Anyone else stopping completely in 2020?

[Drybird2020]

I don't mean moderating or cutting down, I know that I can't control my drinking this way and I need to stop.

I have stopped for periods of time before and enjoyed the peace of not thinking about alcohol, or stressing about my consumption, or negotiating with myself about whether or not to get a bottle of wine on the way home on a Wednesday night.
There's no point in doing dry January, because I will just use it to justify a wet February.

There used to be a series of threads for total abstinence, think it was in Relationships but it seems to have tailed off. I could really do with a place to talk about this, but with an emphasis on being dry, not moderate. And if nobody else is keen I can use it as somewhere to witter away to myself.

Thanks, Sponge. It's the only social date I'm worried about - normally I'll drive if going out anyway (I preferred drinking at home to socially!).

Loving the thriller suggestions!

Well done @Boots20 sounds like a nice evening planned! Weather here is very bad.. I'm expecting the worse (lose power /trees) definitely a night to stay sober that's for sure! Wind speed is currently 44mph and I'm surrounded by huge trees and power lines .. no neighbours so we are a bit stuck tonight 😂

I totally get what your saying about 'drinking together' I so wished my H would quit to but I'm doubtful.

I had an interesting conversation with a friend this morning in which she asked me how long I was giving up for.. my
Immediate response was I don't want to ever drink like that again. I've never thought of it until today,. my relationship with drink wasn't healthy at all. I've had some serious hurdles over the last couple of years and used wine to block it all out. I'm not sure how I was functioning day to day to be honest and would sometimes wake up thinking 'just get through to 5' and you can have wine again. Scary eh!!

Anyway, enough of the deep shit. I'm feeling quite positive this evening despite the weather.

Tonight's tipple is cloudy lemonade and tonic water and frozen lime slices. What's your tipple ladies? Have a wonderful AF evening x

It's blowy here too on the coast, Dotty - take care, won't you? I'm sure you're well prepared!

I also used to think exactly the same - by 3pm I'd be running round to the shop before DS got home to stock up. The important thing is that we're all in this together and we will support each other!

Green tea for me! I find if I drink too close to bed time I'm up in the night like an old lady (which I am, so fair enough!).

Quick stats share (for the geeks out there):

19 days AF (thought it was 18, woo hoo!) - 47 units saved - £50 saved - 3160 calories saved!

I'm going to stick that ££££ somewhere safe then take DP out for a nice dinner.

Hi All. I’ve been catching up with the thread and loving the book suggestions. NY Resolution (one of several)was to read more. Glad to hear everyone is holding it together so well. I’m on AF day 9 here. Lowest point so far was on Saturday night (pizza without wine was difficult), but marching on. Tonight’s tipple is one leftover becks blue, then Fresh orange & soda. Have a nice evening all.

Evening all, I've enjoyed catching up with the thread, all power to your sober elbows!

Day 15 for me, I've had the odd twinge at classic times, like finishing work this evening after a stressful day, but otherwise I'm not too bothered by cravings. I haven't had the tests of social events or get togethers with friends so those hurdles are still ahead of me. Physically, I'm still headachy and very very thirsty, drinking gallons of cordial with fizzy water, and lots of herbal teas. Still anticipating the surge of energy and wellbeing...

Thanks all for the book refs, love it! Never had a kindle before so tragically excited.

So impressed by everyone staying strong. I went out to lunch with a girlfriend today and it turned out she was doing dry Jan so we were both happy with our fizzy water.

Keep it up people!

Fizzy water here. I don't do caffeine after 10am and not that keen on hot drinks in the evening but I've been drinking horlicks before bed and I have to say it has helped with snoozing off , I think it reminds me of being a child and the comfort of a milky drink.

Sleep well !

Great stats @housetornado (need to learn how to tag! I was going to get a treat when hit first £100
Have ate allll the rubbish tonight mad sent myself to bed at 8pm feeling sick. Hot chocolate and fizzy water here.
No storm here (east coast) friends on the west coast waiting for high tide(now) to see what happens... So weather watch is keeping me busy. It's scary.

Morning everyone. Love hearing your tips for survival and how everyone is finding joy in the small things. Mine is pukka night time tea and an orange.

Here's a couple of things I'm enjoying:
Tucking my kids in without breathing wine breath on them.
Really listening to them
Far better sleep
I'm hardly going to the supermarket so not only saving on booze but also those other forty quid here and there shops.
Can't wait to put my guilt free recycling out!!!

Good morning all, what a windy night! I'm apprehensive about sunrise and what damage I might find..

I'm very much into the stats to:

Units saved : 64
Pounds saved : £68
Calories saved 4324

Why I've woken with a nagging headache is a mystery to me! Day 15 today, so so proud of myself.

Have a great day all xx

Thanks, Spoonge - looks like you tagged perfectly!

April my memory is getting better by the day. Also have lots more patience with DS who has v high energy levels which I've never been good at dealing with. Loving your list!

Dotty - glad you survived the storms! I hope outside isn't too messy!

Fantastic stats (though sorry about the headache).

Have a great Wednesday everyone.

Afternoon all. I have a question - someone at work has given me 'alcohol-free pear cider' (yes I know it sounds gross but very nice of them).

