If you don't drink alcohol what do you do on a Saturday night?

[OhComeOn123]

So for years now - years - every single Saturday night has involved drinking wine. I've decided I want to fully detox for a while and give my liver a chance to recover, just have a good break. But... I'm curious and although I'm thinking of different things to do with my evening I'm wondering what you guys do on a Saturday night? So far I'm thinking film, takeaway and maybe a fancy caramel drink with a good book...

Yes- I'd even say my social life has improved as I can actually remember conversations now instead of them being in a fuzzy haze of alcohol. I also dont get tired so quickly so have more energy

Apologies for saying this as I don't mean to offend, but what a strange question...!

I've never drunk alcohol all my life and my Saturday nights are just like everyone else's, why would it be different? If I go out, I socialise.....friends, parties, staying over, whatever. If I'm at home, I watch TV, have a nice supper, go shopping, catch up with work, do hobbies, curl up and read, go to bed early or have friends over.

I can't see how having a glass of wine or a few shots would make the slightest difference to any of that?? If I'm with friends or having a dinner party, they drink if they want to, I have a non-alcoholic drink but no-one notices and I never give it another thought, to be honest.

If things really "aren't the same" if you're not having an alcoholic drink, I'd be asking whether I wasn't a bit over-dependent on the alcohol....

I spend time on you tube researching areas of interest for me. Minimalism/travel et c plus Prime and Netflix.

I've come across plenty of people who really enjoy socialising and have a lovely time in a pub or a wine bar.

If you asked them, I'm sure they would claim to have a wonderful social life. Anyone who isn't at least slightly drunk may think of their repetitive mumbling as a bit boring, repetition of the same stories

Without drink, like PP I have much more energy and interest in doing things rather than just drinking.

I haven't had a drink for years. On a Saturday I'll do a nice dinner then have a pamper session - face mask, hair mask, full body scrub etc. Once done DH and I will normally watch a movie tho its rare that I see the end, I always fall asleep on the sofa 😂

Kombucha is your friend here. You will spend the whole evening trying to work out what it reminds you of, and if you like it not.

Think of it as an established habit that you are changing, after three months, you won't be expecting to go out because that's not what you do, that's when it becomes easier. There are lots of fun things to do without drinking. Probably best to stray away from pubs altogether.

If you asked them, I'm sure they would claim to have a wonderful social life. Anyone who isn't at least slightly drunk may think of their repetitive mumbling as a bit boring, repetition of the same stories

I agree. Its rather eye opening going out to the pub sober when everyone else is a bit drunk. It makes you realise how tedious being drunk really is- otherwise lovely people when sober tend to become rather boorish, repetitive and argumentative after multiple drinks. Not to mention the amount of fights I've witnessed after a night of drinking- alcohol is not quite the social lubricant people seem to believe it to be. I remember once having a chat with a friend who was quite drunk and she got quite tired and emotional and I asked her the next day if she was ok as she had expressed quite a lot of feelings that night and she couldnt remember even having the conversation.

I think we need to be careful here not to wander into too much ‘judgement’ and maybe even assumptions on this post.

For those saying ‘what a strange thing to ask -‘ yes strange to you maybe but not strange to someone who has developed a habit and yes you maybe right - a dependency.
@Luckydip1 has better advice I think to think of it as an established habit.

@HappilyContentTheseDays If the OP is self aware enough to ask a question about what you do- perhaps try to be helpful and encouraging rather than condescending? Your holier than thou comments are just unhelpful and belittling.

Equally assuming that people can’t or don’t have a thriving social life because they don’t drink is also a bit ignorant.

It would be more helpful to those who actually do want to give up drinking and are self aware enough to know it’s become a habit - (hence are asking questions ) to be supportive and kind.

We do have a huge drinking culture in this country and I think it’s very easy to not even be aware that you have become dependent on alcohol because it’s woven into the fabric of life. It’s completely accepted as normal behaviour by many to drink alcohol on a regular basis despite the fact it’s highly addictive and basically a poison.