A Non-Alcoholic Giving Up Beer

[Somnambulist]

And there are many more that are alcoholics trying to control their drinking.

Actually, in AA they tell you if you're not sure, belly-up to the next bar, and come back when you are. At least that's what a friend told me.

Although I appreciate what AA can do for some people, its philosophy (as exemplified in the saying above) seems really snarky and off-putting to me. I find Rational Recovery, SMART Recovery, and other secular programs (like Allen Carr's book) free of this 'holier than thou' attitude that oozes from of all of those cute AA catchphrases (they must all be in a book that people memorize, there are so many of them and people are always chanting them like mantras).

AA is anything but holier than thou. Many members came to their first meeting in a state of humiliation and despair and members will cheerfully admit this because with their stories and experience they can gain the trust of newcomers. As long as we remember where we came from we don't have to go back. If anything, some members, even longtime sober ones, drone on about how much they used to drink and fail to say much about now.

[tominbkk]

And there are many more that are alcoholics trying to control their drinking.

Actually, in AA they tell you if you're not sure, belly-up to the next bar, and come back when you are. At least that's what a friend told me.

Although I appreciate what AA can do for some people, its philosophy (as exemplified in the saying above) seems really snarky and off-putting to me. I find Rational Recovery, SMART Recovery, and other secular programs (like Allen Carr's book) free of this 'holier than thou' attitude that oozes from of all of those cute AA catchphrases (they must all be in a book that people memorize, there are so many of them and people are always chanting them like mantras).

I'm glad that something has worked for you. AA is working for me and I am far from religious. Bashing another program of recovery, in my opinion, is dangerous and unhelpful. There may be people reading this thread who might be put off from AA and in fact AA might be the thing to help them. Please be careful what you post, you might be unknowingly harming someone.

Very well, sorry about that. Whatever works for you!

[manarak]

An otherwise healthy person shouldn't experience any negative effects by drinking less than half a liter (or up to one liter depending on body constitution) of light beer every day - quite the opposite in fact, there are health benefits for moderately drinking beer.

Poisoning yourself with alcohol of any amount is never healthy. Not going to kill you, but not healthy.

Many scientists are of the opposite opinion:

http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Controversies/1088441583.html#.UtAjlrSQO4Y

[tominbkk]

An otherwise healthy person shouldn't experience any negative effects by drinking less than half a liter (or up to one liter depending on body constitution) of light beer every day - quite the opposite in fact, there are health benefits for moderately drinking beer.

Poisoning yourself with alcohol of any amount is never healthy. Not going to kill you, but not healthy.

Many scientists are of the opposite opinion:

http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/Controversies/1088441583.html#.UtAjlrSQO4Y

And then on the other hand:

http://www.webmd.com/cancer/features/faq-alcohol-and-your-health

[apiwan]

An interesting thread

Because I also don't see any positives in drinking now,

Yes I do wake up with a fuzzy head,lethargic , and generally not a 100%

Mostly I'm home with dad and will drink from 4 to 8 cans of Leo ,the trouble is being from the UK this is how we are,

I'm 45 and seriously thinking of going tee total, to see the benefits ,

However it's not the socialising bit it's that tipsy happy feeling we are trying to reach, which is nice beyond that it's

Hangover in the morning, feeling like shit, and for what ?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[tominbkk]

An interesting thread Because I also don't see any positives in drinking now, Yes I do wake up with a fuzzy head,lethargic , and generally not a 100% Mostly I'm home with dad and will drink from 4 to 8 cans of Leo ,the trouble is being from the UK this is how we are, I'm 45 and seriously thinking of going tee total, to see the benefits , However it's not the socialising bit it's that tipsy happy feeling we are trying to reach, which is nice beyond that it's Hangover in the morning, feeling like shit, and for what ? Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Know the feeling! And after several weeks of not drinking, you suddenly realize that the payoff of being clear headed and ready for the day with a smile on your face so outweighs what you can get from a beer buzz at night. Give yourself a week dry and see what you think.

I also could not recommend Allen Carr's book more. And check out Rational Recovery or Smart Recovery. Best of all is the Reddit Stop Drinking forum, lots of positive and welcoming people there, that welcome all no matter which angle they are coming from in their quest to get sober: http://www.reddit.com/r/stopdrinking/

Edited January 11, 2014 by tominbkk

[femi fan]

I see my thread is still going, and that i started it two years ago now!

