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Original poster

The number of people going on and on about their wonderful alcohol free lives

233 replies

Eastie77Returns · 09/01/2025 07:45

It’s a bit boring now. Every other Opinion essay or online article today is written by someone waxing lyrical about their decision to stop drinking and how incredible their lives are now followed by judgy comments about the poor saps who still drink, use it as an emotional crutch and are too wine addled to realise they are drinking themselves into an early grave. It’s all a bit sanctimonious and honestly…who cares?

OP posts:
Worldgonecrazy · 09/01/2025 08:18

I think it’s that when you stop drinking alcohol, or cut right back, you notice the harm that excessive drinking causes to people as individuals and society as a whole. How much better would the health services and police responses be if fewer people drank heavily? It’s understandable that people want to share this moment of “waking up” with others.

I think it’s sad we need something like Dry January.

Original poster
Eastie77Returns · 09/01/2025 08:18

fourelementary · 09/01/2025 07:49

I think that if people have a strong reaction to this it probably says more about them than they want to admit.
Not drinking alcohol for a month should not be difficult. If it is, you have a problem whether you want to admit it or not.

I go months at a time without drinking a drop😂 I’ve just never felt the need to write about it, bang on about the benefits to my health or lecture others about the evils of alcohol.

OP posts:
Nothatgingerpirate · 09/01/2025 08:20

Yeah, not drinking is great, at least you are fully in control.
But, as I mentioned in another thread, for myself there was hardly ANY change I could feel when becoming teetotaler about four years ago.
Just couldn't cope with the crap.
😕

onwardsup4 · 09/01/2025 08:23

icelolly12 · 09/01/2025 07:49

It's Dry January so of course these sort of articles are popular. Give it another month or two

Edited

This, also it's probably true isn't it? I mean I wouldn't know.. have done 6 days though..go me !!

Original poster
Eastie77Returns · 09/01/2025 08:25

It’s not just people writing about Dry January though. I’ve noticed articles, podcasts etc appearing throughout the year. Yes of course I can (and do) scroll past. I’m just commenting that it’s a bit annoying. Millions of people do not drink for all kinds of reasons and do not make a song and dance about it. It’s the sanctimonious reformed former drinkers that lecture us all who puzzle me. Do they think they are the first people to give up booze? No-one cares!

OP posts:
sobermum23 · 09/01/2025 08:32

Aware my username probably makes me appear one of these sanctimonious twats Grin but as I approach 5 years alcohol free I can honestly say that 99.9% of the conversations I have about not drinking are started by those drinking around me....it still comes up years after stopping and usually brought up by the biggest drinkers! I agree it's boring 🤣 but my go to line is 'my life is just better without it' and there isn't much more to it!

DaisyChain505 · 09/01/2025 08:32

There is nothing shameful, boring or negative about not putting what is essentially poison in your body.

If someone chooses to start living a cleaner life it should be celebrated and the more people who read about the topic, the more people will think about what alcohol is doing to them as an individual.

RayKray · 09/01/2025 08:32

I don't see such content. But then I don't drink so maybe I don't notice it.

I do however post content about how life changing taking up strength training is for me. It's because I had no idea until someone suggested it to me, the benefits have been enormous, and I want that for other women. It's for the people it does resonate with, of which I know there are many cos they tell me. And so many women tell the same story of being inspired by someone else talking about it. I'd presume people who aren't interested would scroll on by and not notice. That's what I do with content that doesn't resonate with me hence why I don't see alcohol stuff.

I shifted a while back to seeing whatever people post as being what they want to post to express themselves and connect with others about, rather than being a display for everyone. People find each other that way. If I'm not interested in what someone else wants to talk about, it's not for me. So I don't really notice or get bothered by it.

TorroFerney · 09/01/2025 08:33

fourelementary · 09/01/2025 07:49

I think that if people have a strong reaction to this it probably says more about them than they want to admit.
Not drinking alcohol for a month should not be difficult. If it is, you have a problem whether you want to admit it or not.

Yep this. I’ve not noticed any of this, there are the usual holiday adverts and the times will be showing us very expensive spas this weekend I am sure. You notice more what (hate this word) is a trigger for you. Now it may be that your trigger is self righteous people rather than the actual booze!

Ineedanewsofa · 09/01/2025 08:39

It’s another one of those things where a lot of people will ‘discover’ it, think it’s great and quietly crack on, only talking about it if asked (sobriety, veganism, weightlifting, Jesus, first baby etc…) whereas a minority of people will ‘discover’ it and decide they must tell everyone because if they only just found out then no one else could possibly be doing it already!
Social media makes it worse obviously, everyone has a platform now

BigDahliaFan · 09/01/2025 08:44

Give it another month or 2 and it will be all about what wines to drink at Easter.

I think if an article prompts someone to think, hang on, maybe I’m drinking a bit too much let’s have a few AF days a week. That’s no bad thing.

I know I’ve had periods where I was thinking I’m a social drinker and half a bottle a night is fine…when it isn’t fine for me.

AngelinaFibres · 09/01/2025 08:52

I don't drink very often . I was married to an alcoholic who eventually died. It taints it a bit. I don't know anyone who drinks a lot . I suspect it's because we're all 60ish and just don't want the morning after feeling anymore. I've never had anyone make a comment whether I've had a G and T or a diet coke. I don't care what anyone else drinks or doesn't. I always drive myself to things so I don't have the worry of anyone drinking alcohol and driving. Hats a personal preference. I've done dry January for years. It's just a habit. Not drinking alcohol is always better for you than drinking it. I don't tend to read the articles because they come round again year after year and I've been around long enough to have seen it all before.

pinkfondu · 09/01/2025 08:55

People who do dry jan have a problem with drinking

Yellowseat · 09/01/2025 08:56

ZenNudist · 09/01/2025 07:54

I'm currently doing dry January and have many friends who are cutting down permanently in middle age. I think it's a bit joyless to give up for good. It's nice to party from time to time

This is my perspective too.

