Alcohol...

I've thought about this a lot, ever since covid hit when the weather was nice and there wasnt much to do, drinking the odd beer or two every night or so became the norm.

I never drink to excess because I simply cannot handle the hangover the next day. I still enjoy beer though and try all different kinds and do get pleasure from that but that is maybe one can per night, maybe 4 days per week. I don't judge that excess, nor do I feel I have any problems - I honestly can't get my head around being alcoholic when the hangovers get so bad in your mid 30s!!
 
physichull said:
I've thought about this a lot, ever since covid hit when the weather was nice and there wasnt much to do, drinking the odd beer or two every night or so became the norm.

I never drink to excess because I simply cannot handle the hangover the next day. I still enjoy beer though and try all different kinds and do get pleasure from that but that is maybe one can per night, maybe 4 days per week. I don't judge that excess, nor do I feel I have any problems - I honestly can't get my head around being alcoholic when the hangovers get so bad in your mid 30s!!
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Getting bad hangovers is actually a good thing, if you think about it.....
 
Alcohol is actually a very poor way to unwind, it is exactly what the brain doesn't need. Try and find a way to "chill" without alcohol, the alcohol is not contributing to chilling, quite the opposite. Try to find hobby activities where you can zone out and relax instead.

Good idea cutting down or giving up completely, you will never regret it, and it will help you maintain health into old age, plus save you lots of money.
 
physichull said:
I honestly can't get my head around being alcoholic when the hangovers get so bad in your mid 30s!!
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This is what gets me too. It's gotten to the point that whenever I'm out I know I'm not going to be hammered cause I don't want to deal with the hangover. I can get drunk enough nowadays to be drunk enough so that drunk people aren't annoying me, and not have to deal with the multiple day hangover from going overboard.
 
radderfire said:
Alcohol is actually a very poor way to unwind, it is exactly what the brain doesn't need. Try and find a way to "chill" without alcohol, the alcohol is not contributing to chilling, quite the opposite. Try to find hobby activities where you can zone out and relax instead.

Good idea cutting down or giving up completely, you will never regret it, and it will help you maintain health into old age, plus save you lots of money.
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There are no lasses to talk to in my house though.
 
I do 3 bottles of wine ,1 per session over 3 nights ,i work a 4 day week
last week at my folks house up north i over did things big time ,5 bottles of red and half a bottle of glenfiddich orchard experiment .
i would say i am addicted and i get a massive buzz from drinking ,every music video i watch sounds so much better ,comedy's funnier, sunset even better ,I've probably burnt out my pleasure /reward area of my brain .
Its not like i diont have a rewarding physical lifestyle and hobbies although my relationships could be vastly improved
 
I've never really been a massive drinker but have gone through phases of drinking more or less... It is easy to get into the habit of drinking a fair bit, and it can actually be quite bad for you - all sorts of potential health effects, not to mention being quite expensive! Very easy for the volumes to creep up though.

I do consciously try and limit how much I drink on a regular basis now, I try not to have more than one beer every 2 or 3 days on a regular basis, except the odd bottle of wine shared with the gf and maybe a bit more than that if we have friends round / go out or something. Everyone's going to have a different idea of what they think a reasonable level of consumption is, so I guess the key thing is just to try and set yourself some guidelines and stick to them, which it sounds like you've been doing!

Don't really have any particular advice other than to admit it can be really hard to change habits, so well done for making the changes you have so far OP, and wishing you all the best :).
 
Ahleckz said:
I think I probably have a bit of an issue with it. I’m trying to not drink during the week and that’s been successful for the last couple of months. However, I’ve been going out at weekends more and getting absolutely trollied.
Had an all day session with my friend on Saturday, and then carried on in the pub by myself. It’s not worth it, but I just can’t seem to stop when I start.
I had a works party a few months ago which I got messed up at which ain’t good. Just can’t seem to stop until the night is over.

I have a perfect draft machine which I’ve unplugged and a cocktail bar which I’m not replacing as I drink a bottle. But, it’s just not being able to stop when I go out. Every time I go out, I want to go to the pub. Everything we do I try and involve alcohol. I’m just not sure how to break that link.
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Been there dude, it's no way to live - I found the only way to control what I drank was to drink nothing. Once I had one, my off switch stopped working - been off it nearly 7 years now.

If you are in Glasgow, I don't live too far away - happy to chat, meet for coffee so feel free to get in touch.
 
Used to binge drink when going out to pubs/clubs in my late teens/early 20's. Still have a tendency to do so now if I go out out. These days it makes me feel pretty bad though after.

