How many days are you free from booze?

About 6 weeks. Drinking the non alcoholic stuff since but getting bored of it now to be honest

Good stuff, keep it up.

It doesn't matter how many attempts there are.

You will overtake the last one, sounds like you know you're one of the people who can't drink and it's a win win, I'm glad to say.

One of the guys who convinced me to go off the drink back in 2006 was off it 20 years and went back on it. When I heard he was back on it and was struggling to get off it again it shook me. Took him 3 years to get back off it again. Thankfully he is back off it a while now. Stories like that put the fear in me and strengthen my resolve to stay well away from it.

Top ten regrets/mistakes of my life all involved far too much alcohol. I never knew when I'd had enough. Came to a head in May and I haven't touched a drop since nor will I again.

I'm in my early 50s now

I started thinking about quitting in my late 20s and I quit a few times in the last twenty years, each time longer than the previous (6 months, then 1 year, then 2.5 years)

so I suppose I've known for a good while now that it's just not a good idea to artificially alter my mood, it's upsetting, would take days to recover

What I ended up focussing on was what was the reason that got me back drinking each time and it was the drinking with old friends thing, but I broke that down, analysed it and worked out that my beverage didn't need to be alcoholic for me to be out with friends having a good time. (And you go home at the right time and wake up fine, it's a win win)

You have alcohol free days so you know you can do it. You're also not going on big benders.

Is your goal to cut down? Quit altogether?

almost like it’s an addictive drug

19

If possible go for early morning walks. Doesn't have to be a long walk but it will really help with a lot of things including the GI you mention. My digestion in general has improved a lot with early morning walking.

Yeah really getting off topic now but Id be looking to get referred to a specialist by your GP for that. Could be anything. I had trouble and actually ended up in AnE with severe diarrhea a few times in my late 30s early 40s. Eventually got seen by a dietician who recommended I try Fodmap for my problems and reintroduce foods 1 at a time that I used to eat. Turns out I have a severe intolerance to onions. This was also while I was drinking which didn't help matters. Cutting down / giving up alcohol helps everything but definitely get proper IBS advice as it can really mess up your nutrition and energy levels.

For anyone wondering whether they can go back to having a few beers I would suggest that if they are visiting this thread they probably aren't in the category of someone who can have a few beers.

For that matter, I don't really think anyone on the planet can have a few beers and get away with it but I would sweepingly and unhelpfully generalise now and say that anyone thinking of quitting needs to just quit and let go of those few beers/whatever happy association you have with alcohol.

Yes, easier said than done, I know but there is a point where you need to realise that you are a human being you cannot drink and take it from there.

Your either in or your out. No middle ground for me!

Spent the weekend visiting family and had a few Heineken zeros. Think I'll actually manage to stay off it for good. Life is far less stressful when sober

28 days today.

Was in the pub last night, almost everyone around me supping creamy looking pints but wasn't one bit tempted.

57 days