Dry January..

[DulwichFox]

I've decided to go for a dry January.. 1 day done only 30 to go...

uuuhm .. Long old month.. Might not get past Curry Club.. 14th..

Anyone else having a dry month ?

DulwichFox

[Sue]

No :))

[jim_the_chin]

Drier, did it a couple of years ago and it lasted til May *shudders*

Although that does show how good I felt by the end of Jan.

Going to reduce this year rather than dry out completely. Seems more sensible.

Good luck though.

[Seabag]

I had a dry Sept/October and start of November

It was fine really, first few days are different, then it is what it is

One thing tho, i'd wake up at times with a 'faux hangover' feeling

Slightly odd, it passed rapidly

After the 7th i'll be back off the stuff for a good while

[DulwichFox]

It's a bit boring being in all day apart from shopping and hour or so's walk and then having to stay in in the evening.

Home alone.. For a month.. I'm used to being out every night. I'll probably go insane.. but my liver would of recovered.

Foxy..

[Louisa]

I admire anyone who has the guts to try a dry month. I am however more realistic. I get lonely and turn to the wine, I think most regular forumites may have picked up on that. It's a comfort blanket thing. I am not using this as an excuse, I just don't wish to change it.

Louisa.

[DulwichFox]

Well I'm sitting here in view of much alcohol:-

White / Black Sambuca - Pernod - Ouzo - Turkish Raki - Vodka - Grand Marnier - Drambuie - Oloroso sherry - Sake -

I have a fridge full of lagers and some Turkish beer...

... and I'm drinking Becks Alcohol Free 'S**te'

And the TV is crap...

Cannot see this lasting long...

Foxy :(

[Saffron]

How about one dry week for four months? :)

[maxxi]

I am making do with dry mornings.

[Seabag]

The first few days are harder than the later, stick with it

I did buy bottles of fizzy water and necked some of that in the evening, much of my 'drinking' was due to thirst

But ohhhhhhh boy, the number of bog visits rose

And hats off to Lousia, very honest indeed

You could join this tho Foxter http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/support-us/find-an-event/charity-challenges/dryathlon

[DulwichFox]

I'm not really a big drinker. Only go out for a couple of beers..

But due to dietary restrictions I can't go to the pub and have Orange juice and lemonade..

and I'm not paying ?2.50 for mineral water...

I go out in the evening else I don't see a soul.. all day.

Anyone who has ever tried Alcohol Free Beer will probably know it makes you pee more...

Perhaps a 30 day induced coma might see me through.. lol.

Foxy..

[Louisa]

What about soda and lime with ice? Pint of, foxy.

Louisa.

[KrackersMaracas]

If I'm ever out and having an evening off the booze (very rare...) I find it hard to match others' pints of beer with the same quantity of a sweet fizzy drink. I quite like to have a non alcoholic ginger beer like fentimans (probably no less sweet, but less of it) & then stick to soda water and fresh lime juice (not cordial) to avoid a sugar headache! I think a while back there was a thread discussing the virtues of various alcohol free beers. Being off the booze doesn't necessarily mean staying in, I'm sure your local would still love to see you.

[HelBel65]

Newest guidelines suggest a couple of days off per week

Possibly a less depressing approach? (for me anyway!)

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/drinkers-are-going-to-be-advised-to-cut-back-on-alcohol-for-at-least-two-days-a-week-a6792666.html

[Jah Lush]

Hic! Bollocks to that.

[Sue]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Well I'm sitting here in view of much alcohol:-

>

> White / Black Sambuca - Pernod - Ouzo - Turkish

> Raki - Vodka - Grand Marnier - Drambuie - Oloroso

> sherry - Sake -

>

> I have a fridge full of lagers and some Turkish

> beer...

>

> ... and I'm drinking Becks Alcohol Free 'S**te'

>

> And the TV is crap...

>

> Cannot see this lasting long...

>

> Foxy :(

I'll take it all off your hands for the sake of your liver, Foxy.

You're welcome :)

[Sue]

HelBel65 Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Newest guidelines suggest a couple of days off per

> week

> Possibly a less depressing approach? (for me

> anyway!)

