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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:
misdee · 02/09/2006 23:19

i very rarely drink. i used to be a proper party girl. used to do all nighters, then go back to our flat and carry on drinking. dh friend and I once opened and finished off a bottle of vodka

i wonder what damage i have done to myself, but i stopped drinking almost altogether 4.5years ago. i have the occasional wine, or night out.

SaintGeorge · 02/09/2006 23:20

Was a heavy drinker from late teens to early 20's, as in 20+ vodkas per night every night.

Stopped totally and stayed tee-total for 2.5 years.

Drank 3 vodkas, ended up with alcohol poisoning

Stopped again for about 18 months.

Now drink very occasionally. I reckon 3-4 alcopops and I am plastered, especially if I haven't eaten much. Don't miss it, but do have fun on the occasions I decide to indulge.

ballderdash · 02/09/2006 23:21

Hello there Missdee. How is Dave?

ballderdash · 02/09/2006 23:22

SG 20+ was that on one night out?

Blondilocks · 02/09/2006 23:24

I know someone who stopped drinking for ages. I think she now just has the odd glass of something.

I don't think I'd want to give up totally, but I can understand maybe wanting to cut down. I definitely drink less than what I used to but that's mainly as I'm not going out as often as I used to I suppose.

expatinscotland · 02/09/2006 23:26

No, not permanently. I have had long periods of dryness, but now that I can take it or leave it, don't think I'll ever be teetotal.

ballderdash · 02/09/2006 23:26

I tend only to drink at weekends as in Friday/Saturday nights cos otherwise I can't function

SaintGeorge · 02/09/2006 23:28

Yep ballderdash, most nights.

SaintGeorge · 02/09/2006 23:29

Thinking about it, I had most Sundays off

expatinscotland · 02/09/2006 23:29

Considering that I used to drink at least one bottle of wine a night, I don't drink nearly what I used to.

misdee · 02/09/2006 23:29

i know many daves, but peter is fine.

ballderdash · 02/09/2006 23:29

Jesus I would be comatosed on a few vodkas and that is putting a full soft drink rather than a dash in it

misdee · 02/09/2006 23:31

st george you sound like me in my late teens.

i think there comes a point in the drunken weekend haze where you think , i want real life back.

expatinscotland · 02/09/2006 23:33

I was a high-functioning drunk, surrounded by other high-functioning drunks. Seemed like a case of you find what you seek. I knew exactly how much I could get away with on 'school nights'. But at weekends, I really let loose.

SaintGeorge · 02/09/2006 23:34

I started drinking to keep up with my mates. Then carried on to keep up with DH. Then thought 'what the fck?" and stopped.

The irony is, I think I was more sober on the vodka in my 20s then I ever am on the alcopops in my 30s.

misdee · 02/09/2006 23:35

i went to see sandi thom the other month with sparkly and sister+friend, i was hammered on 5 alcopops.

5 used to be what we started the night off at the train station into london

ballderdash · 02/09/2006 23:35

ok am gonna be totally green here but can i ask what a "functioning" drinker is or what?

Blondilocks · 02/09/2006 23:38

After a while I'm sure you start to become immune to it. My wakeup call was when I didn't start getting drunk until drinking wine, vodka, cocktails etc in stupid amounts. I do think that I drank more when going out with certain friends. Mind you I was never worried to go out & not drink on many occasions.

However OH says I've never been totally drunk - I've never been sick or had a bad hangover & I'm quite proud of this, but maybe I wasn't quite as wild as I thought I was.

The main thing I think is that if you want to give up then try to do it. Don't do what other people say you should do (unless you're drinking far too much every day - in this case it might be wise to take notice of their concerns).

expatinscotland · 02/09/2006 23:39

I still have an amazing tolerance when it comes to wine. Can still drink a half bottle easily and only be buzzin'.

But that's it.

One pint and I'm buzzin'. Ditto any sort of spirits.

ballderdash · 02/09/2006 23:41

Don't want to be intrusive but is your drinking different now ExP that what it was?

ballderdash · 02/09/2006 23:42

Half bottle of wine seems very little

expatinscotland · 02/09/2006 23:43

Yes, baller. Before, I was completely dependent on it. I could NOT be w/o it. The thought would make me panic. I'd 'stock up'. I would NOT go anyplace where I knew there was no access to booze. No way. Or I'd take plenty of booze along. I'd start getting excited before leaving work, knowing it was time to booze.

At weekends, I'd go wild, w/help from booze.

I couldn't stop.

Now, I can.

expatinscotland · 02/09/2006 23:44

Amazingly enough, it was incredibly easy to find loads of very successful, accomplished people who were just as dependent on alcohol as I was.

nikkie · 02/09/2006 23:53

My xh is a recovering alcoholic, living/dealing with him at his worst put me off alcohol for a long time.For about 4 years after we split I avoided pubs/people drinking etc.Its only in the past 12 months I have started drinking again although only 5-6 times since then.

I lost a lot of friends and as I tended to avoid nights out didn't keep up with those I had.

zippy539 · 02/09/2006 23:53

How did you cut back expat? Or is that I stupid question?

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