To ask you to tell me all the positives about not drinking alcohol

[Rachtoteach]

My mother is an alcoholic. I have only recently acknowledged this as she had been functioning ok but her health is now in such a bad state, her liver is failing and she has circulation problems which means she rarely leaves the house (but she will struggle to the shop to buy gin). Her sister is also an alcoholic. I am an only child and have three lovely kids and an amazing DH. My wine intake had been increasing and hangovers getting worse and I had a bit of an enlightening moment when I realised that I could choose life or alcohol (bit dramatic but am currently feeling my mum has chosen gin over us, by far). I am an all or nothing person and have taken the decision to give up the booze for good, rather than cut down. Alcohol no longer has a place in my life.

So... please help me think of all the fab things about not drinking! So far I've thought of - no hangovers, no memory loss, no embarrassment, saving money, weight loss.......

Inspire me please!!

[Blueskiesandcherrypies]

Thanks for your responses :).

Little, that's our pattern too though recently we open that dreaded second bottle of wine on a week night far too often......

We are going on holiday in 2 weeks and I would love not to drink. I might have one with an evening meal and stop at that, it wouldn't feel like holiday otherwise and DH would think I'm a party pooper - is that bad?!

[JulietBravoJuliet]

I had a similar epiphany at New Year after I had a drink related accident and sustained a serious head injury after falling over drunk. My dad is also an alcoholic and I realised I was drinking far too regularly and far too much. I haven't touched a drop since, and I genuinely don't want to. I'm petrified that next time I stumble and fall, it'll kill me.

I feel so much healthier for it! My skin has improved, my hair looks better, I'm sleeping far better than I was (when I get to sleep, as the head injury has left me with insomnia!), and the real biggy for me is the amount of money I've saved. I still get invited to, and go to, social events, but I drink lime and soda nowadays and get to laugh at my friends when they are slurring and staggering around! But I'm also compus mentus enough to ensure they get home safely.

I wouldn't recommend a brain haemmorrage and a stay in hospital as a cure for drinking, but I would definitely recommend stopping. Now I just need to have a chocolate related accident and my weight problem would be solved...

[tigerdriverII]

What an interesting thread and interesting to see it revived, too. I don't know if I saw it last year, if I had done I would have dismissed it as not for me. At the time I was getting through about 5 bottles of wine a week (possibly some denial there). Now, and for the last five months, I drink nothing - I love it and all of the benefits above are absolutely true. blueskies there are a couple of threads on here you might like - the Brave Babes and DRY. I lurk on them.