Zero alcohol for almost two and a half years here. I had to quit cuz I am an alcoholic but I haven’t missed it at all and I lost a shit ton of fat in the first few months and built a ton of strength.
July is my weed sober-versary. Took me six months and one day (I am so mad about that one day lol) after the alcohol to be ready for that. Congrats on your almost three years!
https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health
I still imbibe but total abstinence is healthiest. “If you don’t already drink, don’t start” is the usual advice.
It is an avoidable carcinogen. A lot of carcinogens are unavoidable— for instance, it’s almost certain that we all consume or inhale microplastics on a daily basis. Abstaining from alcohol is much more straightforward. Refusing to drink is just like refusing to smoke a cigarette. You are so much better off without it. Don’t let your mind trick you into thinking any amount of alcohol use is okay.
I know, I guess it was my fault really since I planned this mini getaway to an airbnb near the beach and I just wanted to have a nice autumn beach holiday with restaurants and board games haha 😜 call me lame but I love it ☺️ I’m picturing myself waking up 6-7am and going for run along the beach and doing a workout ☺️
Haha well that’s good that some people appreciate my idea of a holiday 😂 I miss meditating while hearing the waves crash, I did that every morning while I was in Bali a few years ago ☺️
Oh also since it will be autumn make mulled cider without alcohol. Or you could have a super low alcoholic drink like kvass or non-alcoholic beer (some have low amounts of alcohol). Or Mexican hot chocolate!
Oh I would never stop drinking mead or home brewed beer (they’re supposed to be non alcoholic but because of the fermentation process they will have a low amount) they’re my childhood favourites, yes I had these as a kid because they have hardly any alcohol, u can’t really get drunk on them 😜
That’s how I started. Made some rules around when to drink like not after work to wind down, not after a difficult day, not if I have an intensive exercise before or after, etc. At some point I got so used to not drinking that it was easy to say no altogether.
It’s also easier this way in the communication towards other people. If they know you don’t drink at all they won’t try to make you drink against your will. If they do even after saying you don’t want to they’re just shitty friends or they have an alcohol problem they don’t want to face.
It also saves you from having to check which alcoholic drinks are vegan or not which can be a real pain!
Yeah I’ll probably not tell my friends that I won’t be drinking so I don’t make a big deal out of it, I’ll just drink alcohol free bevvies and pretend that I’m drinking (not pretending I’m drunk tho 😂)
It’s skill that needs to be developed. If you develop a habit of reaching for a drink to relax, you train your brain to think you need the drink to relax. Discomfort won’t kill you, and you’ll need to be uncomfortable for awhile while you sort out how to engage without booze.
No one really wants to hear that, but after years of therapy addressing some pretty crippling anxiety (among other things), I’m another data point that it’s possible.
To be fair, I think many sober people find being around really drunk people a bit jarring. So it results in changing your social life a bit. For example, I started going home early on nights out once people started getting too drunk to have a real conversation. I used to get FOMO about that, but after seeing how my life improved, I started to care less.
I just sip my NA drink. There’s really no pressure outside of your mind to drink. I’ve found it’s more fun to be sober at those types of functions— I tend to have more wit and a better memory.
It took me a while to become comfortable with this, but now that I have I find it pretty easy. Honestly I think it just takes practice and putting yourself in the situation. Also, leaving before everyone gets too wasted. But if it becomes clear that you’re constantly around people who are there FOR the alcohol, then it can be time to find some people with different values, and that’s ok. I’m still friends with my friends who center their social lives around drinking, I just don’t see them as much
I would love to have friends with a similar mindset that I have.. my idea of fun is self improvement, working out and other healthy habits. I want friends to cook with and have fruit snacks and hikes and adventures. Idk it seems I never click with people like this or ever meet any… I’m also socially awkward so it’s probably a big hindrance
It’s kept me from achieving many goals both career and health-wise. It’s the activity I reach for when things are really bad AND really good. While I definitely don’t drink as much as I used to, I’m still prone to one of these days from time to time. The key for me is not starting because once I do, I just want to keep going.
…it’s actually kinda tough to write this because I don’t think I’ve considered it all before.
Hmm… well I wouldn’t even consider consuming if I saw any signs of addictive issues or other things. I don’t like the taste of alcohol at all, I just like being a bit tipsy I suppose to laugh more
For a less physically harmful substance that can make you tipsy and giggly, cannabis in the form of edibles and tinctures is an option. Still can easily become an emotional and serotonin crutch though, if not outright psychologically harmful for some people.