Perhaps an update is in order on where i'm at with my liquid friend of a third of a century!

Last year i went two months without drinking anything, and then celebrated reaching the two months by having some wine, a cocktail, and something else, at an italian restaurant. It felt like i was being plugged into the electricity grid! Not so good. But the spell was broken, and over the last six months or so i have drunk minimal amounts of beer on and off. Once or twice i got pissed, and thoroughly enjoyed it! But more than three days on the bounce and then when i stop i feel rather lousy about life for a day or two. Horrible feeling which i never got when i was younger.

I have clearly worked out that for me the idea of beer is still most attractive, but the drinking of it is much less enjoyable now, and often not enjoyable at all. Clearly if i was drinking real ales back in england rather than chemical-ridden thai beers things might be different.

I have given up my pool nights, and hardly ever go into pubs now. This is the key i have found out. Don't put myself into the lions' den. Pubs have been a way of life for me, but i now realise if i'm to actually give up booze, then i have to give up pubs.

I had quite a lot to drink for three weeks leading up to the end of 2013 mainly because my family were over and i went around thailand with them, and beers and holidays are inextricably linked in my mind.

However, i quaffed my remaining beer down by five to midnight on the 31st, and for two weeks i've had none. My aim this time is two-fold, the first which i know i will achieve, and the second we shall see. I've given up again for three months this time until the end of march. At that point i shall review the situation. I believe that this time i simply won't be interested and perhaps give up for good. The benefits are too good, and the drawbacks are not good, something i never really had to deal with when i drank in my old ways and days.

I've been going for five years now, and i think it's finally time to kick the stuff completely instead of yo-yoing about. I'm ready for it, and i no longer feel the urge to go to pubs. Even in the last two weeks, with my family still here, i've been in the lions' den three times and avoided drinking anything alcoholic.

I do actually believe that the chemicals they put into the beers here in thailand cause much more damage than the alcohol, and this is a major reason i want to give the beer up.

At the end of the day, if we want to give something up that we know is no good for us, i think there are two main actions we need to take:

• don't put ourselves into the lions' den… no point in an opium addict just visiting an opium den; therefore change our way of life
• make it clear to ourselves that we wish to celebrate life and stop embracing death

It's hard, but all good things in life need working at...

Edited January 14, 2014 by femi fan

[femi fan]

This thread by the way was not about alcoholics, nor about light drinkers, it was about heavy beer drinkers wanting to stop, and how easy this might be.

I would add though that substituting cokes or any drink with heaps of sugar in it is most likely worse for our health than sticking to the beer. And at least you get some fun from the beer!

I will report back in april on my progress...

[femi fan]

An interesting thread Because I also don't see any positives in drinking now, Yes I do wake up with a fuzzy head,lethargic , and generally not a 100% Mostly I'm home with dad and will drink from 4 to 8 cans of Leo ,the trouble is being from the UK this is how we are, I'm 45 and seriously thinking of going tee total, to see the benefits , However it's not the socialising bit it's that tipsy happy feeling we are trying to reach, which is nice beyond that it's Hangover in the morning, feeling like shit, and for what ? Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

Give yourself short targets to begin with mate. My first one was for two weeks, five years ago. I ended up doing three weeks, but i had to get out of town the first weekend otherwise i would have not reached my target. By the second weekend i was nearly two weeks into it and was able to resist. However that doesn't seem to be your situation. But my point is to set an achievable target that's long enough to see what benefits you get. Initially you may experience a sort of cold turkey feeling, but that'll be the chemicals and other stuff from the beer that is now on the move out of your body. I think two weeks is a good starting point.

And then when you experience the benefits, the idea of giving up goes beyond a nice theory and into the realms of actual practice.

Having said that it's taken me five years before i actually have made the decision to try and give up totally, and forever. But during that time i've had many abstinences and have worked on my food diet too. I have to say that each year over these five years i feel like i'm getting younger, not older! I shall be 50 this year. Pehraps that's a great age to finally chuck the beers into touch!

But what will i do on my next holiday to england with all those fine pubs and real ales… ha ha! who knows.

[tominbkk]

This thread by the way was not about alcoholics, nor about light drinkers, it was about heavy beer drinkers wanting to stop, and how easy this might be.

I would add though that substituting cokes or any drink with heaps of sugar in it is most likely worse for our health than sticking to the beer. And at least you get some fun from the beer!