If I was in a city job with an after work drinking culture I'd still participate though.
 
I've never been a big drinker. I would often have one at half time at football, or a family meal or gathering. I'd never just go to the shop to buy a pack or pop to the pub. Now I have kids, even if alcohol is an option, I stick to something else especially if I have my kids with me.
 
Mason- said:
Just a point of view.

I saw my dad in a state you would describe as ‘drunk’ a single time in my life, on holiday, 14 years ago. Not a ‘heavy’ drinker by any means. But he would drink 1-2 beers, or a glass of wine, or a JD and coke most nights of the week. Which sounds quite harmless, but when you add up the units, it does actually go over the weekly recommended allowance. He wasn’t dependent on alcohol he just liked a drink in the evening. He died in February at 58 due to Liver Failure, there were other complications such as diabetes, and hypertension, but it came from the drinking ultimately.

The liver can heal itself, and is incredibly good at disguising that it is in pain or that something is wrong. Often to the point where when you finally get symptoms, it’s too late.

Dad went into hospital on a Thursday, he was diagnosed formally the next Thursday and died the next morning.

I’m not trying to scare you. But I would just say: you don’t need to be a stereotypical ‘drunk’ or binge drinker or dependent on alcohol or anything like that for alcohol to do you serious damage. Have a good honest count of the units you drink weekly, look at the NHS recommended maximum weekly units. If you regularly exceed it, then I suggest reducing your intake.
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Mmm same age as me I just took a look at alcohol units and I'm right on the do-no-exceed limit at 14 per week. I don't have liver failure at least I don't think I have but I should probably cut down. TBH its not the alcohol its just part of a meal it'd be the same if it was alcohol free I just like the flavour. I havn't touched a drop since saturday since I had multiple teeth extraction and I'm on painkillers and they say don't mix it, I don't miss it honestly.
 
I rarely drink despite being a whisky/ey fan and I do enjoy IPAs. My wife drinks very little and doesn't enjoy wine so I never bother at home.

My father was a non-functioning alcoholic who died of liver failure 5 years ago. It doesn't put me off as such, I just don't enjoy the consequences of getting drunk, especially with a young family.
 
I'm a boring health centric person, but I've pretty much given up on drinking. I can't remember the last time I was actually drunk. I hate hangovers and the impact alcohol has in general on the body and the mind.

Don't get me wrong back in the 90s at uni I went nuts as everyone else did, but by the time I got to my 30s it was basically social events and even then not a lot.

It doesn't bother me that people enjoy a drink, in fact, it's fine as long as it doesn't have an impact on other people. I.e. drink driving, antisocial behaviour, violence, health impact, etc...

I mean one of the pleasures I used to love when going home to France was nice cheese and wine. (although I avoid dairy now too FML).

Just like everything in life. Moderation is key but unfortunately that seems to be a struggle for some people and those few mess it up for everyone else as usual.
 
The only thing that gives me a hangover is red wine unfortunately, because I love it. I can drink any amount of beer or spirits (whiskey usually) and get up next day feeling fine whilst everyone else around me looks like death.
 
Uther said:
The only thing that gives me a hangover is red wine unfortunately, because I love it. I can drink any amount of beer or spirits (whiskey usually) and get up next day feeling fine whilst everyone else around me looks like death.
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Stright quality vodka for me like Belvedere ( in freezer at least 24hrs) and nothimg in the morning.
 
Personally I only drink 2 nights of the week now. If I drink Fri and Sat nights then nothing on Sunday. Mainly for general health and calories.

All goes out the window when I see my folks though.
 
steve45 said:
Has anyone else had experience with severely reducing intake whilst still having a moderately healthy relationship with alcohol?
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A bit before Covid I accidentally gave up alcohol for over a month and put on a LOT of weight.

Two things I have done with my own drinking is firstly all but giving up cider - it wasn't the alcohol but rather too much sugar. And secondly buying wine in half bottles. All too often I found myself having to finish off the full-size bottle the next day. Or pouring it away. So I now buy half bottles. The selection is adequate but much more limited, but that's down to lack of demand. A half bottle allows for two glasses and enough to go in the cooking.
 
Quartz said:
gave up alcohol for over a month and put on a LOT of weight.
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I have found the opposite. Maybe its short term but I've dropped a few Kg since limiting my drinking, but then that could also be linked to me snacking more on savory foods whilst drinking (meats and crisps were the main culprits), I definitely have less of an appetite since cutting down.
I feel I get more out of exercise as well, instead of suffering through it before like it was a chore, I'm enjoying it more now.
I guess its like most things in the fact that not everyones bodies will react the same.
 
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