>

> http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and

> -families/health-news/drinkers-are-going-to-be-adv

> ised-to-cut-back-on-alcohol-for-at-least-two-days-

> a-week-a6792666.html

Well guidelines have for ages advised two or three days off a week.

But they don't let you drink much on the days you actually are drinking .....

[uncleglen]

How are they going to make up the tax deficit if everyone is drinking less?

[DulwichFox]

I already have a cut down scheme which is documented on an Excel spread sheet.. and have done this for the last 4-5 years.

I base it on drinking 3 pints of beer a day. @ ?4.00 a pint.. ?12.00 a day..

Any savings go into a tin and into an envelope at the end of the month..

2015 I saved ?1,035.00 which is handy when you get to Christmas and the New Year.

2013 I saved ?2015.40

Drinking 3 pints a night @ ?4.00 = ?12.00 or ?4,380.00 per year..

So Jan I hope to save ?372.00 .

Its a good way to save money because it goes into the tin / envelope as if you spent it but its still there if you need it.

I would recommend it too for anyone wishing to give up smoking.

Cost of 20 cigarettes to soar to ?15 A PACKET under new Government proposals

A PACKET of cigarettes will cost smokers ?15 if proposals in an NHS-backed report are implemented.

At ?15.00 for 20 that's ?5,475.00 per year..

Then you get to take a few good holidays..

Foxy

[Sue]

Blimey, I gave up smoking years ago. 40 a day and 60 a day at weekends.

Obv this was in the days when you could chain smoke in the office.

I should be a millionaire by now. How come I'm not??

[uncleglen]

No wonder they allow vaping ads. There will have to be a massive crackdown on black market fags - at least the extra tax on fags will make up the deficit from everyone cutting down on alcohol

[TheArtfulDogger]

uncleglen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> How are they going to make up the tax deficit if

> everyone is drinking less?

Because in December they made a heck of a lot from Christmas and new year drinkers, then in February those on the wagon will fall off and drink more to recover from dry January ...

Simple rule of a thumb full of whisky really ...

[binkylilyput]

Nice work DulwichFox!

I've done Dry Jan every year for many years. It's not easy but it you will get used to it.

I agree it can be difficult to find a drink that suits in the pub as I'm not a sugary drink lover either. Good time to taste your way around non alcohlic beers. I often end up having a hot drink if I'm in a pub that does them.....I find I can happily drink cups of tea/coffee/hot choc rather than cold drinks.

What I have also observed in my Dry Jan experience is other people's reactions. I'm always amazed by how often people will try to persuade me to drink and/or be disaparaging of my efforts. Folk will often have an event in mind that I simply must drink at "oh but you'll be drinking at XXX won't you?". Or they will gleefully advise you that "the research" says that Dry Jan does nothing for my health. Then there are those that just can't get over me not drinking on a night out and seem to spend most of the evening talking about it.

My suggestion DulwichFox is to continue to socialise so that you aren't giving up your life, just the booze. Do stick to your guns though and remind yourself that some people feel a little threatened by people doing Dry Jan, as if it makes them feel a little guilty or look bad.....at least that's what I have concluded.

I personally wouldn't keep doing it if I didn't see the positive impact- more energy, better concentration, better skin etc.

The Dry January website is quite helpful http://www.dryjanuary.org.uk/

[DulwichFox]

My main reason is financial.. as since being retired 2008 my outgoings greatly exceed my income and I am living

off my savings which with very low interest rates are rapidly becoming depleted..

I am concerned about my health too and have several pub days off during the week and have a couple of bottles at home.

I go out in the evening for social reasons as I would never see any one if I didn't.

I have actually given alcohol completely. Not drinking at home..

I'm one of those people where 1 month becomes 2 -- becomes 3 -- 6 -- 1 year

I don't actually miss the drink (Not crawling up the walls (yet)) Lol.

Finding getting off to sleep the hardest..

I just really hope I will start to feel the benefits of abstaining ( More energy, alert, etc) that everyone goes on about when they give up..

Let's see. I might get even more grumpy :)

Foxy

[binkylilyput]

Yeah, I should maybe gain some balance to my very positive post too by adding that I also notice that I bore the arse off myself and other people are less interesting too in January! :-)

And I'm less good with the financial gains because I tend to reward myself for being booze free by spending on other things!