Is anyone else just completely over drinking alcohol?

[BasinHaircut]

I think I’ve just decided that I don’t drink anymore. Had a party last night and had probably a bottle of Prosecco.

Regretted even drinking at all before the end of the party, couldn’t sleep, and now feel like shit and I know I will all day and it’s such a waste.

It’s not beer fear, I was probably the most sober person at the party so know I’ve not been a knob.

I’m about to turn 39 and I think I am done. I know people will think I’m boring but I can honestly say I don’t care if I never have a drink again.

Don’t know why I’m posting this except that no one is up yet and I have no one else to tell!

It took me until my mid-50s to decide that alcohol didn’t agree with me. That was after years of hangovers and feeling rough the day after. I barely drink any more (might have a baileys or two at Christmas) and feel miles better for it.

I'm 51, and haven't really been able to drink for about 10 years. It gives me palpitations, headaches and knocks me for six.

I'll have a glass of Baileys or Prosecco on Christmas Day and that is roughly my yearly intake. Life's too short for self inflicted misery

I'm in my late 30s and since I seperated from exh 7 months ago I've barely drunk alcohol. I think I was probably drinking to stop the sadness before and I'm a lot happier now, so I'm not feeling the need to drink alcohol any more. I've got myself a bottle of presseco for Christmas and I'm looking forward to it on Christmas day but other than that I won't be drinking anything else for the rest of the year. At the rate I'm going I'll probably be tea total by the end of the next year.

Do those who have stopped alcohol the majority of the time have partners who have done the same? My DH without fail drinks every friday and saturday evening until pretty merry but not properly drunk… if I don’t join in I think I will be so bored?!

I don't drink really anymore. If I go to a wedding I'll have something. But I never drink at home. If we have a meal out I won't bother. I just can't be arsed anymore! My Xmas do is on Friday and I'm already thinking I'd rather just drive than pay for a taxi home.

@PeonyRose80

Do those who have stopped alcohol the majority of the time have partners who have done the same? My DH without fail drinks every friday and saturday evening until pretty merry but not properly drunk… if I don’t join in I think I will be so bored?!

My DH has a couple of beers or half a bottle of red wine on a Friday night, and he still goes out for a drink with friends a couple of times a month, but he’s slowed right down over the last few years, too. We were both big drinkers, but just realised it wasn’t for us anymore (I’m mid 40s, he's mid 50s).

He slowed down, I quite completely.

quit

I never drink at home except on Christmas Day. So with almost no visits to pubs and restaurants, since March 2020 my alcohol consumption has dropped massively.

I had one glass last night and enjoyed it, then poured another but couldn’t face it. I had one mouthful and then threw the rest down the drain.
I’m very nearly over it.

I had more to drink last night than I have done in ages. Managed to stay just the right side of stupid embarrassing drunk and had the best time.

I don't feel great this morning, but OK to have a pottering Sunday. I know I should be able to enjoy myself without a drink, but I'm sorry, those people at the do who weren't drinking just weren't having the same fun and mostly left early. Nothing wrong with that if that's what they wanted, but today's suffering was worth it IMO.

What I don't like is when I feel like this and the evening was a bit disappointing. Those are the ones that make me say I'm never drinking again.

I don't drink often though. Hardly ever at home only for special occasions.

I’m 35 and I can barely get through one drink without feeling sick, I suspect due to IBS. I wish I could cut loose a bit more but it’s just not worth it.

Yes! Me!

I drank half a bottle of wine with a friend last night and just didn't really enjoy it. Especially when there are so many great non alcoholic alternatives now. I slept badly and today feel a bit irritated and down.

I'm just finding it hard when friends are round/ round at a friends and the wine/ gin / Prosecco is there as default. That's the only time I ever have a drink.

How is everyone approaching the 'no thanks, I'm not into alcohol' at the moment with all the festivities?

Yup, late thirties here. I can't drink more than two glasses of wine these days before I start feeling a bit sick. It also dramatically impacts my mood too. I like the taste of wine/fizz and enjoy the first glass but I think I'm going to stop there.

Yes, but I love wine. So giving up isn't happening. My rules- never mix wine and spirit based drinks. Always drink water with wine. One of water, one of wine, in the morning you'll be fine. Also, cheap prosecco is the devils work so try something else.

But a bottle of Prosecco isn't 'a drink'. I only drink in moderation these days, and never enough to feel rubbish the next day, so think I'll be doing it for the rest of my life.
Do you struggle to find the "off switch" when you drink OP?

No, but it’s very rare I drink lots, because I don’t like the way it makes me feel the next day.

A bottle of Prosecco is loaded with sugar, so that’s probably part of it. Just try having a couple of glasses of wine or beers?

Yes, I'm 34 and haven't really drink anything for the past 5 or so years. I have about 2 cocktails a year and maybe a glass of wine but that's it. I'm just not interested in drinking anymore and prefer not being drunks. It has made me hate being around drunk people though and people definitely seem to judge me for it but I've also realised in the last few years that I really don't care what people think about me anymore either which has been very refreshing.

Gave up over ten years ago, lived in a remote bill width teenage children who needed ferrying and an arsehole dh who would moan about the cost of a bottle of wine. Haven’t missed it and don’t miss him!

I quit a few months ago, having decided menopause and wine did not make a good combination. I've never felt better and I don't miss it.

Hi all thanks for replying!

I’m only a social drinker, DH and I never drink at home and In 2021 I’ve actually only drank on 4 occasions, once in May, then July, then this weekend and last weekend. I may have had a single bottle of beer here and there in between those times but that’s it.

I am able to control what I drink, although I had probably a whole bottle of Prosecco’s worth of booze last night (which is much less than the company I was in trust me!) I switched to water at a certain point when I knew I’d had plenty. There isn’t a drinking problem there at all.

I just don’t think I want to drink at all anymore. I’m can’t really explain exactly why, and I know it will probably alienate me from certain groups of friends to an extent, but I think I’m ok with that.

We threw a boozy party last night because that’s what that group of friends do when together, but I’d rather have had a nice dinner or even something like go bowling and a burger when I really think about it.

As someone said upthread it’s the social norm to have boozy evenings, bottomless brunches etc and I feel like I’m just going along with it and I’m not sure why! I don’t really get FOMO and am comfortable staying in and knowing others have plans.

In my younger says I could pack away a bottle of wine in an evening.

Then I got a job that places restrictions on how much you drink and when. Then I got pregnant.

Now, 15 years later, I hate most alcoholic drinks and have to fancy a lager.

I don't like the feeling when I get up, it makes me feel rotten and it's too bloody expensive.

I drink tea , squash, fizzy drinks (posh ones as well) and hot chocolate