I love Cider, but I wish it was weaker

Pee

I would be very careful about going to the Dr and getting this added to your medical records at this stage.

It is certainly possible to be an alchoholic yet not drink for three days a week. I have a friend who is def an alchoholic and he can go months without a drink, he will often refuse a drink in that period, because once he has one, that's it for the next three or four days, no work, just drinking.

My understanding is that you have concerns about your drinking.

I like Strongbow and I also like Koppaberg and there is a low alcohol pear koppaberg that might suit you - I say might as it is a def different flavour to Strongbow, so you might hate it!

I would suggest that you moniter your drinking and then consider whether it seems acceptable to you.

You might also like to consider how you really feel about having a baby. You will find that some people have a different and more relaxed attitude to drinking whilst pregnant and the guidance changes. Once you have a baby, drinking could easily impair your ability to look after it, so having a baby does mean that you won't be getting drunk except in exceptional circumstances for the next maybe 12 years. That said, you say that it's not the effect you are looking for.

If you are having a baby, you should be considering life insurance.

Flearoy

If you are worried about your drinking then you do have a problem. Don't wait until it the booze really causes problems to get it sorted. I was dependent from leaving home until 28 (a good 10 years) though not your stereotypical down and out! Caused me no end of grief in the end. Gave up for a few months, then went back to drinking in moderation, which believe me, takes some control. I enjoy a few beers a week now, and I mean savour - good quality ales not cheap cack that I used to guzzle a crate a week.

For me the low alcohol, no alcohol route was a joke. Wouldn't advise it.

Diane1961_2

I gave up a year ago because I realised how my emotions were making me reach for one G&T after work, to blur the edges of my life, make it easier. Better to name and deal with the parts of my life that make me unhappy than drink to get through. I switched to tonic with ice and a slice, and realised that I wanted a different taste/sensation in my mouth after work. I've dropped the sugary drinks now and just have water.
People do find it odd when you say no but I'm practised now, I just say I don't drink and if they ask why, I say it doesn't make me feel good. I started by saying that I was just seeing how long I could go without, or to lose weight. I really didn't want to set myself up in conflict with myself - you know, trying to give up something makes it even more desireable, and giving up forever!!! I'm happier being honest now and if they push I tell them about my alcoholic father and ex-husband, or some of my less glorious occasions, and how I'm breaking the patterns I learned for me and my children.
Be gentle with yourself and take your time.

ailuro2

Pee wrote: »

I would be very careful about going to the Dr and getting this added to your medical records at this stage.

I agree 100% with this, don't want to be pigeon holed if it's just a bit of a habit that's got out of hand and needs reined in a bit, and don't want it on medical records that may be checked for future employment.

The reason I suggested weaning yourself off is you may indeed have a more serious problem than you've realised and may require medical intervention if you were to go cold turkey, and to be honest, one of the reasons I said it is we're not allowed to give out medical advice here, so saying any more can land up with the thread being closed, and none of us want it to head that way.

There's no reason to go cold turkey if you just need to cut back a bit.;)

Again, good luck. I used to drink a lot, these days I hardly drink at all, because the hangovers stink and since I started driving I need to be careful the next day anyway, so for the past 16 years I've hardly drunk - I did my fair share in the few years before that though...weekend started Thursday, through Friday Saturday and sunday, them monday night was a night in, Tuesday was pub darts, wednesday night go to the bank to see if you've been paid and pop for a few drinks if the money was in... and at the time I thought it was 'normal' as there were people who drank EVERY night of the week!!

babyshoes

I have previously been worried about my level of drinking, though it was binge drinking rather than regular drinking. It took a lot of self control, but I manage to stop entirely for a few months, then taught myself to drink in moderation. These days I seldom drink, but when I do I have learned to start an evening out with a soft drink so that other people are one drink ahead of me. I don't know quite why it works, but it does for me - you may find a similar trick works for you, substituting the first/second/last drink with a non-alcoholic drink you like the taste of. It works particularly well if you are thirsty, as you gulp the soft drink and can drink the alcohol more slowly to savour it.

I also try to never drink alone, so if my OH doesn't want a drink, I usually don't have one either. As others have said, drinking to escape your problems can be dangerous. Have you tried other forms of escapism? Off the top of my head, I can think of reading a good book, watching a movie, phoning a friend (or Samaritans if your problems are really worrying you), going for a walk, retail therapy, a hobby etc.

Unfortunately, this will take a bit of self control on your part, but admitting it and wanting to do something about it is a good first step. If I can do it, you can too - I have very little self discipline in most things - if you want this enough, you will find a way. Don't beat yourself up if you fall off the plan though, just start again where you left off, the same as if you were on a diet!

anonlass

Thank you folks, for all your suggestions and opinions.