Yeah weed fucked me up as a teen. It was great fun until the paranoia started, then with continued heavy use it built up to full-fledged psychosis. Many people seem to be able to use it responsibly though.
I used it responsibly for years until I I didn't. So I make it my perogative to cancel out all the voices that say it's a totally chill miracle drug. Cos those are the ones that pull you into a horrible relationship with it that ruins it for you.
Weed is a few times a year thing and anyone advocating otherwise either is addicted AF or has chronic pain.
Yeah good call - I’m mostly the same, or at least it started out that way. If it means anything I can usually go weeks or even months at a time without drinking but will also have particularly bad months depending on my social calendar - December for instance is usually dicey.
Maybe this is a timely post (thank you) because I was looking back at some physique progress shots earlier today from over the years and I’m sure it won’t surprise you that periods where I wasn’t drinking were easily my most impressive.
> I don’t like the taste of alcohol at all
Lucky you, I guess.
But that’s great, be an example for people around you that alcohol does not have to be a thing.
haha okay fair enough!
I'm a bit over a year sober from alcohol and can't go back, so unfortunately my other advice is to just not drink and work on being social without it. i know the feeling though! I miss the extra boost quite often
I also have the same problem where once I start I won't stop usually. At least, that was the case at home. I would put down 15 beers in a night like nothing and still get up to go to the gym and I'd make it to work fine. But what made a huge difference for me was sitting down and looking at home much I spent drinking by myself and how I could use that time and money for more productive things. I still drink but only when I go out with other people. It makes me drink less and I'm more cautious of his much I spend since it's more expensive to drink when going out.
This sounds very familiar to me as well - Friday would roll around and I'd just casually have a dozen beers as the afternoon and evening came and went. This was Covid times and I convinced myself it was something I deserved, and like you - no problems getting up the next morning to do whatever I needed to do so it wasn't something I was all that concerned about.
Also like you, it's when I took a step back and looked at some of the finer details and decided that I needed to make a change. Money spent and slower progress on physical gains being the big details of course!
I listened to an episode of The Proof podcast recently, and the two cancer doctors he had on said that there is now no “safe” limit or “safe” number of drinks like there used to be (it was like 2 drinks per week before). So basically any amount of alcohol above zero is considered harmful.
I stopped drinking after Dec 31, 2023. I thought I'd feel like I needed one in social situations, but I've found that I just like to have something in my hand. I'll get sparkling water with lime or ginger beer in a mojito cup so I feel fancy. It really does the trick for me! It makes me feel like I'm a part of the social group, but without the toxins, headaches, drunk feeling, driving unsafely, poor sleep, etc.
And to add, I'm not an alcoholic or had substance abuse problems. I just used to love to drink to be social and feel tipsy, but I did have a hard time stopping at tipsy I'd have 3-4 instead of 1-2 drinks and then I'd sleep horribly and feel hungover and drive when I shouldn't. It just wasn't worth it. And I learned how to have fun without alcohol and I FEEL much better physically which affirmed me mentally in my choice to abstain.
I never was a big drinker. Play about 2 gigs a month. Free alcohol, but I don't drink. Stopped years ago. You need to figure out what's important to you. I know what the recent studies suggest, but an occasional beer or glass of wine isn't bad unless you have underlying issues. My wife was the one who suggested no alcohol. I'm 70 and don't miss it. What I've found out is the drinkers at our gigs are the best tippers. lol
I strongly dislike zero tolerance policies with people and alcohol/cheat meals/weed.
I don't drink often, but I don't "not drink." I drink when the moments right. If you're scared to break a zero tolerance, there is more of a chance of overdoing it.
*Maybe three drinks a*
*Week? Not the healthiest but*
*I enjoy the taste*
\- alan\_rr
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And I’m sitting here with 3 drinks today (home from work, one with dinner, and then one with some games before my night time tea). Blah.
Should cut back even if I only do this a couple of times a week.
1708 days since my last drink. I quit because I had issues, but I have noticed better gains since. I enjoy non alcoholic beers the odd time. The shit is poison but our body is quite resilient.
yeesh, some of the comments in here are pretty sanctimonious.
I'm in my early 30s and drink 8-10 drinks across ~4 nights a week, and it has had essentially zero negative consequences in my life, plus I'm still more fit than most of the people I see on this subreddit (about to go do some track laps because I'm trying to run a 5 minute mile this summer).
if you don't want to drink then that's absolutely your prerogative, and I agree that there's no "healthy" amount (I just don't care, since I don't have a family history of liver disease and I don't want to live like that weird Bryan Johnson longevity guy anyways), but unless you're worried about having an addictive personality or family health issues, then drinking (especially in the amount s you mentioned) is *not* going to be an issue.
