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General Category => Everything Else => Topic started by: Adrian on September 12, 2016, 03:19:02 PM
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Any one do it? I'm coming up to 15 years, but the temptation is always strong to return to drinking. Not trying to pry, just asking...
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I don't drink much, I have the odd pint here and there, occasional bottle of beer at home. Does that count . Doesn't bother me at all
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Interesting post.
I personally believe that there are four grades of people when it comes to alcohol. Teetotallers, People Who Drink, Drinkers and Alcoholics.
The first one is self explanatory. The second... people who have alcohol in social situations and sometimes as home, but it's not a big thing in their life. It's just something they do to get a little buzz on.
The difference between Drinkers and Alcoholics is a tough one. Drinkers consume alcohol on a regular basis, possibly most nights. They automatically associate 'good times' with alcohol and act accordingly.
As for Alcoholics... those are the people who truly cannot do without it and suffer accordingly.
I'm a Drinker. It's a rare night when I don't consume some alcohol. Yes, some nights I get hammered. But it might be something as little as a glass of brandy before bedtime or a couple of cans whilst watching a movie. And when I don't drink... I have no symptoms, no shakes or sweats the next morning. God knows, I've seen those people. The worst I get is some sleeplessness if I haven't had a drink. And as someone who had a heart attack a year ago, I get regular checks and my liver and urine results are just fine.
But I do occasionally worry that I might, one day, tip into the fourth category that I mentioned. No big sign of it yet. But I don't have much self-control... ???
I admire you, Adrian, for your 15 years sober. That is some serious self-will, especially in this 'drinking culture'. I don't hate myself for drinking - heck, I still really enjoy it! - but if shit goes south for me and I find myself in a place where the drink takes over, I hope I've have your courage and guts to knock it on the head.
And, as Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush once said, Don't Give Up. You've done an immense thing. Be proud, pal. ;)
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As I get older, going out is less important and since driving I dont drink when me and the missus go out. I tend to have a few cans at the end of my working week just to wind down, but that goes in stages and sometimes I dont bother. If im out with mates and Im not driving next day, Ill get blathered. I can pretty much take it or leave it.
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I'm basically a tee-totaller. Just don't like the taste of alcohol and never have done. I sometimes drink in social situations but I never enjoy it and I don't think I've ever had a drink on my own. It's just not part of my life. I don't care if other people drink, unless they get really plastered which is a bit tedious when you're sober.
I can only imagine how difficult it must be to try and stay away from it when you are confronted with it everywhere. Good on you!
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Me ?
Don't drink.
Don't smoke.
What do you do ?
(http://antrap.org/antrap/Smileys/default/antmusic.gif)
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Bloody goody two shoes!!! On a completely seperate aside ( sorry Wessexy that follows your post :-[) I was told by someone who beat cancer, that he was told it was ok to drink but stick to any German beer brewed under German purity laws, because nothing extra was added.
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Bloody goody two shoes!!! On a completely seperate aside ( sorry Wessexy that follows your post :-[) I was told by someone who beat cancer, that he was told it was ok to drink but stick to any German beer brewed under German purity laws, because nothing extra was added.
's ok.
I know boozing didn't give me cancer.
God gave me cancer and we all know what an arse he is !
:D
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I've never smoked or done drugs, and I haven't had a drink since May 27th 1994.
I'm not a fan of alcohol at all, but my other half drinks and it's sometimes the cause of friction between us.
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Using Master Ray's classifications I come under the People Who Drink category. I'll have a drink when I go out with certain groups of mates and the odd work do a few times a year and may have a bottle of decent beer with food now and again at home but that's very rare. As with a lot of the replies I can take it or leave it completely.
Apart from with food I don't enjoy the taste much and when I was young I only used to drink to get smashed so it was never about anymore than that. Once I got into my 20s it became less and less important to the point where I can't remember the last time I had a drink. I don't have enough time to waste feeling like shit the next day :'(
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I used to be a hard drinker till I get married.Well still drinking a lot but at least 4-5 days or for a week I could stay away from drinking.Problem is I am tall but had a terrible beer belly in years.Looks awful and psychically makes you more tired and you can't wear your favorite clothes easily.My thing is I like the taste of beer very much,not to get drunk or relaxed. Because of my work I go a lot to airport duty free shops and there's always streams of whiskey at my home if there's no beer or raki.
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Thanks everyone, as always some interesting and wide ranging views. 15 years came and went last Saturday; I was tempted to go back to drinking but persobally speaking I'd have too much to lose and I doint want to throw 15 years worth of slog away. So sober it is.
God bless X
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About 20 years ago I was working for a few months in a small town in Turkey. End of the first week I was hanging for a pint but no bars. People just did not get it when I said where do you go at weekends. What I did learn in that period was that alcohol is so ingrained in our culture that what we accept as normal is odd. I gave up about 6 years ago, except for the odd stag do but it helps having good alcohol free beer available when i fancy a tipple. Here in Germany Krombacher seems to be the best. NOt sure what is availble in UK.
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Personally I don't get the alcohol free thing, I don't think its ever been popular in the UK I could be wrong but. I much prefer a soft drink bru or water
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According to Master Ray's definition, I am one of the "People Who Drink" group. I do really like it - but I have to be in the mood and I enjoy it more when I'm with friends, having a nice meal or something.WHEN I am in the mood I have been known to drink a lot - but I can just as well go out and not drink. I don't mind others around me drinking, either - unless they are the type of "really annoying drunk". ;)
Interesting topic this - and hats off to anyone who has successfully stayed clear of alcohol for so many years!!!!
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@ skyman9 - Cobra do a good one over here.
@ Pol, I hear what your saying but if its a long night then I get tired of J20 pretty quickly.
@ Stephanie - thanks for contributing to the discussion.