Damp Feb! For DJ survivors and Feb drink moderation fans!

[Fordian]

Hi Everyone who might be interested, a thread for anyone who wants an accountability check-in for their moderate Feb drinking!

As per my last post, I'm in!

Thank you @Fordian ! I'm aiming to not drink today. I have a social event, with work, but I constantly see this people sober and have a nice time with them, why does it need to be different?!

Morning.

Well, as I had decided, I did break my DJ last night watching US Traitors (what a shower!). I'd bought a £14 bottle of NZ Sauvignon blanc.

I hydrated well then I started the wine at 7.15 with a 175ml glass, which I sipped until 8.45! I then drank another over an hour, the a smaller one over the next hour, so about 3/4 of the bottle, which over 3.5 hours, got me mellow enough to not really feel the urge to finish the bottle.

It was lovely, I won't lie! DH had a couple of beers alongside me, watching TV.

Previously I would have been well into a second bottle after 3.5 hours, so this is definitely an improvement for me, Although I am well aware that it very much 'exceeds guidelines'!

This morning I have a slight headache But I've woken with one for the past 3 mornings, AF, so I believe it to be sinus related.

During today, I will decide if I'm going to drink at all this evening or leave it til tomorrow.

Flying in on my broomstick from the DJ thread.

Hello hello! Thank you for setting up the new thread @Fordian . It feels so good to have got the year off to such a positive start with 31 dry days. Whilst I will be drinking in February, I’m aiming for a damp Feb and will certainly not be returning to my old habits of a bottle of wine (at least) a night. I’m out tonight at a friend’s house and will have a few glasses of wine then switch to AF drinks. Like everyone says, it’s the first few glasses of wine that are the most enjoyable and give you that “buzz”.

I hydrated well then I started the wine at 7.15 with a 175ml glass, which I sipped until 8.45! I then drank another over an hour, the a smaller one over the next hour

@Fordian It sounds like you paced yourself really well. That’s another of my goals, because I do have a tendency to down wine at an alarmingly fast rate.

I'm joining even though my DJ isn't over yet! Definitely want to moderate in Feb and beyond. Before, I would normally not drink Mon, Tues, Thurs ever, anyway. Occasionally share a bottle of white on Wednesday when we usually eat fish. Lovely, but this is something that should stop. I can't see myself not drinking at all on Fridays or Saturdays but will try not to on Sundays. Also, I'm thinking maybe one weekend a month, I will not drink at all. DJ has shown me that is totally doable. Units-wise, goal is simply to actually keep it under 14 on a weekly basis, whether or not this is an arbitrary government imposed figure.

Hello, may I join you? I did damp January (only drinking Friday and Saturday) and am Planning on doing dry February. A bit arse about face but we’ve been on a real fitness kick in January and I didn’t think I could face it without any wine at all.

So today is 1 February and I’m in!

I'm in. Still aiming for AF Feb but happy to be in the company of those taking a 'damp' approach.

I'm in awe of the people saying they have one or two, then switch. My problem is, I have 1 or 2, then want more!

I'll join! I'm not hell bent on going AF as such but I'm enjoying the change in habits that I've made and don't want to go back to drinking 4/5 nights out of 7. I'd like to save my drinking for special occasions- high days and holidays if you like. So not drinking at home in the week is probably the way to go! After a month of no alcohol (apart from my 3 glasses of wine at a works night out) I'm going to be a lightweight anyway! So I'm here for damp February and beyond!

Yes, I know that previously, I just mindlessly necked wine without a thought! So last night I selected a green coloured 'fancy' wine glass that I only occasionally use, and I deliberately placed it on a side table just out of immediate reach so I had to make a tiny bit of effort to reach it, then I took one mindful sip, then placed it back down.

I think that helped in slowing me down. Also, drinking better quality wine helped, £14 as opposed to my usual rota of whichever Sauvignon blanc or Pinot Grigio Tesco has on special for £6-7 that week!

And welcome to everyone!

Just place keeping here.

Thanks @Fordian , and good to see so many already here.

I wasn't drinking a massive amount before doing DJ this time, and just wanted a reset, but my tolerance levels will be low, so I will take it slowly. My normal consumption is 250ml per day (of wine, I hasten to add, not spirits!), and I'm aiming to work back up to that, but with a couple of days off per week. Damp February is likely to mean starting off with a 175ml glass on alternate evenings.

@Fordian , the side table is a great idea. I have one and it really helps me to drink mindfully. It's so easy to drink without thinking if you're watching something absorbing and the glass is in your hand.

I also find it helps to enjoy the anticipation and not drink too early in the evening. I do like a bit of deferred gratification!

Happy Damp February / Moderation to all 😊

hello everyone and thanks @Fordian for starting the DF thread. Absolutely agree on the previous history of just necking wine without really enjoying it. I had a couple of glasses last night because of not having any plans today but didn't start until much later than usual and kept my glass away from me rather than holding it. I plan to be much stricter about 'school nights' and limit to Fri/Sat and then only if I feel like it.

Look forward to seeing how we all get on <links arms>

Honestly, keep going! The difference for me between 30 days and 100 days was huge.

I’m coming up to 2 years sober now. But the last Dry January I did, I made it til 3rd week of February before I started drinking again. It was miserable. I stopped for good in April 2023 and have never looked back.

Good for you @mindutopia , but we're all on different journeys. If drinking made me ill or miserable, I'd certainly stop, but wine in moderation makes me happy and is one of life's pleasures. A little of what you fancy does you good, but of course it's not for everyone. Best of luck to you if you want to stay dry.

(There's a Dry January thread where lots of people are planning on staying dry for longer.)

Morning all and thank you @Fordian

I’m in! Thanks @Fordian

Still haven’t decided what to do later. Open a bottle of wine or have a whisky later on in the evening. Don’t want to waste wine and don’t want to feel fuzzy on a Monday (or a Sunday, to be fair!). But would like a glass of wine!

Thanks for the thread @Fordian!

I think I enjoyed my wine last night the most I have in years! Maybe because it was anticipated, planned mindfully for, drunk carefully, and not my erstwhile cheap plonk!

Hello! I'm in!

Yes this is what I need to do. Be mindful of the taste and savour each sip!
I may even be able to drink red wine again if I buy a bit more expensive stuff and just have a small glass or 2. I really miss red so I was drinking white but not really enjoying it. Daft really drinking something you don't particularly like!