An Alcohol Free and Fun xmas

[ThistimeImdone]

Hi all,
I've decided today that's it, I'm done with alcohol but slightly apprehensive about heading into the festive season having made this decision, so I thought - after reading a thread where others said it would be a good support - to start a thread for all of us going for it this Christmas.
Perhaps a place to offer alternatives and coping tips? I'd love to find an alcohol free drink that doesn't taste revolting so any recommendations would be amazing and perhaps someone knows of some good AF mulled wine?
One strategy I think I will use is my running - I've just started but love it and always feel it when I drink so I think that may help me keep going....
Also a place for support and hand holds when needed.

So hi all and please feel free to join, let's do this!

Another here aiming for a booze free xmas.

I massively overdid it at the start of the year and realised enough was enough.

One thing that makes me accountable is that I have a fitness tracker, and when I even have 1 drink, my stats absolutely tank. It makes me realise how terrible alcohol is for health.

I'm fed up of the awful hangovers and beer fear.

It helps that DH doesn't drink but there will be booze plenty at family xmas, so I'm hoping to just ignore it. I'm always so pleased the next day when I've abstained.

Hi @AvocadoJam welcome! Yes, I have an oura ring and I can see my heart rate remains raised for ages after drinking and my heart rate variability tanks. Can't be good. Plus rem sleep is ruined.

I so hear you on the hangovers and beer fear. How lovely will it be to have an Xmas without all this crap. We've got this!

I’m coming into my 3rd alcohol free Christmas. What I’d recommend is:

Buy in some special drinks just for you. What do you like? I really like Botivo and tonic. I often buy a bottle of Sentia Red for Christmas. A few fun little single serve drinks - you may like things like Trip or Remedy ginger kombucha. If you want hot drinks, nice teas, get yourself a little teapot and some loose leaf tea, fancy hot chocolate, or make some hot mulled apple juice.

And then build activities in to your Christmas period that aren’t just going to the pub or sitting around at home drinking. Walks, beach trips (I go for a sea swim on Boxing Day and New Years Day), film nights, crafting, a trip to town for a fancy hot chocolate. The thing I hate about Christmas is that everyone wants to come visit and sit in my kitchen and drink. I make plans to meet out and do things instead. Things that don’t involve alcohol.

Also just wanted to add that having done sober Christmases now, they are far better than the boozy ones. They’re much more enjoyable. Much less stressful and exhausting. I wouldn’t wish for a Christmas filled with drinking now that I’ve done it without.

Oh and one more drink recommendation: Twisst caramel cream tastes exactly like Bailey’s. So much so that I had to double check it really was alcohol free. It’s my treat every Christmas Eve and NYE.

I assumed Sentia Red would be alcohol free red wine. Having looked it up ot does look interesting. Can you describe how it tastes?

Good luck op! This will be my third sober Christmas. If you can get through Christmas and New year you can do anything.
The Waitrose Mulled punch is AF and tasty.
If you like aperol - crodino topped with nosecco.
Lucky Saint lager. Heineken 0 also nice.
Delicious hot chocolate.

(the Waitrose Mulled punch tastes like Mulled wine, I should have said) and has great reviews

I hadn’t personally planned on a sober Christmas but I’ve been out on medication for a week that stops me drinking and I probably haven’t had a drink for a week before that so I’m beginning to think I might just carry on for a while and get some alternative drinks in. I do love mulled wine so might try the Waitrose AF one.

i cant seem to drink anything without getting a migraine. I dont have a tracker but am sad about all the drinks parties where I won’t be drinking

@mindutopia Where do you get the twisst stuff from? I can only see online……

Thank you for the recommendations! Very much appreciated 🥰 I shall definitely try twist! And shall be looking up senita red now!

I read that as ‘good as fuck mulled wine’ 😂

I found it hard to say no to social pressure at first. Everyone else feels weird if someone isn’t drinking but don’t let it bother you. Friends know I rarely drink now so don’t ask, they also like having a driver.

For me it was the habit rather than the actual alcohol so replacing the ritual with something that felt special like a trip or can of something nice and botanical helped. Whatever it is you like.

I am totally out the habit now so it doesn’t cross my mind to have a glass of anything anymore.

Listening to alcohol explained took me from dry January to just not drinking at all anymore. Scary stuff.

Also heading into my third alcohol free Christmas. I can't recommend it enough. I'm also a runner!

PPs have given great suggestions. Mine would be to have a stock response for when people ask why you're not drinking. Practice saying it and meaning it. Also there might be some social occasions where it is best to let someone / people know ahead of time so they can get used to the idea and you can ask for their support. Depends on your crowd and the occasions.

Good luck, you won't regret it

I can’t drink anymore due to my health condition, and DH is sober now. It’s our 3rd Christmas like this.
We love kombucha and kefir, as it still has the fizz and lightness of a cava like drink. I also love the ‘champagne’ drink from this list: https://www.countryliving.com/food-drinks/g29386984/non-alcoholic-christmas-drinks/

We focus more on the cosy hot drinks, like hot chocolate and apple cider (non alcoholic of course!).

We also now eat an epic dessert, even though we aren’t really dessert people, which makes up for the lack of wine at the table.

I have to admit though, I felt very sad drinking Coke Zero at my work Christmas drink this week. It was one those moments when I would have killed for a glass of wine.

Thanks for the recommendations, I just tried the aperol alternative, I think it's nicer!
Thank you
I'm sorry @movinghomeadvice coke zero is a rough one but you did it! That's a result x

A good list of tips in this podcast:

10 sober commandments for a joyful Christmas

open.spotify.com/episode/7bfcEzqB96nHsqPZoUUN11?si=30dUrr-ET9aWBx514zz5DA

Sainsbury Merry Berry is AF and £2 a bottle. Not too sweet. I added some extra cinnamon, oranges etc and everybody enjoyed it.

hello,

I’m following this thread with great interest.
Ive been a problem drinker for very, very many years.
I’m now teetotal as of a week due to medication which I cannot drink on. Will be on it for a long time. I’m actually relieved that I can no longer drink, I was worried about Christmas, but seeing all of your posts I now have so many ideas for lovely AF free alternatives. Thank you. ❤️

Thanks for all the suggestions on this thread. I'm not drinking as I'm on chemo and my liver and kidneys have more than enough strain on them. Was thinking I would have to have something at Christmas but there are some great alternatives, it seems. Not sure how to get hold of most of them, but some will be doable.

I did this about 15 years ago, stopped drinking for a week, and then another week went past, and another…before I knew it I was teetotal.

If anyone likes Guinness the AF version isn’t far off the normal one.
Robinsons lime & mint cordial topped with soda water is very refreshing.

Another good one is a measure of apple cider vinegar topped up the soda. Fake champagne.

It looks like the antibiotics haven’t fully done the job so at this rate I’ll be alcohol free for Christmas whether I want to be ot not

Thanks all the comments and suggestions..I am currently drinking crostino and AF sparkling fizz. It's lovely!

We shall be doing a light safari over the next few days - definitely a reason not to drink as I'm the driver. New year's we've booked a lovely restaurant with some very exciting sounding mocktails.