Alcohol free in 23

[DancingSober]

Hello!

This is the thread for doing a whole year alcohol free beginning tomorrow (although some have started a bit early).

This isn't a moderation thread, so it isn't for cutting down. It's absolutely no alcohol for the whole of 2023.

That said, slip ups happen and I will not be throwing anyone off the thread if they have a blip, (or several blips), but please don't post if you're planning to have a few drinks here and there, as it may affect people who are struggling to remain AF but want to.

Tagging everyone from the initial thread:

@SerialMover
@Metalhead
@nancydroo
@blondie87
@TooSunny
@Preparedforjobnottolast
@thenewaveragebear1983
@limitededitionbarbie
@afaloren
@hashbrownsandwich
@Wantmyownbed

I think that's everyone, but please join if you want to (it's open to everyone) and huge apologies if I have missed anyone with my tagging.

[Wantmyownbed]

Thank you DancingSober. I'm ready to go! Going to a light show tonight and driving so won't be drinking, I'm looking forward to getting up tomorrow morning with a fresh new outlook on life.

[DancingSober]

That sounds nice want. We have one of those booked for next week too. Hope the weather is ok!

[blondie87]

Great thread name 😄
Bring it on!

[DancingSober]

Haha thanks 😁!

[iamthesparrow]

Joining!

[DancingSober]

Welcome @iamthesparrow

[afaloren]

Hi! I’m excited to get started!

[Metalhead]

Hello! I’m on day 2 today and just been to the shops to stock up on AF drinks for tonight. Happy sober New Year everyone, we can do this!

[Claudia84]

Can I join please? Starting today. I'm totally done with it. Tonight I shall be watching a film and getting a takeaway and then bed.

[coodawoodashooda]

I'm in. I had a few months alcohol free this year. Life is so much easier that way. I miss the ceremony of the glass of wine. I've discovered fever tonic so that should sort that out. Thanks for this thread.

[coodawoodashooda]

@Metalhead

Hello! I’m on day 2 today and just been to the shops to stock up on AF drinks for tonight. Happy sober New Year everyone, we can do this!

Any recommendations?

[DancingSober]

Welcome @Claudia84 and @coodawoodashooda

Would also love some nice AF drink recommendations if anyone has any. I probably won't buy any of the AF gins or anything too often as they're quite pricey!

I have had nosecco before and that was nice. And also some of the AF beers are quite nice. I had one on a night out when I was driving recently.

[magiccats]

Some good AF beers available and Nosecco is nice, I never managed to find a good white wine substitute so gave up.

[iamthesparrow]

@DancingSober

Welcome @iamthesparrow

Thank you!

I've done dry jan a few times but I'm absolutely up for dry 23. I'm completely sick to death of alcohol. It brings nothing positive to my life.

[iamthesparrow]

@DancingSober

Welcome @Claudia84 and @coodawoodashooda

Would also love some nice AF drink recommendations if anyone has any. I probably won't buy any of the AF gins or anything too often as they're quite pricey!

I have had nosecco before and that was nice. And also some of the AF beers are quite nice. I had one on a night out when I was driving recently.

Big drop pine trail, and lucky saint are the best AF beers I've tried.

[BoneyEmm]

[LMBoston]

Hello, can I come out to play with you please? 😀

Week 7 of no booze here (I’m conveniently disregarding the champagne on Christmas Day!), after daily drinking for a good 30 years. I’m fed up of the constant effort to moderate so have decided that’s it. I can’t believe the difference: skin, hair, digestion… all so much better. And even though the posh fizz was lovely, I definitely felt it the next day in all respects. So not really worth it!

Re AF drinks, everything is too sweet for me so I have soda water with lemon juice/ginger or tonic with lemon juice. Tons of ice. My partner bought me a Soda Stream for Christmas! He also got me some organic kombucha “mixers” and a bottle of Gimber — I’d never heard of it but it’s fantastic, a blend of ginger, lemon and herbs that has a proper kick to it.

If you want to treat yourself, Royal Flush is an amazing kombucha, really dry and full of flavour but it’s expensive :(

[DottyDry]

Hi

Please could I join?

Really need support from others in a similar situation

I don't remember the last time I had a dry day, I'm starting today.

