have you eer given up alcohol?

[DimpledThighs]

If so what were your reasons?
was is hard?
did you go back?

I am wondering about stopping drinking for a whole year - it is my birthday adn I am wondering about stopping for the whole time I am 33.

I don't feel social pressure but do think we have a rather stupid drinks culture in the country, I prefer the attitudes abroad to booze.

I didn't conciously give up but from Jan 01 (when I got preg with dd2) to now I have drunk 6 times (4 in the last year)
Myxh was an alcoholic and for a long time I sturggled being around alcohol.The smell reminded me of him drunk and occaisionally I would have to leave a room as I was scared by it.
I have gradually started drinking again but its a glass of wine with a meal out (don't get out often ) although I did get pissed twice (had 2 glasses ) and regretted it (mainly 'cos of the bloke factor rather than the hangover 0

I have felt social pressure but notice that it is more acceptable for a woman to give up drinking than a man. My own family in particular have given up trying to get me to drink but never stop pestering dp to have "just one". People also seem to feel sorry for him and assume that I am forcing him not to drink

Nobody has ever shown sympathy for me or suggested it must be hard for me not to drink, either, whereas for dp it is obviously a mammoth sacrifice

Ah well...

MumtoRothko the name change was just a joke to tease Aitch. She has changed recently to AitchYouBerk so I thought I would go one further. Who the devil are you? (great name)

I have 'pretty much' given up. Which is to say, I now drink about a twentieth of the amount I did a year ago.

I love not having hangovers. I love not having that feeling of being drunk on the train home. I love the money I don't spend. Last night I went out to a spiffy new tapas place and had one delicious glass of beer, and that was the first alcohol that had passed my lips in a month. I had a fab evening.

I was still at the stage where I was getting drunk almost every time I went out. And still drinking every night at home (maybe only a small glass or two, but even so...) I was embarrassing myself. And then one particular incident which is too shameful to repeat made me really sit up and think 'Hang on, you're not a 19-year-old student anymore, get a grip on this'. So I did.

And it was, surprisingly, really easy. Haven't lost any weight, though

yeah yeah, but it's anonymous here innit?

but we would never tell anyone

we are just internet sprites, after all

I didn't drink at all until I was 20 , didn't like the taste. I often don't now. I haven't really drunk this year I think, not consciously stopped but just haven't.

DT - it's like said earlier (www I think) - it's a habit that one gets into and so can get out of, perhaps with varying amounts of effort/help/determination.
v. soon, hopefully, it will seem odd to actually 'want' to drink.
I'd stopped quite a few times, for months now and again, and could v. happily do it again if I had the inclination to.
And it's soo weird to be in a room full of drunk people, as you see just how ugly one can be when drunk,yes?
Good luck with it if it's what you feel like doing.

No. And no immediate plans to do so (as she takes another swig of Stella)

But am in awe of those who can and do!

I never really drank, got rat assed a few times out clubbing but not often. Don't drink at all now - alcohol makes me sneeze & I don't like the out of control feeling.

Have given up for Lent and am sticking to it because a/my friend is doing it and feel a mix of solidarity and competitiveness and b/I am on a not-eating diet (Cambridge) and couldn't drink alcohol with that.
I feel better for it, tbh, and don't massively miss it at the moment, but would not relish never drinking again. The thing I find is that food is so, so boring without a glass of wine. To me, it becomes just fuel, not a pleasure.

like the blog - very funny

If you mean my little bro's blog - then cheers (so to speak) - see earlier link. I'm actually quite proud of him and REALLY hope he makes the full year - long way to go yet. He is VERY funny actually and has spent his whole life making me laugh!

yes - his blog - very funny and insightful. Good for him - tell him from me I thought it rocked.

I stopped for 2.5 years, brought on by the regret of losing more than 48hrs during a binge.

Problem was, when I finally decided to fall off the wagon it only took 3 shots of vodka to lay me up in hospital for 2 days with alcohol poisoning

I now drink moderately, pretty much take it or leave it.

My tolerance level is way down now so it doesn't take much to get extremely merry so I guess the upside is I am now a really cheap date

have just reread this thread and I have decided that I am goin to go dry for a year - just had my birthday so seems very apt.

I don't have an alcohol problem just a difficult relationship with it - i hardly ever drink and when i do I think I can drink like I did when I was young and drink more than a few pints - very unhealthy and basically binge drinking. Also I hate the feeling of a los of control.

I only drink once or twice a month, but when I do it is always a lot.