I read the label (it's Koppaberg) and it said 'not more than 0.05% vol' ABV. Am I being ridiculous for not wanting to drink it as I feel so pure having had no booze at all?

Or, eg, are apples 0.05% as they might have started to ferment?

Sorry for really pathetic nitpicky question but I don't want to feel I have sabotaged myself!

Growing 0.05% is about half a teaspoon of alcohol so not alcohol free - you certainly won't get drunk on that amount but might want to swerve if you want to completely avoid any alcohol - oddly enough when I googled the amount, a portion of bananas can contain up to 0.04% of alcohol ... weird!

OK thank you @Howl I think I will. Not drawn to those AF booze substitutes anyway tbh.

Thanks

Funny re: bananas!

Evening everyone
Day 19 for me - we are buddies @HouseTornado and enjoying see the days rack up.
I noticed my eyes were clearer and brighter this morning and my guts are operating smoothly without going into details 😁
Agree with @aprilfoolsbaby that really listening the kids is the best bit - sat watching love island with my teenagers last night which they loved and I would have got a bit pissed and left them to it in the past.
I like chamomile tea and sparkling water. It a fan of AF beer etc.
This evening should be ok for me - scouts pick up and drop off.

My counselor warned me relationships might suffer. Spending time with an alcoholic is a good way to disguise your own disordered drinking.

Ha ha Shingle! We really ARE buddies, cos I have also noticed the same improvement in my guts! 💩

theemmadilemma I'm expecting this with a few work colleagues. 🙁

Evening all! Well day 15 AF for me! Feeling delighted 😁

I'm pretty sure I'm scoffing more though which is a worry.. and me step at a time I guess. I have a team building evening next Tuesday which involves cooking a three course meal and eating together (I'm sure it will involve drinking) I'm feeling slightly worried by this and hoping others are doing dry January! It will be my first real test of
willpower in a social situation.. how have you coped if you've been out.?

Was there any storm damage, @dottydolly72? It has been intensely windy here and the kids have been wild.

My stats; Day 15,
Units saved 87
Calories saved 5977
Money saved £88

I'm shocked at the amount I was drinking and the costs of all kinds. What a waste of me.

I can't help with ideas for social situations, most of my good friends live a long way from me, and although get togethers tend to be boozy, they are few and far between so I have breathing space to consider how I raise the issue when the time comes. I also live rurally and rarely go out, so when I do I can use the driving excuse.

This used to be my fake Friday night, but I'm having Grapefruit squash with fizzy water and another vegan feast. This week feels like it's been going on forever....

@dottydolly72 sounds like toughie. Are you going to 'fake it' or be open? Have to remember why we are doing this. Trying to hold onto how smug my weekends have been. Hold on to how you feel remembering events the next day is doing it for me. And set up a reward for when you get in that night?
I'm the wrong person to reply right now as I'm currently talking myself out of a special occasions drink! Mine isn't for a week or so but it takes a lot of brain space doesn't it? Might try to not over think it

@dottydolly72 I also had a headache a couple of days ago but feeling a lot better yesterday and today. I've noticed my sense of smell has improved as well - really surprising but makes enjoyment of meals better.

I have also been eating ALL of the food this week. I've decided to give myself a break and eat what I like till Sunday and then go back to disciplined moderation .

Last night I had a very small wobble - OH was making an old favourite dish for dinner and bought home a fancy bottle of Chardonnay. I was most annoyed at him and spent about 5 minutes talking myself out of a glass. But then felt ok for the rest of the evening. He normally drinks red and white is my poison so I find his drinking doesn't normally affect me.

My DC are back home tomorrow after a week away, so I'm looking forward to seeing them. My DD has been writing a lot and I can't wait to read it, I think my wine evenings have impacted my ability to be there for them so will be a welcome change. My MIL is coming back with them so will have her lovely company for a week as well. She is not a drinker (other than copious amounts of tea ) so should be a good week.

Well done everyone on your stats. I'm on day 16 and too ashamed to share my calories saved as clearly it reveals the volume of previous drinking and is such a large number compared to those shared by others on the thread .

Smashing it, not smashed!

Morning all! Day 15 for me and feeling good. Haven’t had much of a chance to contribute as am having a nightmare couple of weeks at work, but I am reading and cheering you all on.

The good news in my dry adventure is that despite work being so tough, I haven’t sought comfort in a bottle of wine, which I am super pleased about. I ploughed my way through a bag of Colin the Caterpillars last night instead though it was actually a really satisfying substitute for wine.

I’ve also survived a normally boozy dinner with friends and an aimless Sunday on my own, both prime drinking opportunities that I’ve been happy to forego.

Well done @SophoclesTheFox and @metoo2020dry for surviving the challenging situations and the wobbles.

I'm day 20 today, which feels nice. This is the longest I've done for over a year, and it feels different. I am determined this time, and the idea of never drinking again feels good - not like a terrible loss. As I get closer to 50, every day of life seems more precious and I want to make the most of life. I don't want to waste any more evenings being a bit out of it because I'm affected by alcohol, or mornings being hungover, when I could be relating to the people I love and being creative.

I hope everyone has a great day.