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Original poster

Has anyone successfully become teetotal?

125 replies

dinny · 02/09/2006 22:09

I'm seriously considering it. Had such a heavy night last night with a friend, drank far too much, ended up smoking and I still feel vile. Really feel like doing my body and my finances a favour and just stopping drinking. Anyone done this? Interested to hear and exp!

OP posts:
Crystaltips · 02/09/2006 22:10

Stop IT !!

Crystaltips · 02/09/2006 22:11

I should ... but I wont / can't

SherlockLGJ · 02/09/2006 22:11

The very thought of it.

You know the rules.

MN and wine go hand in hand.

For most of us anyway.

Original poster
dinny · 02/09/2006 22:13

Just would love to be one of those people that say "oh, I only drink at weddings etc". Are they for real?

OP posts:
SherlockLGJ · 02/09/2006 22:14

They are probably main-lining coke in the toilets.

PinkTulips · 02/09/2006 22:16

dp and i did it.... we were borderline alcoholics and came to the decision one day after blowing the rent on drink while hungover that we could either sober up and get on with life or we might as well go live in the streets. dp is a nasty drunk and is incapable of having just one.... he doesn't stop til the money runs out and gets abusive. i have a glass of wine now and again but tbh can't stand the sensation of being drunk nymore so don't do it.

Original poster
dinny · 02/09/2006 22:16

pmsl, LGJ

maybe will just do the teetotal-in-the-week thing and try to be restrained at weekends. am really stressing that am damaging heart as think my Dad's drinking may have played a part in his heart problems...

OP posts:
PinkTulips · 02/09/2006 22:16

mmmmmm..... did somebody mention coke

SherlockLGJ · 02/09/2006 22:17

PT

That is serious drinking, glad you came out the other side of it.

Original poster
dinny · 02/09/2006 22:17

good on your and your dp, Pinktulips. did you just stop and how did you handle not drinking at first? well done you.

OP posts:
suejoneziscalmernow · 02/09/2006 22:18

thats me, folks. Abnormal I know but true.

Was a very heavy drinker (not alcoholic but probably more than was healthy) now drink virtually nothing - had two glasses of wine at mumsnet meet up on thursday and two glasses of wine over the bank holiday weekend but nothing else for about 6 months.

Don't consider myself teetotal I just say that I don't drink very much.

Did it for two reasons:
Hang overs were getting more unpleasurable than the drunken nights were pleasurable (IFYSWIM)
I was a nicer person sober

flutterbee · 02/09/2006 22:21

I don't drink, or should I say I very very rarely drink (I'm talking once a year if that) DH doesn't drink either.

I just find it all terribly boring and a total waste of money, and trust me I used to drink and drink and drink and loved it.

I used to work very closely with 3 other ladies and all they thought about all day was getting home to a glass of wine etc I just found it very sad that their main pleasure i life was drinking.

Original poster
dinny · 02/09/2006 22:21

suejonez - your first reason is EXACTLY what I am feeling, the balance has tipped for me and the hangover isn't justified by the drinking... And I just feel so damn guilty whenever I've drunk the night before that my body must be trying to tell me something.

any tips to keep me on path of righteousness?

OP posts:
Beauregard · 02/09/2006 22:22

I am tee total
Havent had a drink for years although didn't drink much anyway ,to cut it short i think im allergic to alcohol, so rather than subject myself to paying money to feel awful and out of control i just stopped.Unfortunately this seems to make me appear extemley unsociable/boring to drinkers and i have no extra cash for not drinking and giving up the ciggies.

PinkTulips · 02/09/2006 22:25

almost came to blows on many occasions while drying out... and dp had a couple of slip-ups while out with mates but thankfully they only made him more determined after sobering up the next day and hearing what he'd said and done.

suejoneziscalmernow · 02/09/2006 22:26

I started by driving as much as possible which cut my drinking down a lot as I never drink and drive. I alternated alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic. I tried not to just go out for a drink but only drink with a meal.

I now don't drink by choice, I enjoy being sober and mornings are a pleasure again.

One word of warning - very very difficult to be with a partner who drinks heavily if you have cut back dramatically and drunk people become boring VERY quickly when you're sober. If your friends are heavy drinkers you will find yourself gravitating away from them.

PinkTulips · 02/09/2006 22:27

thats exactly it suejonez.... ahngovers just weren't worth it anymore!

Amanda1 · 02/09/2006 22:27

Message withdrawn

PinkTulips · 02/09/2006 22:30

o god yes.... drunk people are boring as hell when your sober. i try and avoid situations where i know everyone but me will be plastered as i find myself just sitting looking at my watch waiting for it to end!

Original poster
dinny · 02/09/2006 22:32

I've started drinking as routine really, and the amount I can get through is increasing, that' what worries me. And also, having good mornings and days are more important than the evening, iyswim. But it's difficult to know where to 'start' - do I just stop? and what do I do in evening after kids in bed instead (pathetic, I know!)

actually, just set up a blog to try and keep self focused. may post link (if brave enough!)

OP posts:
multitasker · 02/09/2006 22:34

Never was that big a drinker and since having kids I find the thought of a hangover just not worth it. Don't smoke either so have healthy budget for important things in life like beauticans and TK Maxx! Circle of friends shrinking though, hence sitting at computer on a Sat night....

suejoneziscalmernow · 02/09/2006 22:34

I tend to leave parties ('cos I get invited to soooooo many!) slightly early to avoid being the only sober one amongst drunks. I always make up some excuse before hand so no-one tries to make you stay. Obviously if I'm enjoying myself I stay.

I find observing very drunk people reinforces my desire to stay sober! Slightly merry people are funny, roaring drunk people are generally obnoxious.

serenity · 02/09/2006 22:36

I wouldn't call myself teetotal as I probably have a couple of drinks a year, but I suppose I am one of those 'only drinks at weddings' people. When I do drink, it's only one or two and only ever on 'occasions'. I'd never just drink at home for no reason. I drank quite heavily from the age of 15 to about 25, and then I just got bored of it. I realised that I loathed the feeling of being drunk and hated being out of control, so I stopped. I will admit to have quite mixed feelings about drink anyway though as both my FIL and my Dad were both alcoholics to various degrees.

Without wanting to sound preachy, I must say that the amount of drinking that people on MN say they do on a normal evening at home is quite worrying to me.

Original poster
dinny · 02/09/2006 22:36

I can't imagine myself at a party and not drinking. But hardly go out, really, it's more the habitual wine-in-front-of-TV I want to get a grip on.

OP posts:
suejoneziscalmernow · 02/09/2006 22:37

Oh dinny "what do I do in evening after kids in bed " is a bad sign - you could be me 10 years ago! I ended up with an unhealthy tolerance for alcohol, I would be embarassed to admit how much I could drink before anyone would notice a difference in my behaviour.

I didn't stop cold turkey, just cut back but my problem wasn't drinking at home but out at pubs. Could you switch to spritzers - would you still drink as much or very long G&T's with very little gin and lots of ice and tonic?