A lot of my friends have either cut down or gone completely the other way.

Alcohol and middle age is not compatible for me but the odd blow out here or there gives the flow of life a few white water rapids and I’m all for that.

GreyBlackBay · 09/01/2025 08:57

Any time I read that sort of article I think the author must have had out of control drinking and is projecting. They think that level of drinking and it affecting your life is everyone else's normal state.

I got out of the habit when pregnant. Now have to remind myself that I quite like a drink on occasion. I never suddenly felt better for not drinking or had a terrible life when I was drinking.

SecretSoul · 09/01/2025 08:58

RayKray · 09/01/2025 08:32

I don't see such content. But then I don't drink so maybe I don't notice it.

I do however post content about how life changing taking up strength training is for me. It's because I had no idea until someone suggested it to me, the benefits have been enormous, and I want that for other women. It's for the people it does resonate with, of which I know there are many cos they tell me. And so many women tell the same story of being inspired by someone else talking about it. I'd presume people who aren't interested would scroll on by and not notice. That's what I do with content that doesn't resonate with me hence why I don't see alcohol stuff.

I shifted a while back to seeing whatever people post as being what they want to post to express themselves and connect with others about, rather than being a display for everyone. People find each other that way. If I'm not interested in what someone else wants to talk about, it's not for me. So I don't really notice or get bothered by it.

Sorry to derail but do you have any suggestions on how to start - and is it possible to do at home?

I am 49 now and don’t exercise at all - but 10 years+ ago I used to regularly go to the gym. I struggle to get out now due to DC with significant SEN. I’ve recently switched to healthier eating and am starting to lose weight but I could really do with exercising too. Given my age, I think strength training could be really beneficial.

Any suggestions of who to follow/watch as a starting point would be very gratefully received!

SaySomethingMan · 09/01/2025 09:00

I agree there are more posts like this because it’s of dry January. I can’t see why it’s a bad thing to share how a healthy habit has benefitted them? People will likely to relate to posts like that, depending on where they are with alcohol.

I’ve never really understood the link between alcohol and fun though so I don’t understand the missing out view shared widely. I feel the same about posts like that as you do on the one you’ve posted about.

AngelinaFibres · 09/01/2025 09:01

GreyBlackBay · 09/01/2025 08:57

Any time I read that sort of article I think the author must have had out of control drinking and is projecting. They think that level of drinking and it affecting your life is everyone else's normal state.

I got out of the habit when pregnant. Now have to remind myself that I quite like a drink on occasion. I never suddenly felt better for not drinking or had a terrible life when I was drinking.

Journalism and huge amounts of alcohol have always gone hand in hand. They've probably cut alcohol out because their livers are screaming in pain and it's quit or die .

Dreamingofgoldfinchlane · 09/01/2025 09:05

Eastie77Returns · 09/01/2025 08:25

It’s not just people writing about Dry January though. I’ve noticed articles, podcasts etc appearing throughout the year. Yes of course I can (and do) scroll past. I’m just commenting that it’s a bit annoying. Millions of people do not drink for all kinds of reasons and do not make a song and dance about it. It’s the sanctimonious reformed former drinkers that lecture us all who puzzle me. Do they think they are the first people to give up booze? No-one cares!

You said yourself you find it annoying so you obviously do care - you started a thread on it. Ask youself why it bothers you so much.

RayKray · 09/01/2025 09:05

@SecretSoul 😍 if you head to health>exercise or health>the weights room there's loads of people can help.

Home workouts and online aren't the routes I've taken, so I'm not the best person, but there's people who do do it that way.

theeyeofdoe · 09/01/2025 09:06

ZenNudist · 09/01/2025 07:54

I'm currently doing dry January and have many friends who are cutting down permanently in middle age. I think it's a bit joyless to give up for good. It's nice to party from time to time

My experience too.

I love drinking wine. Oddly though I don't find dry Jan an issue as we don't go out in the evening and don't really drink at home unless we have friends over.

OnlyWhenILaugh · 09/01/2025 09:07

Why do you care?

There are articles, tv programmes podcasts about a vast array of topics that I have no interest in. And I'm sure there are other topics you scroll past or choose not to engage in.

I have no interest in sports coverage or all the discussion around weight loss injections. It wouldn't occur to me to complain about them.

And as for non drinkers banging on about their choices, I found the complete opposite when I chose not to drink alcohol anymore. My choice was constantly brought up by others. Questioning why or even being irritated. It was quite fascinating how my choice seemed to irk them. And no, I wasn't a tee total bore or evangelist.

Nesbi · 09/01/2025 09:08

People who proselytise endlessly about their lifestyle choices are utterly tedious - and the worst offenders are those who are “reformed”. The endless puritanical posts are a good way of getting me off social media though. In fact, perhaps I should start evangelising for going social media free…

[dashes off to record a Reel on that very topic]

Biiiii · 09/01/2025 09:10

I feel the same about runners and weight loss probably because I actually envious but not enough to tackle it.

AngelinaFibres · 09/01/2025 09:10

They're being paid to write articles. It's how they pay their mortgages. January is the get fitter, lose weight, clear the bad stuff out of your life month. It's the month where our walking group gets a huge uplift in membership. Some people join and actually turn up. Others just join but we never ever see them irl.Its the peak month for starting divorce proceedings, making goals to change job, start living in a yurt and growing courgettes. If it bothers you there must be a reason.