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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:
Original poster
dinny · 02/09/2006 22:38

I definitly drink way over the recommended weekly amount at the moment. Really want to stop, the con are outweighing the pros for me at the moment.

EVERYONE will think I am up the duff, that's for sure!

OP posts:
PinkTulips · 02/09/2006 22:39

try living in ireland with the drinking culture over here.... there is no suh thing as a social event where everyone isn't pissed. dp and i seem to have lost most of our friends as we're no longer any 'fun' [angry. still worth it though!

dinny, we just stopped... you might have one or two false starts but you can do it

Original poster
dinny · 02/09/2006 22:40

SueJ, think will just stop, or at least stop drinking at home (only go out rarely, and am fine if am out). Just tend to glug when at home!

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noddyholder · 02/09/2006 22:40

I am one who can take it or leave it I love wine but don't like the hangovers which are worse as you get older.I live with a recovering alcoholic My dp hasn't had a drink for nearly 15 years and he says his life is amazing without it.It is sometimes just a habit and the clear headed mornings become almost as seductive as the first glass of wine once you have had a run of days with no alcohol

suejoneziscalmernow · 02/09/2006 22:40

Can I add a health warning - would that help? I don't know how much you drink but a doctor I know said that if a woman drinks half a bottle of wine every day long term, it's not a case of "if" she will have a liver problem but "when".

Try to stick to half a bottle say, on Sat and Sunday and just one glass (or two spritzers during the week).

Original poster
dinny · 02/09/2006 22:41

I went to uni in Belfast, PinkTulip, know where you're coming from!

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suejoneziscalmernow · 02/09/2006 22:42

I love clear headed mornings - wouldn't give them up for anything now. I have a hangover about once every two years now - more than enough!

PinkTulips · 02/09/2006 22:42

i couldn't face the kids with a hangover i know that!

Original poster
dinny · 02/09/2006 22:43

it's scary how insiduous drinking is in our culture, no?

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Beauregard · 02/09/2006 22:44

Be prepared to lose friends as they will think you are no fun etc blah de blah
Dp and i are so boring cos we dont drink ,well unless you count a few chocolate liquers at xmas

Original poster
dinny · 02/09/2006 22:44

ah, yes, another reason I want to stop is that I notice I am much more irritable with the kids the day afte I have even had 2 glass of wine...

OP posts:
SherlockLGJ · 02/09/2006 22:45

Pink Tulips

I think that is a bit of a sweeping generalisation re life in Ireland TBH.

Where do you live/Where did you live ?

noddyholder · 02/09/2006 22:45

Some wrinkles just disappear when you stop drinking It is like magic!

Original poster
dinny · 02/09/2006 22:45

I just find it hard to think of myself going out without drinking (and then smoking). I only smoke when I've drunk too much and sometimes think I only drink so I can 'let' myself have a fag.

OP posts:
noddyholder · 02/09/2006 22:46

I was brought up in Northern Ireland and there is a real drinking culture there They do think you're odd if you don't!

Amanda1 · 02/09/2006 22:46

Message withdrawn

Original poster
dinny · 02/09/2006 22:46

sorry, LGJ, didn't mean to make sweeping statement! me and all my friends were pissheads at uni though (obv wasn't friends with any pioneers, lol)

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SherlockLGJ · 02/09/2006 22:48

Dinny

There is a difference between reckless life at Uni and the everyday life that Pink Tulips appears to be referring to.

PinkTulips · 02/09/2006 22:49

lgj, we're in galway. dp is from tipp, i've lived for years in cork and my parents live in mayo and it's true in every one of those places.

the only place anyone ever wants to go is the pub or out clubbing and if we chose not to go we're 'boring', if we go and don't drink we're 'boring'... you get the picture. not drinking has alienated dp from he family who are all heavy drinkers and my parents still try and pressure us into drinking every time we visit.

suejoneziscalmernow · 02/09/2006 22:50

Isn't it compulsory to have a reckless life at Uni? Thats why I did half the things I did, didn;t realise it wasn't compulsory

SherlockLGJ · 02/09/2006 22:50
Amanda1 · 02/09/2006 22:51

Message withdrawn

Original poster
dinny · 02/09/2006 22:51

I come from somewhere there is a drinking culture (an island where there isn't anyhing to do in winter except go to the pub, really)

There are of course people that don't drink who live there, but the general culture is one of drinking quite heavily.

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SherlockLGJ · 02/09/2006 22:54

PT

OK, I will agree with you, that life in some parts of tthe provinces seems to be so much more geared to heavy drinking.

In fact a quick trawl of the RTE website, will reveal most fatalities on the roads, happen "down the country".

Further investigation will reveal, that it was usually about an hour to an hour and a half after chucking out time.

SherlockLGJ · 02/09/2006 22:55

Yes I am going to the Christmas meet-up, is it a date ??

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