit: I actually had a situation with a couple of "close friends" similar to the OP where I realised that when I was off the sauce and in a bad way they disappeared. One of them also told me I was no fun anymore and didn't want to see me until I was drinking again. I am now phasing that guy out of my life.
 
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Voltar said:
I agree- I wish teetotalism was acceptable and normal. People are almost suspicious when you're in the pub with them and ask for a soft drink rather than a beer.
Countless times when you say no I'm not drinking and people then take it upon themselves to badger you into drinking. Or if you say I'm not drinking because of x (for example antibiotics/painkillers/medication) they will then attempt to inform you that you are wrong and can drink.

Why? I don't get it!?

I had a few months off recently and it made me rethink how I approach the booze.

edit: I actually had a situation with a couple of "close friends" similar to the OP where I realised that when I was off the sauce and in a bad way they disappeared. One of them also told me I was no fun anymore and didn't want to see me until I was drinking again. I am now phasing that guy out of my life.
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One of the sad realities I had to face when I quit drinking was that most of my friends weren't friends. They were drinking buddies. People who drank enough to tolerate my drinking. Once I stopped, that nice cosy group mentality of "well we are all drinking like this so it's normal" ends up turning against you. I tend to recommend hanging out with other people who don't drink (AA is a great place for that) at least for a good six months if you have a serious drink problem. The last thing you need is someone voicing the same excuses that little voice in your head is already plying you with.
 
Voltar said:
I agree- I wish teetotalism was acceptable and normal. People are almost suspicious when you're in the pub with them and ask for a soft drink rather than a beer.
Countless times when you say no I'm not drinking and people then take it upon themselves to badger you into drinking. Or if you say I'm not drinking because of x (for example antibiotics/painkillers/medication) they will then attempt to inform you that you are wrong and can drink.

Why? I don't get it!?

I had a few months off recently and it made me rethink how I approach the booze.

edit: I actually had a situation with a couple of "close friends" similar to the OP where I realised that when I was off the sauce and in a bad way they disappeared. One of them also told me I was no fun anymore and didn't want to see me until I was drinking again. I am now phasing that guy out of my life.
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Unfortunately part of it is probably because they have a mild dependency on alcohol. A lot of people just cannot have fun without drink it seems, and they don't understand how others can.

I spent a year or two at uni not drinking and know exactly how it felt. I still went out, had fun, danced til 2 in the morning. I just didn't have the terrible headache in the morning (but still the "smokers cough" from the smoke in clubs before it was banned) and far more money to spend on other things.

I do think teetotalism/very little drinking has become more socially acceptable in the last few years though. Especially with the way drinking and driving has become a much greater no no than it used to be.

Hope the OP is still off the booze. :)
 
Reading the above seems to prove the handful of people I would call good friends are still mates and don't have any issue with me not drinking in fact quite the opposite. New Year one of them said I was no different boozed or not.

Might I add I think their opinions are swayed by free taxi rides:D
 
It is quite a big issue I think. A lot of people just live and let live and enjoy the cheaper rounds when others only want a tea or a lime soda.

But what really gets to me is the massive pressure to drink. Especially within groups of young men. I'm getting old enough to just think **** it I don't want the expense or hangover so will do something else.

I hope the OP is still off the booze too.

As for me I've gained control over my drinking and by cutting out negative influences I'm enjoying it rather than just smashing it.
 
Jimbeam3678 said:
How are you getting on Haaammit I owe you a thank you as this thread motivated me to quit drinking back in November 2015. Never felt better in myself and wallet!

I sincerely hope you're still off the booze and thanks again for the motivation.
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If you're still off the booze might be worth asking for a name change to Diet_Coke or summat!:D

Voltar said:
edit: I actually had a situation with a couple of "close friends" similar to the OP where I realised that when I was off the sauce and in a bad way they disappeared. One of them also told me I was no fun anymore and didn't want to see me until I was drinking again. I am now phasing that guy out of my life.
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Jesus Christ! I hope by phasing him out you mean immediately cutting all ties with the ****
 
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Well done! Great accomplishment, just keep it up. If even you feel the need for a tipple, come back here and read this thread, hopefully it might help!
Before Saturday I'd not had a drink for 5 week, I think I was drinking nearly every day (if only a few beers in the evening). I feel a million times healthier already :)
 
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