And yes, I would love this thread not to be closed down. So I take your ideas, as ideas, and I should use my judgement about what you type.

Just like those folks who have spending / debt problems, need the support / ideas or a kick up the "ahumm bum", I am hoping this will provide the same for me.

kindofagilr - it would be great if you cld provide the sainsbury's drink link.

ailuro2 - well 2nite I drank a hot orange, 1 cider, and am currently on 1 coke. So lets see how this goes.

Lotus-Eater - well the thing I am quite annoyed at with SB is the strength - 5.3%, which is already way over the max limit for a lass - huh!!! How many folks, can only drink 1 a night. Whether its a glass of water, coffee, squash??? If they made it 'weaker' you could drink the 2-3 of them.

As I don't drink SB for the buzz or to feel 'mellow', its a major disadvantage.

Changing Ways - Cool, will have look later this evening - oops BRB dinner smells a little over done :P

Pee - Koppaberg, thats a name from the past. pear cider, is very sweet, but after the first one, it goes down like lemonade. Not quite what I am after

Mum used to use drink (1 only with the meal) until after we went to bed, and she had a couple of shor:eek:ts. She was a social worker, and lets say, her job was blooming stressful. Looking back, I could see that if she had that one small drink, she relaxed, physically relaxed, emotionally relaxed and help my bro and I with homework etc. And I suspect that this is where mine started from.

Kids. My aim is to drink at the max drink one in a blue moon (preferably no more than 1 drink / fortnight), during my pregnancy and f/t breast feeding. In essence be tee-total.

I am sorry, but as I feel I have already acknowledge the problem, and am looking at solutions, I think heading to the GP at this moment in time, could be heading for diaster. I am not saying we have a 'granny state' at the moment, but who knows what is being 'read', will be given to future employers.

Babyshoes - Unfortunatley my OH rarely drinks, and really, really doesnt like going to the pub. Which beforehand I used to on a Thurs for the quiz nite, which helped to reduce the temptation of it all. So although he has offered to walk me there, walk back to the house for a couple of hours, and then collect me. It just feels like its wrong.

Some else also mentioned exercise. Well if I am totally honest, its a swear word in my vocab. On the other hand my exercise in the past was swimming. But as both the nearest leisure centre nearest home (10mins walk), and to my work place (8min drive), and can u you believe this, they are both being rebuilt ARGHHHH It goes against the grain to do a 19mile trip. It just goes against the grain and the MSE in me.


I SWEAR that If / and I say if, that I drink continusouly for 14 days, without a break, then I will go cold turkey, and if that fails, will head to AA at the next immediate session. This you can take to the bank or the tax collector.

AL

ragz_2

When we were in france we bought loads of 1.5% cider, I love the taste of cider but don't like to drink a lot of alcohol so this was perfect for me, esp when pregnant. May be able to get it over here. HTH

anonlass

LOL Ragz, I guess that means I will have to suggest to the OH, to go to France for the honey moon then :P

blimey - looking back, looks like I wrote an essay

ragz_2

Funnily enough I was drinking fizzy pop last night (never used to drink the stuff, recent habit started when pregnant) and thinking about how it's odd that I can get through nearly a bottle a night (2 ltr) and that I'd not drink that much tea/squash. I think there's something about fizzy sweet stuff that makes you feel thirstier.

Lotus-eater

anonlass wrote: »

Lotus-Eater - well the thing I am quite annoyed at with SB is the strength - 5.3%, which is already way over the max limit for a lass - huh!!! How many folks, can only drink 1 a night. Whether its a glass of water, coffee, squash??? If they made it 'weaker' you could drink the 2-3 of them.

As I don't drink SB for the buzz or to feel 'mellow', its a major disadvantage.

You know what.....honestly.

Strongbow tastes like crap, it really does, it's not a nice taste, chemicals and sugar.

If you want to taste something nice then go for organic apple juice, or squeeze some apples yourself, amazing taste.

The fact that you choose alcohol as a nice taste, I don't think it means you need to have the taste. I think it means you need to have the alcohol.

You've already said yourself, you want to get pregnant, you don't have any reason to drink the stuff, so just stop, but you don't want to stop because of the taste? The taste? seriously, something that could hurt a baby, that you say you don't even like the effects from?

If what you say is true then it should be easy, a little willpower and a silly reason for a thread, similar to me posting a thread about how I couldn't give up Dr pepper because I like the taste so much, yet my teeth are falling out.

So stop then and I hope you do. Find something else you like the taste of.