I can drink a bottle a day and still function fine (well not really as I'm here) but I'm so tired of this fug, I'm fat and demotivated.

My kids are growing up and need lifts everywhere and elderly family need me so I need to be able to drive anytime of day. I do regular on calls and I can cope fine with that, but I clock watch waiting for my first drink.

My trigger will be stress, when I'm upset or stressed I use alcohol to numb it, I need some coping mechanisms.

[Metalhead]

@DancingSober @coodawoodashooda I like Belle & Co and Freixenet 0% for bubbly. Kopparberg strawberry & lime is also a favourite of mine. Or just some nice flavoured tonic waters (Fevertree is good), bitter lemon, ginger ale etc. I‘m not really a beer drinker but I do like Bavaria and Cobra.

[Coppergate]

I would like to join you too please.

It is definitely time for me and I've already decided that it starts today. I've already cut down/had days off over the last week in preparation.

I've started on moving a few other habits in a more positive direction so feeling good about that but I know this one is the big one, and going alone with it seems daunting. DH is a daily drinker and I know that won't change any time soon so I've definitely got to separate my habits from his. I'm not going to say a word about my drinking or his.

[Claudia84]

@DottyDry

Hi

Please could I join?

Really need support from others in a similar situation

I don't remember the last time I had a dry day, I'm starting today.

I can drink a bottle a day and still function fine (well not really as I'm here) but I'm so tired of this fug, I'm fat and demotivated.

My kids are growing up and need lifts everywhere and elderly family need me so I need to be able to drive anytime of day. I do regular on calls and I can cope fine with that, but I clock watch waiting for my first drink.

My trigger will be stress, when I'm upset or stressed I use alcohol to numb it, I need some coping mechanisms.

It's so easy to just get used to feeling like shit isn't it?
What are your plans this evening?

[DancingSober]

Welcome @LMBoston , @DottyDry and @Coppergate and anyone I may have missed!

Getting ready for an AF NYE here. I have a nice meal planned and some cordials to have with fizzy water. Should have got some nosecco in!

Thanks for all the AF recommendations!

I'm also going to start reading (listening to) some quit lit tomorrow. I have the Millie Gooch one and Alcohol Explained. I tried listening to Quit Like a Woman, but I didn't like it. I've actually stopped my audible account now, so will look for some paper books to try too. Someone recommended The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober on the initial thread

[NoTimeForWine]

Hi everyone, I would like to join. I've been watching the other thread and toying with the idea.
Last year I did dry Jan and continued into Feb but broke on Valentines Day. It's drinking at home that is the issue for me. It's a really hard habit to break.
I'll be having an end of year drink tonight and be ready to start day 1 tomorrow.

[LMBoston]

@DancingSober

Welcome @LMBoston , @DottyDry and @Coppergate and anyone I may have missed!

Getting ready for an AF NYE here. I have a nice meal planned and some cordials to have with fizzy water. Should have got some nosecco in!

Thanks for all the AF recommendations!

I'm also going to start reading (listening to) some quit lit tomorrow. I have the Millie Gooch one and Alcohol Explained. I tried listening to Quit Like a Woman, but I didn't like it. I've actually stopped my audible account now, so will look for some paper books to try too. Someone recommended The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober on the initial thread

I found Alcohol Explained by William Porter to be a game changer; Catherine Gray, Annie Grace etc all good but I didn’t really identify (now I’m in my 40s with a normal job and not much money!) with the “going out and getting leathered” narrative — my habit is/was drinking at home. Never enough to be drunk, but never enough to be sober… I wanted to know the neuroscience behind alcohol and what drinking a smallish amount every single day does to your body and brain. Porter delivers that in spades and it was a real wake-up call to this old lush!

[ValBiro]

@Coppergate My DH was also a daily drinker and I thought I might struggle with this when I went AF (will celebrate 3 years sober in May!). He slowly switched over to 0% beer over time for drinks at home - do you think he might be willing to give it a try? If not you might find it becomes a non-issue for you over time anyway. It really doesn't bother me being around drinkers anymore. Just strengthens my resolve as I watch their behaviour get sillier and sillier if they are having more than a couple.