Giving up /reducing booze ....

On 12/07/2023 at 22:13, JohnM said:

Can't find my Band of Hope Cert , but here's the one awarded to my wife in 1957.

 

Brilliant !

On 12/07/2023 at 22:12, JohnM said:

Who is Tom Holland?

Dependent on your preference, a top historian or spiderman...

Because of working early on weekends occasionally I've often found that if I'm to socialise with mates that week I'll be driving and as such not drinking.

There's only so much pepsi max or lemonade a man can drink, so I've tried the 0% stuff. FWIW I think the Peroni version isn't bad, better than Becks Blue imo. Not had Guinness 0 or many others yet as I've liked the Peroni stuff.

I wouldn't have it if I didn't have work the next day mind.

On 13/07/2023 at 13:42, Sports Prophet said:

I’ve grappled with my drinking habits for a long time now. I hit the ciggies on the head around 2014/15. I stopped buying, but I would bludge a few. The hardest part was not smoking when having a drink. The two went hand in hand. Now the thought of cigarettes mostly sickens me.

As to the drink. There have been many times I have consumed excessive amounts in a session. It has gotten me into various levels of trouble too at various times, but I am safe with no criminal record and haven’t lost any friendships over it.

Despite the decent outcome, I come to think about the effect drinking has on my health and I certainly could lose a few pounds by drinking less.

What I have really tried to understand is what I enjoy so much about alcohol? Certainly most my friendship circles include alcohol in our gatherings. Could I still enjoy the company in an alcohol free state? Probably not come the back end of a long sesh But I have learned I actually enjoy being a little heady. I find it relaxing and allows my mind to wander a little.

I think what I really want to challenge in myself is whether I can enjoy myself in social settings without alcohol, when it’s played such an active part in most of my social activities since I was 16.

I have friends who have given up the drink and they have purposefully pushed away from some friendships which I find a great shame.

Another friend has given up the booze but replaced the habit with cocaine. He doesn’t abuse it. Still goes to the pub on a Friday with his mates. Drinks Soda water or lemonade, but gets his buzz out of the narcotic.

Then there is another friend who identifies the same enjoyment of the light headed buzz of a few beers as I get, he only drinks straight vodka in a responsible manner on certain evenings when at home. He finds this an easy way to minimise the calories when at home, leaving beer sessions only when out with the boys.

I went out Friday...3 hours in pub (Wire game)....I had non alcohol beer....my 4 mates all had up to six pints each of booze

Not the first time I've done it but can probably count on 2 hands when I have 

Still really.enjoyed the night though not quite as much.....perhaps 65% of the enjoyment level if I had been drinking ....still worth doing and looking forwards to 

Going to go for 3 drinks on Saturday ...don't want to give it up completely just want to drink 'normally' on weekends 

On 08/07/2023 at 18:38, hindle xiii said:

Since reading this thread I've been pairing a can of Guinness with a can of Guinness 0.0

Thats what I have been doing alongside Shipyard Pale and 0.5% version especially watching the Rugby just have half and half in a class.

I did the same in a pub last week and had half of Heineken Draught full strength and half of Draught Heineken 0.0 in a pint glass so it's 2.5% and it tasted fantastic compared Skol 2.8% in cans which is yuk but I think the cooling system on the 0.0 Draught helped with the experience but won't have it again as it still cost £4.80 which is madness and a rip off and not helping the case for some people.

13 hours ago, EggFace said:

Thats what I have been doing alongside Shipyard Pale and 0.5% version especially watching the Rugby just have half and half in a class.

I did the same in a pub last week and had half of Heineken Draught full strength and half of Draught Heineken 0.0 in a pint glass so it's 2.5% and it tasted fantastic compared Skol 2.8% in cans which is yuk but I think the cooling system on the 0.0 Draught helped with the experience but won't have it again as it still cost £4.80 which is madness and a rip off and not helping the case for some people.

 

I wasn't arsed about mixing so pint/can of one followed by t'other.

25 minutes ago, hindle xiii said:

I wasn't arsed about mixing so pint/can of one followed by t'other.

Never thought about mixing half half....might try it 

Interestingly at Broncos yesterday they have away a free can if IPA as you entered ...and soft drinks too. Nice idea along with the other free stuff they had 

I ended up having a can and two pints ......just the right amount in the end 

1 hour ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Never thought about mixing half half....might try it 

Interestingly at Broncos yesterday they have away a free can if IPA as you entered ...and soft drinks too. Nice idea along with the other free stuff they had 

I ended up having a can and two pints ......just the right amount in the end 

London 6 Halifax 10

 Bad day to give up booze.

8 weeks of no binge drinking now.....really starting to feel benefit...though also off work a few days has helped 

Skin has got better and lifting more weight at gym a lot more easily ...

