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!

I know. Many an eveng in the past I soldiered my way through a bottle I really wasn't enjoy that much! 🤷🏻‍♀️

I'm in! Thanks @Fordian

Thanks @Fordian for the thread! It was my birthday on Thursday and we are eating out with DD and DBF tonight, so I will be having some wine. I am planning to drink mindfully and minimally in Feb, not least because I am going back on my favourite and most effective diet (Dukan), and strictly speaking alcohol is not allowed in the first phase.

I saw an article about Bovito (an AF aperitif) in the paper today - has anyone tried it? Sounds nice but is of course expensive.

@TeaRose29 , I looked at Bovito, but it has way too much sugar in it for me. That tends to be true of a lot of the alternative spirits, unfortunately.

Sentia is nice and the red / black versions aren't too sweet; the gold is citrussy and a bit sweeter, but OK with a mixer. Tanqueray 0% gin and Kahol 'whiskey' are both sugar free and taste great IMO.

I've just put a tiny dot of hot glue on the outside of my 250ml fancy wine glass to precisely measure out 175mls, so I'm not guessing!

Thanks for the thread @Fordian

My goal for Feb is to only drink when I'm out if I feel like it (and not driving obviously). Which I think will limit me to 3 nights drinking this month, although that might change of course, but that feels doable to me as I'm happy with the benefits of being dry and want that to continue.

I need to stop the mindless automatic drinking at home out of habit.

I'm another that is impressed to hear people planning to have a few glasses and then switch to AF - I honestly don't think I could do that as once I have the flavour I want more, so I'd have to start with AF then switch to alcoholic drinks later in the evening to time limit my drinking. Embarrassing to admit to that!

Guinness Zero tonight as didn't feel a huge alcohol craving so soldiered on. Off to London on Thursday for long weekend with my sis so reckon that will be the " damp" putting in an appearance.

Dry February is dragging…

I’m in - had a brief should I shouldn’t I last night, and decided no. Didn't even think to have a drink tonight - had a very long day - exercise class this morning and then a very long walk around a park with dogs and am shattered. I lost 5 pounds in January so hoping to continue with a damp - and sugar free! - Feb.

Chuffed for everyone still here and filled with admiration for those who have already updated the app for dry February. I randomly committed to another 10 days dry as it doesn't loom too far into the future. Baby steps.
As I'm off the sauce, my husband has squirrelled away a small stash of 1/4 bottles of red to have with beef or steak. I sat opposite him tonight as he downed one and wasn't even slightly tempted. Its hard to explain but I feel after a period of abstinence, it would taste way too strong. Like drinking port. I just don't want the buzz.
I can't bring myself to commit to AF as red wine has always been one of life's pleasures. If my current reticence morphs into abstinence, good. I'll take the wins.

Good call!

Hello DJers!

I'm so pleased with myself and trying to not be smug in case I go tits up on damp Feb one day in...
I have had one glass of wine this evening. I bought a lovely Sauv Blanc and some fancy picky bits which I only like with wine but it's still not tempting me away from my chamomile tea and a mini choc bar later.

I stayed dry today! Counting that as a win! Xx

2 glasses of wine, about 1/3 of a bottle. A couple of generous drams of scotch. I enjoyed the whisky much more than the wine (😱) so may not bother with wine going forward except on special occasions.

i don’t feel drunk but will note the effects tomorrow!

I'm the maverick in the pack- I had 2/3 of a bottle of Pinot! I started at 7, just finishing now, so over almost 4 hours.

It's a vast improvement of 'before', so I count it as a win!

As others have said, if I were to socialise, I think I'd start on soft drinks then move to wine, later as I'm not confident of my off button.

I wish you could buy wine in 500ml bottles!

I had a nice glass of white Bordeaux after a late run followed by some piano practice, so it felt like a reward as well as marking the end of DJ. I sipped and savoured it before / over dinner but still really noticed the alcohol - it always tastes stronger after a break. I might follow @Fordian's example and go for something more expensive next time I order - quality over quantity is another way to encourage mindful drinking, I think.

Like @mynamechangemyrules I am off to bed soon with a chamomile tea 😊.

I've ordered the Kahol fake bourbon as another option for dry days.

I had really been thinking about a Sober Spring and it all failed this evening.

I took the money I saved during DJ and treated myself to a massage and morning at the spa today. Bought a bottle of wine on the way home on impulse. Opened it at 6pm and it's lasted until 1am which is a good thing I suppose, I didn't just devour it, but I'm itching for more. If it was here I would definitely drink it and that feels pretty crap.

In bed now but feeling shit tbh. Hope I wake with the hangover from hell to remind me just how good I feel when I'm not drinking.

Sorry to bring the thread down, just want to be honest and accountable x

You're not bringing the thread down@WeightLoss2025 . Positives:
1 - You're holding yourself accountable
2- It was one bottle over 7 hours

1. It isn't there and you haven't drank more- regardless of wanting more.

Try not to beat yourself up 💐

@WeightLoss2025 I have been there and know the feeling but a big hangover won’t help, because you need some positivity today! You did well. You noticed what went wrong.

I’ve got 3/4 of the bottle left from yesterday and I’m worried I’ll just polish it off. Next time I want a drink I’m getting the mini bottles unless I’m sharing with someone.

tomorrow is another day

Hey guys well done to everyone for completing dry jan! I didn't drink last night as I seem to have picked up DSs lingering cold- the old me wouldn't have cared and ploughed into at least a bottle and a half of wine alongside gin to celebrate finishing dry jan and then woke up feeling like crap this morning. I think I'm going to carry on AF for another couple of weeks. I didn't tend to drink during the week anyway but went way over the top on weekends but the hangover free weekends alone are a huge incentive for me to moderate when drinking going forward.

My feeling this morning is that I might not bother so much at all. Really feeling as if I could take it or leave it. I’m aware though that I could turn and REALLY want to drink so not making any conclusions!

Well my damp Feb started with a bit of a dunking. Was my DP’s birthday and we went out for dinner and the theatre.

G&T pre dinner
Half a bottle of wine with dinner
Glass of Prosecco in the theatre bar before the show and another at the interval.

So I make that 10.8 units. I was going to try to never drink more than 10 units in any one day but oops. Don’t regret it though we had such a lovely time together and I don’t feel too rough this morning.

Well done everyone!

Thanks @Fordian for the new thread. I’m on day 34 and thinking of making it to 40, a nice round number. Trying to figure out what I can drink in moderation and stick to that, I do love a glass of red wine and I would miss not having that! I like the quality vs quantity and slow appreciation discussions, lots to think about how to achieve moderation.

You sound like me! I am also going for a damp Feb avoiding drinking at home and only socially - I have a work night and a birthday catch up planned so planning on drinking on those two occasions but not at home at all. I didn't really feel any different after dry Jan, no miracle skin or weight improvements, but I know it must have done me some good. I could never switch to AF part way through the night either 😬

I decided to begin Damp February with a Bacardi & coke last night, but it really did not hit the spot at all. I had a Baileys after, and that was pleasant enough, but I really didn't get any sense of "ah, that's nice" which was a surprise, and a bit of a disappointment.