teetotal Discussion thread

[Milzy]

I’ve been toying with the idea of stopping alcohol consumption.
The hangovers just make me feel depressed & I lose all productivity.
Over December it’s just constantly filled with social engagements & parties etc.
The thing is how does one turn up to a house party & just sit there sober as others become louder & louder & silly then more silly?
I can’t see how non drinkers can mix with drunks. Is the answer to just stay away??
Discuss.

 

[nickyboy]

I think us drunks would prefer it if you did

 

[numbnuts]

Good question, when I lived in Aussie I was getting to be an apprentice alcoholic, so I stopped, but then I found I was not getting any invites to BBQs like I use to and the main reason was “well you don't drink”, I found the answer very poor as I thought I was alright being sober, but to a pi$$head I was a big disapointment and didn't belong.
As luck would have it I came home and told everybody I was tee total and people excepted me as I was and all this was back in the 90s. Today it is very easy to be a tee total with the tighter drink drive laws and I do think that there are quite a few people that don't drink as they can't afford it as it is not cheap these days, but saying that soft drinks in pubs ain't that cheap either, you can't win.
If you want to be tee total, just be yourself, good luck.

 

[Vantage]

The secret is knowing when to stop.
At the risk of sounding like a killjoy, there's little lady like or gentlemanly about getting sh##faced and making an arse of yourself through drinking too much.
Drink slowly and when you get a bit tipsy, simply finish your drink and leave it at that.

 

[Heltor Chasca]

I haven’t drunk for nearly 2 years. It has been great. The invites out with my drinky mates have stopped. No great loss. No lost days on the bike or work. The savings have been astonishing. People still offer me a drink. When I decline, the wise ones don’t ask again. The alcoholics or brainless carry on pestering me. They only stop when I humiliate them. It’s not comfortable but I haven’t found another method to shut them up.

I witnessed the destruction of my biological parents. Yes they were probably dysfunctional anyway, but they shouldn’t have been drunks either. It destroyed them. My children’s mother drank way too much. She was either not sober enough to be sociable or too hungover the next day and grouchy.

I stand back from it all now and see that actually our whole society is beleaguered by alcohol which is entrenched in our culture. If you are happy, have a drink. If you are sad, have a drink. If you have just been paid, have a drink. If you have just run out of money, have a drink. I listen to some of the parents at the school gate, boasting about how wasted they got and spent the weekend in bed and can’t remember what fun they had. And they can’t understand why they can’t shift the weight.

Alcoholics exist at all sorts of levels. I guess even though I am sober indicates I have my own issues with booze.

 

[Drago]

I'm a terrible lush, but don't suffer hangovers or owt. If you decide to give it up then good luck to you sir.

 

[gavroche]

When I go out, I may drink half a pint of cider and then it is orange juice all the way. Nobody ever forced me otherwise as my excuse is always:"I am driving."

 

[LeetleGreyCells]

Teetotal and proud. Do what’s right for you.

 

[Smokin Joe]

I haven't drunk alcohol for over thirty five years, up till then I was a regular pub goer and used to like knocking a few back. It just lost it's appeal and I have had no hankering for a drink ever since. I still go in pubs from time to time and can quite happily be on soft drinks all night. If people don't like it, tough.

 

[Levo-Lon]

To be honest @Milzy you wont want to go to the party.
Once you kick the habit it wont bother you.

I stopped going to my local about 3 mth ago, i haven't missed hearing the same tale over and over .I've got into having a few bottled beers at 90p or £1 a pint for a good beer.
Money im saving has been spent on nights away.

I have stopped drinking for a few yrs but a little now and again is ok.
My wife hasn't had alcohol since she was a teen. She really doesn't like rowdy loud annoying drunks.
Im a happy drunk btw and dont get hammerd. I've never understood the drink yourself into a vomiting stupor.

 

[Lullabelle]

I like a drink, at the weekend the 2 of us will open a bottle 1 evening, watch tv and relax, that is our choice. When we go out we will have a couple and also non alcoholic. We like to relax, enjoy and remember our evening.
We stopped going to the works Christmas do because most of the just get completely hammered on shots then brag about how ill they were and that they cannot remember anything, they wear this almost like a badge of pride, not for me thank you

I socialise with non drinkers and totally respect their choice.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I have given stopping boozing some thought. I'd say most of my weekly supermarket spending is on beer. I'm not the type to go out and get drunk. I prefer to have a pint or two down my local early every night and a pint or two when i come home. Yes i'd save money by not drinking,but save it for what? I'd just spend it on other non essential things. I'd also miss the social aspect though i could drink soft drinks i suppose.

 

[Sharky]

More or less total teetotal nowadays. When we go out, I am usually the driver so Becks Blue for me. Just a beer or two on special occasions.

Now tomorrow night we have been treated to a tour of Sipsmith's Gin factory. Going to be a challenge avoiding the free samples. I never drink spirits, so perhaps wont be too difficult, but as it was a present, I will have to pretend to enjoy it, as our daughter will be with us.

Wish me luck.

 

[welsh dragon]

I very rarely have and alcohol, mainly because my tolerance level is zilch. . I have the occassional drink at home but it is very seldom. No one that i know has a problem with that.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I like a drink, but find now a days after a couple of pints I'd rather have a cup of tea than more booze.