Weird point of note ...if I have 4 non alcoholic cans I still wake up very thirsty and a 'bit' hungover......potential all the sugar? Think I've heard of sugar hangovers before 

Holiday 9 days tomorow..... 3 drinks one night then 2 days off (X3) for the duration.....urge to binge definitely a LOT less now 

Update....

Have managed a summer of reduced boozing despite holiday. Sticking to a couple of days a week and only say 4/5 cans of beer (3/4 pub pints)

More or less kept to the zero spirits and wine ....think that's key for me and may be the big thing to stick to 

I have been giving myself lots of other treats to compensate so have put on weight though!! Working on the belly going now

Feel I have a much better handle on it.....not craving as much etc 

I notice how much worse anxiety is the day or two after boozing still...even just 4/5 cans. Quite good in a way as it acts as a reminder to keep the levels of it down!!

I have an aversion to British keg lagers but Heineken Alcohol-free lager is okay.

The best 0% Alcohol in a bottle for me is Erdinger.

Fairly big 500ml bottle, too.

https://uk.erdinger.de/beer/alkoholfrei.html

I've only had it in pubs but Tesco sells it and it would be cheap to try a couple of bottles

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/263042455

For the sake of balance, it might even be considered trolling, I am currently having Guinness Foreign Extra Stout.

This Erdinger alcohol frei is a belter.

4 hours ago, hindle xiii said:

This Erdinger alcohol frei is a belter.

That’s a few people who’ve shouted up for this so definitely going to look for some now.

23 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

That’s a few people who’ve shouted up for this so definitely going to look for some now.

As the alcohol version is a wheat beer, I feel the alcohol free version is already coming from a different angle. I don't know if it was the mention of vitamins, etc. and my recent consumption of Supermalt last week, I couldn't help but compare the two.

I like my Red Wine to be strong from 13.5%-16% but found a run at 11% and it's lovely full of body and not watery and dry.It's VR Varietal Range Shiraz by Hardy's and only a fiver in Home Bargins.

on week 4 of no booze at all - could have cracked one open after work today, really fancied it but after a brisk walk and a pint of soda and lime the craving has passed - the odd treat is no good for me- its either one or the other with my addictive personality 

It's now 20 months since I touched a drop.

I can't honestly say I feel any better for it, and certainly didn't lose weight (although I'm one of those that only has to breathe in the vicinity of a Mars Bar to but a pound on. Always have been).

However, I'm sure my liver thanks me, and it's nice not to wake up feeling like scheisse after a big session, so definitely worth it.

On the subject of alcohol-free beers, I started off by drinking a few of them, but now I can't really be bothered and tend to drink more tea and coffee. In fact we're five weeks into a tour of France and I still have a coolbag half full of them in the moho's 'garage'. I think I've probably drunk five or six (mostly Beavertown Lazer Crush and Brooklyn Special Effects, both of which I really like, but I really have to be in the mood to even bother nowadays).

It really does get easier the longer you go on - but my daughters still ask if I dropped it for health reasons! No. Not really, but I suppose that's a genuine benefit - I hope...

I've found giving up having a few cans at home easy enough to give up. I,m pleased I've done that, there's no need to drink 3 or 4 cans of cider because there's a game on tele.

But at any social event, match or whatever, I haven't managed to say anything other than 'go on then' when someone offers to get me a pint. Usually a few people around so that involves at least 3 or 4 pints by the time I've got my round in. 

Don't usually drink much more than that these days but it's made me realise how reliant I am on a few pints socially. Not sure I'll ever be able to change that to be honest. The thought of being alcohol free is great but the practicalities of it is a different matter!

https://www.joe.co.uk/life/man-drinking-2000-pints-in-200-days-has-set-himself-huge-task-for-final-day-tomorrow-409862

Coming up to 2 weeks today without a drink. I can feel a breakout coming on though....

On 20/10/2023 at 10:44, The Masked Poster said:

Coming up to 2 weeks today without a drink. I can feel a breakout coming on though....

Well done chief 

I'm middling at moment 

Still no spirits and only drinking Saturday and a bit Sunday mostly. 

However had a few cans last night,nothing today then aiming for 5 beers max in Saint Helens tomorrow 

On 20/10/2023 at 10:44, The Masked Poster said:

Coming up to 2 weeks today without a drink. I can feel a breakout coming on though....

Serious question....has it improved the complexion on your face after 2 weeks? 

It's about then that my 'ruddiness' disappears 

5 hours ago, Bedfordshire Bronco said:

Serious question....has it improved the complexion on your face after 2 weeks? 

It's about then that my 'ruddiness' disappears 

To be honest, there’s no difference whatsoever really. I don’t drink constantly  these days anyway so I don’t really get it built up in my system.

 I’m going to have a few drinks tonight but not much as I have to work Monday. 

Nowt since some time in September. I'm not missing it but I know if I bought some, I'd still have all of it in a short space of time. All or nothing, me.