Beauty & Style Boozeless Months

[grizzlym]

I would like to do that but struggle. Drinking is used by me as an ice-breaker and it is a little bit fun too.

Yeah, I understand that completely. Dunno, it just seemed to happen naturally for me. it's not like I had to do it. Nor do I feel like I can't break it or anything. I'm comfortable where I'm at, I guess.

 

[Lyyynnnchy]

I drink most Thursdays then nearly every Friday and Saturday. By no means am I a socially awkward person but I feel at work events or if I'm out with clients, I relax a bit more after a couple of drinks As bad as it is, it also kind of feels socially unacceptable to not have a drink if I'm out with clients or people from work. Thursday night is a bit of a tradition with the boys where we go down to the pub for a few drinks and dinner as the weekend usually entails all the GFs/wifes coming out with us.

I have tried to do a month off but it didn't last. There always seems to be something that comes up on the weekend that involves drinking, I'm not going to be able to last until 4am without drinking, nor would I have the confidence to approach a lot of girls I do. May try take a month off before I head to the US for 6 weeks. That includes my bday though so probably wont happen.

I wouldn't have gone more than a week or 2 without drinking for 9 years, since I was 16 most likely.

 

[SugarShane]

Do it many months without even realising/trying. Generally don't drink at home, only really do it when i go out and it's not uncommon to go a month or two without going out during the quieter months.

 

[Lyyynnnchy]

Do it many months without even realising/trying. Generally don't drink at home, only really do it when i go out and it's not uncommon to go a month or two without going out during the quieter months.

It's so much easier not going out living in a place like Perth. I'd still drink as we'd have BBQs, watching the footy etc but now living in Melbourne I find it's so hard not to go out! There's always people I know from around Australia coming over and wanting to go out, there's food and drink festivals, huge number of sport events and the bars and pubs are just so much better that I actually enjoy going there. In Perth I'd go to bars, clubs and pubs solely for the socialising aspect

 

[The Sultan]

I had a big xmas/new years on the sauce so decided to go dry for a while, went thru til last saturday, as had a mates b'day. It was much easier than i though lost some weight, also slowed up on the soft drink and junk food.

feel and sleeping much better also noticed skin better and eyes much clearer, through may have something to do with a 3-4 liters of water drinking per day...

 

[QS]

Was injured, couldn't train (triathlon) last year hit the piss, missed work loads, ended up with withdrawals - decided it wasn't worth it. Haven't had one since July 1 (just a coincidence) and built a better base than I've ever had, put on muscle and can pay my way through a degree; so 8 months at the moment. Not alcoholic, just obviously my body has had enough of drinking truckloads of booze .. through early 20's I smashed it, hard.. and often! Probably will have a casual one every now and then when I'm where I wanna be fitness wise but no interest until then, far too busy with work, uni, training and sex.
I'd say for some people without it is better although if you can enjoy one every now and then that's also a good thing.

 

[Tulip]

n.

I don't understand how people can't go without drinking for a period of time. Surely if it is that hard to do it, then it indicates that they have a problem, and it is really important to reassess, or perhaps get help. (note: i'm not really a drinker myself, certainly not with any regularity)

I could go a year without a drink, I just think it's fun. Then again, I've got a sugar dependency which shits me up the wall and fluctuates from week to week. Some weeks I can keep my diet to a pretty standard sort of thing with plenty of fruit, veg and water; whilst other weeks I'm eating a ton of chocolate and drinking a glass of coke or two or three in a day. I'd imagine it's like that for a regular drinker.

 

[j0rdy1]

Since Australia Day weekend, which was an absolute bender, I've basically been sober by my standards. Gone out 4 of the 6 weeks after Aus Day clubbing and only drank for 1 of them which I had 7 or 8 5 drinks over the course of a night, which is about half of what I would normally drink over a night out. Predrinks included.

I have absolutely no problem with not drinking alcohol, unless I'm planning on picking up or either a big occasion/late night I try to drink as little as possible, if someone offers to pay for a drink I will take it though.

 

[WeetBixKid]

I went for about 35 days this year before going on holiday. Was great, and an eye opener. I'm currently in Iran so except for a small amount at house parties I'll be sober for at least another 35. Not drinking is becoming a habit and normal ... and I like it.

 

[errant bounce]

The fact that these things (Octsober, Dry July etc.) even exist is a pretty sad indictment on our society in my opinion. A month without booze so you can feel better about yourself and tell your mates how tough it was. Then on the 1st you write yourself off and the cycle begins again.

If you really want to take a bit of time off the piss just do it. You don't need to justify your actions to anybody. It really grinds my gears that people will always have to find an excuse to answer the 'why aren't you drinking?' question at social gatherings that wont bring reprisal.

How did this get so many likes? I mean I know why but ****ing hell, how easy are the lives of most bigfooty users? don't you have stress, pain, and hurt in your life and need a bit of a remedy from it? or do you lot just think a tough day is having to go into the office?

 

[ash_1050]

Looking forward to dry January again this year for the third year runnning after what will be a boozy December.

 

[AFDogs]

I reckon I've gone boozeless for a month once in about 12 years.

Love the piss too much. I always get so ****ing bored and miserable when I cut it out completely.

 

[burge13]

I reckon I've gone boozeless for a month once in about 12 years.

Love the piss too much. I always get so ****ing bored and miserable when I cut it out completely.

