Question about giving up the booze...

Thing

Thing

Active member
Ok so I've been thinking for a while now that I need to cut out (or significantly reduce) my alcohol intake - been drinking far too heavily for a good 30 years. Inspired by the "quality of life" thread, and as I'm about to make a significant change work-wise, thought now's as good a time as any so want to take the plunge!

Serious question though - aimed at the good members of this board who've walked the same walk...... what do you drink instead? Have you just gone H2O, replaced with cups of tea, or something else?

Advice appreciated.
 
Usually for me, caffeine free tea in the evening, pick a good range from somewhere like Hebden Tea.

Non-alc beer too, great range these days.

And trying to stay off the pop, that’s no good!

It’s not perfect, had one beer last night and was annoyed with myself afterwards. But having a little person to look after helps - it’s hard enough as it is without adding a hangover into the mix.
 
Thing said:
Ok so I've been thinking for a while now that I need to cut out (or significantly reduce) my alcohol intake - been drinking far too heavily for a good 30 years. Inspired by the "quality of life" thread, and as I'm about to make a significant change work-wise, thought now's as good a time as any so want to take the plunge!

Serious question though - aimed at the good members of this board who've walked the same walk...... what do you drink instead? Have you just gone H2O, replaced with cups of tea, or something else?

Advice appreciated.
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I've not given it up completely but have reduced it by a good amount. In social settings I drink alcohol-free/low alcohol beers or ciders. There are some really good ones out there now, including Guinness 0% and Sheppeys AF.

I've taken inspiration from that thread as well and am cutting right down on processed food and red meat. Not fully vegan/vegetarian, maybe classed as flexitarian.
 
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I've had to give up for medical reasons, since last November. First of all I tried to replace it with alcy free beers - tried them all I think, did lots of research on the best ones, and found none of them worked for me at all. Some were pleasant, but I was just thinking whats the point, there are more pleasant things to drink. I drink a lot of squashes now (at home), there are some really good ones out there. I have also tried different teas, but nothing beats a nice strong yorkshire brew. so for me - fruit juices, slightly fizzy fruit drinks, squashes etc. beer was so important & delicious to me..... nothing can replace it is the honest answer.
 
I’m in a similar state of mind to you, I’ve drank fairly frequently and heavily for 20 years, but since March 2020, I’ve cut down lots and started a exercise plan which I try to stick to religiously. I love the thought of being tee total and not drinking at all, but I don’t think I’ll ever achieve that goal, I enjoy holiday beer, a Christmas mulled wine and a celebratory glass of fizz. Maybe cutting down might suit you better than the sudden shock of knocking it on the head altogether?
 
I don't drink anywhere near what I did in my 20's and early 30's, and have never really drunk in the house, just for the sake of it, but when I go out, I do go full pelt. Used to be out 4-5 nights a week. Not really been one for a couple of drinks with a meal or whatever, I either have none, or I have it all. I go out less now (maybe twice a month), and when we do I seem to go out a bit later, and come back earlier, so I reckon my intake has came down loads.

But when I do now go "out out", I don't think I could go from all to nothing, so for me I'd probably just stick to pints for a few months, rather than going onto Gin or whatever which goes down like water towards the end of the night.

Then once I'd got a grip on that, I'd probably move from drinking pints, to moving onto bottles, and not get into rounds.

Then after 6 months of that I might be able to go "out out" without booze. I can't tolerate ***ed up people when I'm sober mind, and get a bit anxious late on if everyone's hammered an I'm not.
 
I can easily got months without a drink. Not teetotal just like to have a good few months without from time to time.
Just drink orange when i go out (I don't drink anything fizzy, haven't for about 2 years just by choice) so i'd drink fresh orange, water, cordial if i go out and don't want a beer.

At first, i'd get people taking the **** and buying me pints, but soon as i didn't drink them, the micky taking soon stopped and people just don't even mention it now.
 
I knocked booze on the head about 8 months ago. Don't miss it at all. Drink water/juice/tea/coffee at home or out and about during the day.. if I'm out in a social setting on a night (party, pub, pre match, etc) I'll drink ginger beer or lime & soda.
 
Stopped over ten years ago.
In the pub with the lads before the match - stick to coffee in the "spoons".(y)
 
I still drink far too much, so not coming from a position of not drinking, however whilst my wife was pregnant I did knock it on the head a bit in support. I found that there's plenty of alternative choices:-

0% gin (Particularly Seedlip) & tonics are pretty close to the real thing
Pretty much every beer brand has a 0% version of their product nowadays, many of which are pretty decent
A lot of bars will offer mocktails, some of which are great and really refreshing
Nosecco from M&S is pretty decent, especially the rose version

The one thing I've found is that 0% wine is a waste of time, and not only nothing like wine but pretty disgusting as well.
 
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I often drink 0% Guinness and find it almost identical to the alcoholic version. Slightly more watery but still has that creamy Guinness-taste to it. Only 72kcals per 440ml can as well.
 
As soon as I went to work in a dry country (Saudi) I made that transition to being a juice and tea drinker fairly quickly. Ok not everyone can go to work in a dry country to force home the issue but it served me well as I sort to change my lifestyle. Moreover, seeing my own father totally reliant on the demon drink helped me make a life-changing decision also. Ok I still socialize but can easily go without in fact using the excuse of “driving” or “work tomorrow” also is a good way of changing your mindset. There’s other ways of course of changing your lifestyle but it’s whatever works for you.
 
On the non alcoholic beers I had a alcohol free budvar recently and really enjoyed it. Tasted similar to the normal stuff.
Not had the alcohol free Guinness, will try it.
 
I’m a complete p**s can. I managed 3 months drink free from the start of the year. Drank plenty of different 0% stuff, Heine, Budvar, Becks etc

I started drinking again in April and it’s probably worse than pre-new years eve. I need to knock it on the head.

Im hoping for a 28 day health farm in Kazakhstan from tomorrow. My weights fluctuated by 30kgs over the last 20 months. Crazy as im quite active and eat a reasonable diet.
 
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