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AIBU?

To ask you to tell me all the positives about not drinking alcohol

103 replies

Rachtoteach · 23/06/2013 20:39

My mother is an alcoholic. I have only recently acknowledged this as she had been functioning ok but her health is now in such a bad state, her liver is failing and she has circulation problems which means she rarely leaves the house (but she will struggle to the shop to buy gin). Her sister is also an alcoholic. I am an only child and have three lovely kids and an amazing DH. My wine intake had been increasing and hangovers getting worse and I had a bit of an enlightening moment when I realised that I could choose life or alcohol (bit dramatic but am currently feeling my mum has chosen gin over us, by far). I am an all or nothing person and have taken the decision to give up the booze for good, rather than cut down. Alcohol no longer has a place in my life.

So... please help me think of all the fab things about not drinking! So far I've thought of - no hangovers, no memory loss, no embarrassment, saving money, weight loss.......

Inspire me please!!

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chocoluvva · 23/06/2013 20:54

Better skin and hair.

Setting a good example to your DC

Fitting into muslim communities (semi-joking)

Playing tricks on drunk friends!

Good luck - take it one day at a time and be kind to yourself if you cave in.

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Alisvolatpropiis · 23/06/2013 20:55

No hangovers ever again.
Never waking up and thinking "shit did I really say that"
Having more money to spend on other,longer lasting things.

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JazzDalek · 23/06/2013 20:56

Good for you.

I don't drink and I think it helps with:

Maintaining a slim figure
Great skin
More money to buy nice toiletries / clothes / cosmetics / whatever you're into (I am always gobsmacked at the amount of booze in people's trollies at the supermarket, it must cost a bomb)

As I haven't drunk since my uni days I can't really say what other improvements you may notice, but I suspect that as with smoking (which I did do for many years), there will be a general sense of "so THIS is what I'm meant to feel like!" once you've quit. When you live with a habit for a long period of time, you think it isn't harming you and that the way you feel is normal, until you stop, and realise after a while how much better you feel.

If that makes sense Grin

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chocoluvva · 23/06/2013 20:57

Feeling unbelievably smug and virtuous when you're bright-eyed and bushy-tailed the morning after the night before.

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HesterShaw · 23/06/2013 20:58

You'll notice the money.
Feeling more awake in the mornings.

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RabbitFromAHat · 23/06/2013 20:59

Just generally feeling happier, after a while. I had no idea how much of a depressant booze could be; I also have much more energy for exercise and enjoy it a lot more.

Seeing dawn from the 'right' side is still always a thrill to me now. Smile

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cozietoesie · 23/06/2013 20:59

Knowing your chances of seeing your kids grow up are immeasurably improved - and still having a good relationship with them when they do. Smile

Oh - and no hangovers!

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chocoluvva · 23/06/2013 21:00

I gave up alcohol for health reasons for what I thought would be approximately six months - I didn't drink much anyway.
Before I knew it, the six months had turned into five years.
Last New Year's Eve I decided I'd have one or two drinks. I had one, then didn't feel like another.
I haven't missed having a drink at all.

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Justforlaughs · 23/06/2013 21:01

I couldn't find any positives about drinking, so I stopped. (I still have one or two every few years, but literally with years in between).

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specialsubject · 23/06/2013 21:02

nothing wrong with the odd one, but drunk people are not a pretty sight. And if you can only have a good time with the aid of booze, you are a bore.

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FurryDogMother · 23/06/2013 21:03

Better sleep. No broken veins on your face in the future. A sense of being in control, all the time.

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RabbitFromAHat · 23/06/2013 21:04

Never getting The Fear anymore! Social occasions are just a lot less stressful now I don't have to worry about my usual social anxiety and sarky nature being exacerbated by booze. Grin

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joanofarchitrave · 23/06/2013 21:04

Mental freedom, instead of spending ages thinking 'When can I next drink' 'which shop can I stop at for booze' 'who's going to drive'.