I will report back in april on my progress...

I drink quite a lot of soda with a squeeze of lime, San Pellegrino if I want something "special". I also like tomato juice, I make a mix so it is spicy, and keep it in the fridge. Ah, and espresso shots and water.

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Edited January 18, 2014 by tominbkk

[StreetCowboy]

This thread by the way was not about alcoholics, nor about light drinkers, it was about heavy beer drinkers wanting to stop, and how easy this might be.

I would add though that substituting cokes or any drink with heaps of sugar in it is most likely worse for our health than sticking to the beer. And at least you get some fun from the beer!

I will report back in april on my progress...

I don't drink for my health. If I have a can of Irn Bru, I don't end up having eight, and posting at 2:24 in the morning.

SC

[Sirbergan]

Physical detox from alcohol is 72 hours.

Though true and a good advise for this specific OP, seeing the OP is not an alcoholic, it might be dangerous to point that out without adding that heavy alcoholics may experience severe side effects (withdrawal symptoms) if they stop drinking abruptly without consulting a doctor - and those do not last for merely 72 hours. Hell, a very heavy drinker may even die if he or she suddenly stops drinking.

[big carl]

This thread by the way was not about alcoholics, nor about light drinkers, it was about heavy beer drinkers wanting to stop, and how easy this might be.

I would add though that substituting cokes or any drink with heaps of sugar in it is most likely worse for our health than sticking to the beer. And at least you get some fun from the beer!

I will report back in april on my progress...

I don't drink for my health. If I have a can of Irn Bru, I don't end up having eight, and posting at 2:24 in the morning.

SC

Not quite sure what femi fan is trying to say. only and alcoholic can not control their drinking. If one is not an alcoholic and just a heavy drinker just quit what is the problem?

I know from personal experience that is what I would have done but being as I was an alcoholic I needed help so I went where I was taken. To a meeting of AA and it has worked well for me. Not for every one some have found other means. I tried a church but that did not work for me. It does however work for some.

Not happy to be an alcoholic but happy to be one who doesn't drink or substitute it with another drug.

[canarysun]

I have been living in Thailand for 3 years ( and before most of my life in Spain ) and i don't drink and do not visit bars ( not really my scene ) Firstly Beer is one of the worst and most fattening things in the world! My advice is to try and do as i do ( without being " an eccentric " ...) Firstly get up early every morning.I like to wake at around 06.00 and then go for a nice long walk ( average about 10 KM ) Take water with you! Don't " lounge around the house " all day either.Try and spend your time " outside " I spend most afternoons on the beach " swimming and listening to cool tunes ".Try not to eat farang food.and eat Thai food and plenty of fresh fruit.and at least 2-5 litres of water a day! ( important ) Also in life " i couldn't give a stuff " what people think about me or the fact that i don't drink in fact i never discuss it! When out of the house try not to use a motorbike for getting around " just simply WALK " everywhere! ( if you are living with a Thai Lady then you will find it more difficult as they don't seem to want to walk anywhere ( perhaps only a motorbike taxi to take them to the 7 eleven at the end of the soi....) So don't worry what other people think about " not drinking " and " do what you want to do " .

Farang Jaidee

[Neeranam]

I have been living in Thailand for 3 years ( and before most of my life in Spain ) and i don't drink and do not visit bars ( not really my scene ) Firstly Beer is one of the worst and most fattening things in the world! My advice is to try and do as i do ( without being " an eccentric " ...) Firstly get up early every morning.I like to wake at around 06.00 and then go for a nice long walk ( average about 10 KM ) Take water with you! Don't " lounge around the house " all day either.Try and spend your time " outside " I spend most afternoons on the beach " swimming and listening to cool tunes ".Try not to eat farang food.and eat Thai food and plenty of fresh fruit.and at least 2-5 litres of water a day! ( important ) Also in life " i couldn't give a stuff " what people think about me or the fact that i don't drink in fact i never discuss it! When out of the house try not to use a motorbike for getting around " just simply WALK " everywhere! ( if you are living with a Thai Lady then you will find it more difficult as they don't seem to want to walk anywhere ( perhaps only a motorbike taxi to take them to the 7 eleven at the end of the soi....) So don't worry what other people think about " not drinking " and " do what you want to do " .

Farang Jaidee

Why on earth do you sign off with 'farang jaidee'?

Did you ever drink?