I never plan specific months off the booze but if they happen, they happen.

Never say no to beers after a game or whatever but the real big nights seem to be few & far between now. Not down to me, everyone else having kids or boring shit hurting my social life lol

 

[errant bounce]

Looking forward to dry January again this year for the third year runnning after what will be a boozy December.

If you're looking forward to not doing it, maybe just don't do it?

Your 'boozy December' is probably what most closeted alcoholics drink in half a week.

 

[conrad_437]

I've found myself getting far more cynical about alcohol as I get older. Don't get me wrong, I love a big night and I probably binge drink 1-2, sometimes more times a month. But I have shocking hangovers that are increasingly debilitating the next day and it really puts me off any drinking during the week. I pretty much don't have any alcohol at home and only buy it when having people over/going to someone's house to pre-drink (of course I buy it when I'm out on the town).

Generally, I consider myself pretty healthy and haven't found the need to take a month off because I wouldn't consider myself a habitual drinker. Drinking for me is strictly social, which is probably why I find it quite easy to overdo it and binge drink in a social situation.

Definitely have some friends that love the drink a lottt more than me though and look for any opportunity to get on it. Hard to say no...

 

[Sinjin Smith]

If you're looking forward to not doing it, maybe just don't do it?

Your 'boozy December' is probably what most closeted alcoholics drink in half a week.

Let people do what works for them. You'll find most in Oz having a few more in December as the year winds down, catching up with family and friends, the freedom to get a little rinsed as no work the next day. If your having a few and getting a bit pissed this time of year multiple times then what's the harm? (Unless drink driving or violence etc).

If said person then takes a sabbatical to get going then good on them.

I really don't get the eagerness to label people closeted or hidden alcoholics when they are just unwinding

 

[ash_1050]

If you're looking forward to not doing it, maybe just don't do it?

Your 'boozy December' is probably what most closeted alcoholics drink in half a week.

I'm looking forward to starting the year off without alcohol and using it as a time for introspection. Likewise I'm looking forward to a busy December with plenty of social events that involve alcohol.

I'd hope my boozy December isn't that bad compared to some, otherwise I'd be the alcoholic.

 

[errant bounce]

I'm looking forward to starting the year off without alcohol and using it as a time for introspection. Likewise I'm looking forward to a busy December with plenty of social events that involve alcohol.

I'd hope my boozy December isn't that bad compared to some, otherwise I'd be the alcoholic.

And alcoholics are bad people deserving shame and judgement. your judgement is obvious but snide and hidden.

Pre-planning introspection ffs.

'Tonight I will feel: human emotion #44.'

 

[ash_1050]

And alcoholics are bad people deserving shame and judgement. your judgement is obvious but snide and hidden.

Pre-planning introspection ffs.

'Tonight I will feel: human emotion #44.'

It may shock you but you can pre-plan a lot of things. Holidays. Study. Kids. Purchases. Career moves. Introspection.

Your 'boozy December' is probably what most closeted alcoholics drink in half a week.

I mentioned my plans and you then entirely unsolicited dragged up the fact that alcoholics probably drink 8 times as much as I would, so who's bringing shame and judgement here?

Thou doth protest too much methinks.

 

[errant bounce]

Holy **** you're so soy.

 

[ash_1050]

Holy **** you're so soy.

 

[getthefooty]

Drinking is just so entwined with socialising for me. I will very rarely drink during the week and never drink solo. Still have a big Friday / Sat night semi regularly (early 30s now so these nights are more few and far between than my 20s). I still find it pretty difficult to call it quits on a night when everyone else is drinking which is something I want to get better at.

If I had nothing on socially I could easily go months without drinking. Loathe hangovers and they’re definitely getting worse as I age. Playing a lot more golf recently which has been a great substitution for socialising without involving a drink. I do still love getting slowly pissed on a sunny day with mates though and I doubt that will ever change.

 

[ash_1050]

Quick update on the above after doing 3 weeks of dry January I ended up drinking again after getting the flu and using whisky to clear out the congestion.

Which has then prompted me to rethink my association with alcohol as a whole, and over the last month I've drastically cut back on consumption as well as currently selling a stack of my whisky collection, likely with the remainder to be sold next month.

Overall the aim for 2025 is to drink much less rather than give up. I had a single pint of cider at the pub tonight for the first time this year, the rest of the time it's just been a pint of coke.

Likewise I have a couple of alcohol focused bucket list items for an upcoming holiday in June that I still want to do, so moving to booze free isn't the focus as such, but if I cut consumption down by 80% or more I'd call that a win for ticking off the goal. Already finding it's making me happier, improving sleep, and has made a big difference on the bank balance.

 

[mouncey2franklin]

I just read this thread from the start and there's a lot of good stuff in here.

At first I wondered if any of my own posts would show up, but no.

It would be very interesting to see how these posters are doing now, 12 years later.

For me, I have had an on again off again relationship with alcohol since my early 20s, I'm late 30s now.

I love going out and getting on the piss and socialising and ending up wherever the night takes me.

But the reality is that many parts of my life improve whenever I take an extended break from drinking.

I haven't had a drink this year and I don't know when I will again.

It could be tomorrow, it could be a month from now, it could be never.

 

[Shell]

I can go weeks without alcohol. The beer in my fridge has been in it since last month. Finally had a mate over from work and was happy for her to drink it lol.

Never been a big drinker it's more sugar and lollies that gets me.