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goingupinfumes · 23/06/2013 21:06

It's great, healthy good for your skin, you feel empowered? is that a word? It's nice to be able to make sure friends are OK and they get home safely.

It's great for your wallet and not that rare anymore I know 4 others all for different reasons, medical, fitness and your reasons above are great.

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UnexpectedItemInShaggingArea · 23/06/2013 21:06

Yes to all of the above.

No cringing memories of ridiculous behaviour the night before.

Really restful sleep.

More energy - physical and mental - to do different things.

I'm a bit like you. I suspect my parents are functioning alcoholics - my dad more than my mum - although they are more self-aware and consciously trying to do something about it.

I could easily have wine every night, so I consciously give myself months of abstinence at a time. I notice the difference in about 10 days - 3 weeks.

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KnittedWaffle · 23/06/2013 21:07

You become more creative with your spare time.

It's easy to go out and get drunk or stay in of an evening drinking bottles of wine and then be hungover the next day, which means alcohol cuts into the whole weekend.

After having 3DC in quick succession I have never bothered to start drinking again and as well as all the above mentioned by other posters I have taken up more interesting hobbies instead.

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messalina · 23/06/2013 21:08

Alcohol is full of sugar so can cause weight gain and...(this one surprised me) WRINKLES!! On discovering the latter, I cut down to once a week right away and am considering cutting down even more or perhaps giving it up completely for a few months.

Not drinking can give you a wonderful sense of superiority (even if you are stuffing your face with chocolate instead).

You never have to wake up embarrassed wondering what sort of idiotic things you might have said the night before.

It kills brain cells.

It saves loads of money not to drink wine every night. And your DP/DH will start cutting down too. Mine used to drink a couple of glasses every night and I used to nag him about this. Since I have started only ever having a drink on a Friday or Saturday (and max. 3 glasses at that), he has massively cut down. We are saving money and it's better for him.

You will never get that horrendous alcohol tiredness again. I don't just mean the hideous tiredness you get with a proper hangover. I mean the sort of lower-level tiredness you can get even after just two glasses the night before. Sleep is so much more refreshing.

If you are trying to eat healthily it's far easier to fall off the waggon if you have a drink or two. Much easier to stick to your guns when sober.

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maddening · 23/06/2013 21:13

the only bonus of booze is the relaxing nature and social side - everything else is negative - and once you realise that you don't need booze to socialise and in fact you can have a lovely time and make better social decisions (ie less likely to put up with fucking twats) as your judgement isn't impaired, won't have hangovers, can get home easily as you can drive, health is better, it's cheaper, feel better in general (as you're not poisoning your body on a regular basis). If you need it to relax then look into other relaxation techniques.

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ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 23/06/2013 21:14

Never having to worry if you made an arse of yourself but can't remember.
Getting home from a night out is easier.
I have less stomach problems.
Don't have to make excuses in early pregnancy!
Not inflicting the smell of stale booze on others.

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maddening · 23/06/2013 21:14

and booze makes you put on fat around your vital organs (apparently this is the cause of a beer belly in men)

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Jossysgiants · 23/06/2013 21:17

Having more energy and being able to get out of bed in the morning without that edgy/ headachy feeling.

Like you have noticed wine consumption edging to levels I was uncomfortable with. Have cut down massively over last 2 weeks ( about 80%). I feel amazing- I was feeling so exhausted, mildly depressed....like jazzdalek says - it's great to start feeling like you're meant to feel.

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Rachtoteach · 23/06/2013 21:18

Thanks so much for all your responses, you have really made me feel certain that I'm making the right decision!

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GoshAnneGorilla · 23/06/2013 21:19

I gave up drinking for religious reasons, but I would so recommend it. Mainly for all the reasons mentioned above.

I love not having hangovers, being sick, wasting so much money on drink ( it's v expensive for something that just passes through your body)

I wish being teetotal was more popular in this country.

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apostropheuse · 23/06/2013 21:21

Your children won't be too embarrassed to bring friends home.

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Naebother · 23/06/2013 21:21

What maddening said is spot on.

And you will like yourself so much more.

Do it.

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