Who's signing up for a "Dry January"?

nearlyrich

I am considering it but I have a 21st to attend early in January so maybe 4th to end of Jan for me....

onlyroz

I'm thinking about it. Trouble is the house is full of alcohol at the moment. But my jeans have definitely been getting a little tighter over the last month or so, so I reckon it's a good idea...

January20

VestanPance wrote: »

If you struggle to go a month without alcohol you have a problem. I go months without booze and never notice.

Oh thank God you posted this! I thought it was just me! I do like the odd G&T or glass of wine, but I could do the whole year dry and not miss it at all. I can't believe some posters are I so much in need of alcohol! (I'm not being judgemental, just quite astonished!)

nearlyrich

2 years ago I started in January doing the dryathon and I didn't have a drink until the end of February, I can easily sit in a pub with a lime and soda or even a brew but I do enjoy a glass of wine or a G & T. I don't ever drink if I am driving that day or early the next day and I don't ever get drunk and hung over.

purpleshoes_2

Some people can't do the entire year dry, for a multitude of reasons and sometimes people rely on alcohol more at certain times, break up of relationships, job loss, bereavements, loads of reasons, stress.

There will be people who go through all sorts of life stuff and don't touch booze, but if people are social drinkers, a glass or two of wine at the weekends for example, the thought of giving it up for a month might cause concern, because even if its just once a week habit, it's a habit. Plus as has been said, sometimes other peoples reactions, there's an expectation that you'll drink if you go into a pub for example.

If people are a bit concerned about giving up booze for January, Id understand that, I wouldnt necessarily see it as a problem. When I told people (not my family) that I was going to stop drinking for a while at the beginning of last year you'd have thought that Id said I was going to become a serial killer such was some people's reactions.

Some folk also enjoy an occasional social drink, nothing wrong with that, we do live in a very booze heavy culture and that can bring its own problems.

bluebeary

was going to make a thread asking for help with this, I am so in, please, need all the help I can get thanks, help me please xxx

beluga

I'm in I've started early, no drinking on NYE for me.
Any suggestions for alcohol free alternatives that are more interesting than diet coke? I've got a few birthdays coming up (including my own) so still want to go out.
Good luck everyone!

his_missus

I'm not doing the January challenge but I did do the MacMillan Sober in October challenge.


As a cider drinker I found Kopparberg's non-alcoholic pear or mixed fruit ciders a good substitute for the real thing.


Asda (I'm sure other supermarkets do too) do fruit juice drinks such as exotic fruit or pineapple and coconut which with a splash of lemonade or fizzy water were nice "mocktails"


Hubby couldn't find an alcohol free lager he liked.


Shloer is ok in place of wine but too much made me feel bloated and gassy.


I did find that by not drinking in October, I have actually cut down my alcoholic intake.


Good luck to you all!

hazyjo

It's an odd one, the differing opinions re alcohol. I don't have kids and do go out to the pub once or so a month, and meet friends a couple of times a month (usually in a restaurant, rarely in a pub). Me and the OH also like a drink on a weekend (not so much in the week these days).


My sister very rarely touches a drop, nor does my mum. My BIL on the other hand drinks like a fish, as does the rest of his family.




My younger social life was meeting friends in pubs and often going on to a club or something. It's just what we did.






My ex had major alcohol problems - as does my OH's dad. My ex was drinking around 40-100 units a week at one time! We often went to the pub. I don't really go very often now, he was a terrible influence!


Looking forward to a couple in a nearby pub on New Year's Eve and then going on to the local Indian.


I like having a drink. That's not because I don't like myself, or because I have a problem with it, or because I'm depressed, or because it's a huge part of my life, I just enjoy it.


My mum drives me mad with her attitudes towards alcohol. She thinks it's the work of the devil, I'm sure!


Jx

hazyjo

[PS I apologise as per for my gappy response - I'm no longer seeing paragraph marks on here on my computer which is quite annoying!]