Quitting Drinking

[ChillerVapes]

Before I start, I need to point out that I am not an alcoholic, I've just got to the stage that when I do have a drink, I make an ass out of myself because I can't handle it anymore like I used to.

I want to stop drinking alcohol. I don't normally drink though the week but if I host or go to a party or go out for a drink, I normally end up pissed and regretting it the day after and I'm fed up of it.

It's fine to say, just don't drink but when eveyone else is drinking around you, how can you go without feeling bored out of your mind?

I just need a way to keep me off the drink for a while if not for good.
Thanks for any advice.

[sealover1]

its called binge drinking mate, I do the same as yourself (well used to before I mostly stopped) and I'm also doing the same as yourself, I'm doing it not just cuz I make an ass of myself if I get to pissed but it also makes me feel so ill the next day, (I mean a day or two in bed) I'm an alcoholic so I know a lot bout the fx of heavy drinking, if I go out for a drink now its normally only with food as I cant drink much and don't feel like drinking much if I eat with it.

you need to think about the people who are around you drinking all the time (if they are) and do you really want to be like them anymore? (most are ass holes in there own right lol)

Doing what your doing mate is like dieting, its a lifestyle change not just stopping drinking I know and its dam right hard for 1st few months I know,

go out for a meal rather then a piss up nowt wrong with a glass of wine with a meal if ya really feel you need a small drink

what ya need to do is start up new hobbies maybe start going to the gym or swimming try going out to new meets or clubs of sorts ... you need to replace the drinking thoughts with something new mate

[sealover1]

and what were doing up at 4am in the morning lol

[Perpetua]

I seldom drink now Chiller . . . got out of the regular habit when I started vaping, as a ciggy and a drink went together for me. So I had to break that cycle to succeed with vaping, plus I've a very addictive personality, so a glass of wine was never sufficient for me. It had to be the whole bottle or nothing.

I don't know that there is answer to not drinking if you're socializing other than having some willpower or becoming a social recluse, as it can get very tedious when everyone else around you is getting bladdered, although it's a sad reflection maybe that having a good time equals getting drunk thesedays.

[nicky]

Funny you should say that Mandy, nearly 18 months down the line i still struggle with a drink but no fags to go with it, they certainly go hand in hand....well for me anyway.

[sealover1]

I feel they do go hand in hand as well, if I started drinking again I,d deff go back to the cigs

[Roscopecotrain]

We have given up drinking too. Been just over a month now as we are trying for a little one. The thing that keeps me going on a night out is taking pics of everybody through the night as they get worse and then posting them up the next day or texting them to the person. Get some funny photos and some great ones as well. We live out of town so one of us always had to drive anyway and with both of us not drinking it is not to bad.





Sent from my Galaxy Note 2

[Super-Shiny]

I am afraid the only person who can tell you to stop is yourself, it's a tough one no doubt when being out and being with friends, but if it is getting to the point that you cannot remember anything the next day it's either you had a blast or more than likely you just went overboard.

Best way i find is to drink slowly, that way you know when to call it a night, drink fast and you won't know until you are on the deck dribbling on the floor.

Drinking is fun but ain't fun if you are asleep

[vereybowring]

I used to drink rather a lot of alcohol.
Unfortunately my tolerance was also very high.
For instance my standard quiet drink at home would be at least one bottle of rum and maybe a few beers, while a good session at home would be at least two bottles of rum plus cocktails and shots (and often would be less drunk than those around me).
Nights out started by downing a bottle of strong red wine just before heading out the door and then spending about £100 if out on me tod and much more if out with friends.

I cut down due to costs as I wanted stuff - good old capitalism.
I stopped when I saw the state my dad had got into with drink.
My father never got his under control and it killed him which underlined the point for me.

I now drink maybe one or two units a year. Part of that is I am now on a wide selection of medications for different things and my liver function is close to its limits just with those, let alone dumping alcohol into the equation.

Alcohol can be just as hard as smoking to boot to the side, but as with smoking you need some support and understanding from those around you. Friends just don't ask me anymore if I want a drink (alcoholic) but it did take a while to get them trained to stop badgering me when out.

[dinamic22]

I always thought the same about drinking & fags going together & in the past when i've been trying to stop smoking & gone out for dinking i have caved in & ended up smoking again, this time while vaping i've been out drinking at least 6/7 times over the last 3 weeks & its honestly not bothered me, in fact when smokers come back in after a smoke they smell awful, i've always liked the smell when i've stopped before i vaped. I agree with what others have said though if you don't want to carry on with the drinking you need to find something else to fill what would have been your drinking time.
They say stopping smoking is harder than coming off heroin, so if you can stop smoking (which you've already done) stopping drinking will be easy

[Jen]

One practical solution is to alternate drinks and wean yourself off that way. So one (low alcohol if possible) drink, then one large non-acoholic drink throughout the night. You don't want to miss out on social occasions (which always inevitably involve alcohol), but this way you'll stay hydrated and alert without being left out. And have a large meal before going out to line your stomach properly

[OneDay]

Chiller they say the first and biggest hurdle is admitting that you have a problem, which you've been brave enough to do not just to yourself but out here in the open too. Huge kudos for that. I can't add to the advice already given, but use the strength you have found to post to manage the next steps. Good luck.

[Deleted]

I'd go out of a night and do a bottle of jack and then walk home. Eventually I came to the conclusion that i go out, talk shite to people i don't really like unless |'m wasted, spend loads of cash and feel rough the next day. Personally i think it's part of the british persona, we're trained from a young age to think it's normal.
I haven't given up drinking, but I have given up going to the pub which has essentially had the same effect.
Now, I have 1 or 2 shots of something expensive and nice like a single malt on a friday night after work at home and that's me done. Quality over quantity works every time.

[giles]

I ran a small bar for a while (unpaid), and realised early on that if I drank all the pints I was offered I'd suffer, so I switched to halves.

But it seems to me that if what you do is go out with a bunch of mates and you all get absolutely legless, then there is no point in staying sober while you are out with them. Leave early, find something else to do with them, or find a new set of mates.

If it's just you, then if halves don't work I'd find a soft drink that I could stand, and stick to it religiously, for evenings anyway, for a month. After that you may find it easy enough to switch to the soft stuff after a couple of beers or whatever.

[-V-]

I stopped drink a year or so back.
No real reason just did...