Lockdown drinking. Anyone trying to stop?

[LockdownDrinker]

I think I might have a bit of a problem. I've drank alcohol every single night for about 4 months. Never to huge excess but usually at least 2 beers or 2 glasses of wine every night. It definitely started pre-lockdown. With family stress at the moment I felt I needed it every night and when lockdown came into force I definitely felt like I needed it. Last night was the first night that I haven't had a drink. I had to consciously make the effort not to open the fridge and grab a beer. I told myself all day that I wasn't going to drink. I'm now sat in my garden thinking it would be nice to have a cold glass of white wine and realising that this isn't right. Anyone else been (or are) in this lockdown drinking boat? I'm determined to stick to no alcohol because I can feel myself sliding down a very slippery slope.

Good to catch it now @lockdowndrinker. If you are thinking about it often and struggling to go without it’s a sign you should definitely try and have a break. I can recommend a book - Alan Carr Easy way to control alcohol. It explains why we drink and how we fall into the trap and down the slippery slope if we are not careful. Life changing for me. Good luck!

I started cutting mine down a couple of weeks ago as I was drinking every day. I realised I was drinking 'just because' and wasn't even particularly enjoying it. I'm now back to pre-lockdown levels, possibly a bit less. Not saying it's been easy but hasn't been as bad as I was expecting. My smoking is still through the roof but I'm not going to try and tackle more than one thing at a time.

Have you tried buying another kind of 'treat' drink?

I bought myself some of the San Pellegrino lime and mint drinks. When I'm with the kids all day I often think 'I'd love a glass of wine' but end up reaching for the soft drink because it's so tasty and refreshing and just as much of a treat at the end of a difficult day.

For me, it's more lockdown whilst trying to move house, with constantly sunny weather, drinking.

I always drink more when the weather is like it has been recently, but we don't normally get it like this at this time of year and for this long! So it does bother me.

I haven't had many drink free days for a couple of months and I do worry about it, but try to stick to 2 or 3 glasses a day.

Later in the week, the weather is apparently shifting, so I suspect I'll be back to weekend only drinking.

So not really trying to stop, but certainly becoming more mindful.

I completely get what you mean. Lockdown has really encouraged me to drink more and its rare I now have more than 2 nights a week not drinking. Not huge amounts - 1 or 2 glasses of wine and possibly a posh fruity cider - but I'm going over my units, by 10 units extra usually which I know is bad. And it is an effort not to drink. I'm wfh and get so tempted to have a glass of wine at 3pm while doing work, so far I've had to be strict. I make myself wait until 5pm at least, and will drink while doing work. Tbe sun doesnt help!

I second pp on nice adult soft drinks (I call them posh drinks). My current favourite is the firefly juices. The mint one and the green tea and peach (cant taste green tea) are divine. When the options are water or wine it's an easy choice!!

I understand I don't think it's a problem yet but your aware that your drinking too much .
I've been a bit the same especially as the weather has been nice . Yesterday I woke and I felt a bit queasy so I knew I'd overdone it this weekend.
Alcohol free day yesterday and got back into exercise and same today .
I try and make it a rule if I feel like alcohol it's after 9pm in the week that way I'll only have 1 drink before bed .
If I opened the wine at 4-5pm I'll easily drink a bottle or more .

No, have just ordered more wine!

But seriously, I try to have 2 or 3 days a week alcohol free and I feel better for it.

Yes having this too. Trying to limit to weekends now (which can end up being Thurs- Sun Trying a cold drink you enjoy might help. I also have a bubble bath and listen to music to relax, instead.

I have had a beer every day during this lockdown. I will stop that when normal routine starts. Before lockdown I usually had two times half a beer during the week and half a bottle of wine or one beer during weekend.

Yes, definitely. I normally aim not to have a drink Monday-Thursday but that’s all gone out of the window since lockdown. I know it’s not good for me!

I track drinking on an app, and aim for 4 days booze free. Stopping for a month really helps, but is very challenging for the first week. Moderating drink is hard as a 'problem' drinker, I've been doing moderating for a few years and it takes a lot of my energy. After my month long breaks I always wonder why I start again!
The Allen carr book is good.
Check out club soda on Facebook too.

I am having the same issue, although try not to drink a few nights a week.
I make sure I have a case of Becks Blue in. One or two cold alcohol free beers will do me as I'm drinking for the break at the end of the day, rather than to get drunk.

If you feel this is a problem, then you might want to head over to the alcohol support board on here.

There's lots of great advice and support there.

Yep I’ve reduced to weekends only now as felt grotty.

I think many,many of us are in the same boat. I have been aiming to have 2 alcohol free days a week and 2 days where I have one and then a bit more on other days.

Ive only actually been a bit drunk on VE day, my birthday and another socially distanced event with neighbours!

We have just cracked open a beer as its sunny in the garden (again) and the weather is turning soon! DH furlough ends next week so that will reign us in.

Thank you for all of your comments. It's good to know I'm not alone. I like the idea of a 'posh soft drink'. I think it'll be good to have a refreshing alternative treat. Thank you for that suggestion.

Good for you for acknowledging it. Best to get on top of it now before it becomes more of a problem. Probably, it is more habit and a growing psychological dependence rather than a physical one at the moment.

I noticed this for myself in the 1st couple of weeks of lockdown. The combination of a stressful frontline role, spending days off bored at home and seeing friends constantly on zoom quizzes etc supping wine at 4pm on a daily basis made me think "not for me". So I stopped and haven't had an alcoholic drink since early April.

I was rather relieved to find it easy after the 1st few days. I am a sunny weather drinker too so have filled the gap with long tall glasses of fruit juice and iced coffee.

I am not having another drink until I am allowed to go to my favourite pub with friends. Then I will probably get absolutely trolleyed

I'm with you! I had given it up for lent (not particularly religious but needed the discipline) and then lockdown happen and I have a needy husband and teenagers and dog following me all day every day. By dinner time i needed (or felt i needed) help to be calm and sweet in order not to fling it all at them with bad grace and stomp off. I have been managing 2 days off a week but have to be much more conscious about what i am doing. I cannot wait to go back to work.

FWIW I often find when I am craving a drink it is because I am hungry or thirsty so a large glass of water or decent sandwich quells the craving. And hence I have gained 7lbs. Roll on normal times again! Whoever would have thought so much free time with your nearest and dearest would not be a good thing ?!