The teetotalers thread

Good for you man.

I stopped about 11 years ago after my Big Break-Up™.

I don’t think I had a Problem but between the break-up (her visa extension was denied and had to leave) and losing my job (worked in local government during peak Cameron-Osborne Austerity) I was a very very unhappy person for a long time and it made me feel significantly worse. To the point where I had a flatmate who’d basically never known me happy so was surprised by the new (old) person coming out as I was on my way back up ages later.

Falling out of the habit on a personal level wasn’t enormously difficult - not keeping any in the house helps there, socialising in places with other distractions too (sport, gigs etc) - its more the awkwardness of managing everyone else’s expectations that I struggled with. A lot of people seem unable to get their heads around not wanting to do or it not making you happy. I guess I was lucky since a lot of my friends were into punk so not drinking was fairly normalised thanks to Fugazi or whoever but to my former and eventual new colleagues it was a totally alien concept. Even now working at a place that has never known me as a drinker people still act surprised or ask if I’m on medication or whatever because it couldn’t possibly that someone just doesn’t. I am way confident to just say no without any excuses now.

No comment on whether wanking increased or decreased in response.

I’ve inadvertently become a teetotaller. I cut right back because alcohol started giving me migraines but I don’t even have a pint with lunch if we go out now.

I like beer just fine but six quid a pint can kiss my arse.

User simple referring to Fugazi is the surprise of the week.

I stopped drinking around 2007. Last did drugs in 05. No interest in it and the costs are crazy. Rather just have a tea in my garden and enjoy the ambient sounds of birds than be at a pub, these days.

I'll just be over here with a lime and soda.

I’m not teetotal but I drink very little these days. A few family members are fairly big drinkers and I enjoy having a few with them, but anymore than that I just feel rough. I used to get a bit of stick for starting to drink soft drinks or coffee after a few but meh, don’t really care.

I enjoy a beer at home now and then but I’ve got loads of beers still left over from Christmas.

I think having kids did it for me.

Yeah, resting heart rate is one of the many bonuses to stopping for me. At my drinking every day and stressed to the max peak in my last job, I don't think I ever saw it go below 80. I was clearly pushing myself to an early grave but didn't want to admit it at the time.
It's down to low 60s now (job change and regular exercise are obviously helping too)

Solid poos every time too. I've lost count of the number of times I've blocked the toilet since stopping.

Like wunty I just wish I'd done it much sooner.

Pretty much teetotal now, after finally realising that I had quite a dangerous relationship with the stuff a little while back. I'll only have the very odd drink with a meal now and generally try to avoid nights out with friends/workmates as the mindset is to just go out and get wasted which I just can't do to myself anymore.

Yeah, I’ve said on here before that I don’t really believe the “magic” – it’s just a way for me to eat less and not too late at night.

I don’t couple it with any other kind of restriction (calories, carbs, whatever) and just eat what I want (but good, homemade stuff, mostly) between 12:00 and 20:00, often tighter.

Well done man. 18 months for me and for the first time since my teens I can finally say that the thought of drinking alcohol is actually alien to me now.

Thanks, Wunty. Hope you're doing alright – I know things have been up and down.

Well done guys!

It's weird talking to people who *have* to drink now isn't it?

Thanks man. Yeah it’s a bit like that but I’m definitely better for not drinking. Take each day as it comes kind of thing.

WHATS WRONG WIV YA, HAVE A DRINK AND ENJOY YOURSELF

Oh shit, why am I seeing double?