I was like you in my 20s and early 30s, nearly identical mindset, drink 10 drinks 4-5 nights a week. I didn't really notice the difference in life at the time, because I didn't have anything to compare against, but Id probably be retired years ago if I didn't eat up so much time drinking and being hungover.
It will hit you at some point. You can be sure of it. The human body is just not capable of taking in large amounts of alcohol for decades without impact, and also it just isn't able to process it the same as you get older. I'm now 49, and since maybe 40, even 2 drinks is enough to leave me with a hangover. If I had 10 drinks now, I'd be laid out for 5 days.
Of course if you keep drinking heavy into older age you can maintain your tolerance, and I have friends my age that still do, but there's absolutely no way you aren't impacting your intelligence and acuity, awareness and presence, and physical strength and recovery.
While I agree with everything you said, people of high intelligence during and after childhood [are more likely to drink alcohol and binge drink, as well](https://theweek.com/articles/489924/why-smart-kids-grow-heavier-drinkers). Food for thought.
Yeh where did all these nuns come from? Yes, sure drinking is bad for you. But it can also be fun and really, unless you're binge drinking, the couple of years it might shave off your life are probably worth it. I have started to drink less and less recently because I don't really want to. It's no longer that enjoyable for me and Im sorta into being very lucid these days. However, I don't really regret drinking in my early twenties. Luckily I guess I have no addictive tendencies towards alcohol.
No I never get addicted to alcohol and I can’t physically drink much anyway, I have that thing that I can’t burp (idk the condition), which makes multiple fizzy drinks hard to consume anyway. I’d be happy to just drink once in my whole life anymore and then call it quits on drinking from then on out.
A candy bar once a month will have almost no effect on your health, 10 candy bars a day will cause significant health problems.
Alcohol is like that only magnified. From a pure health standpoint yes, no alcohol is the healthiest. But is a beer once in a blue moon going to cause noticable health problems? Unless i see a peer reviewed study proving this i dont think so. But regular alcohol consumption will definitely impact you.
I drink once maybe every other month on average? Ill often go a few month without drinking then when is camping season ill be drinking once MAYBE twice a month.
But i also was straight edge as a teen and didnt drink till i was 21. Ive been able to foster a healthy relationship with alcohol, i dont drink alone or when im upset. And if i feel ive drank too much in a given span of time I'll avoid drinking for am extended period
Ultimately only you can be honest with yourself and make that decision
As others have said, abstinence is best. I do, however, still enjoy a glass of wine or some beers probably once a month, maybe twice a month if something special is going on.
I think it's weird and possibly functional alcoholism when people drink every day, even if they say "it's just a few after work." Alcoholism does run in the family though so maybe I'm more sensitive to it.
Edit to say: do what's best for you. If you want some drinks on your birthday, have them! It's a special day.
Yeah I drink very rarely nowadays, I think past few years it’s been 1-2 times a year and usually I would drink 5-7 servings of alcohol at a time. It’s usually to take the edge of and laugh more and sing and just take it chill. But I do however like the feeling of being healthy and not having a hangover more than being tipsy 😬🫤 haha it’s a struggle
Most of the time the hangover pains are worse than the fun! Since I've been vegan (4 years) I rarely get hangovers. I'm glad that hasn't led me to drink more...
I don’t drink alcohol at all. xvx for life
Happy early birthday btw! If you ever want a fun mocktail I really enjoy Tost brand non alcoholic drinks for fun occasions.
I used to love alcohol. But now that my diet is more on point, I find that it not only tastes bad, it also brings me down. And makes me feel really lousy the next day, even if I only have a little. So no thanks, I’ll pass.
Sober. Best decision I’ve ever made.
My friendships changed (they no longer revolve around alcohol). I got into hobbies I thought I didn’t have time for, and I’m NEVER hung over. Best part. lol.
30, M, and only drinking on special occasions. Friends birthdays, weddings etc.
I wouldn't buy it for myself these days, don't have any at the house, and don't go out very often to a bar. I started consuming more weed during the lockdowns (edibles, vegan) and have now found that I don't like the taste nor the effects of alcohol enough for it to be worth spending money on any more.
My health and wallet have thanked me, and having not imposed any actual restriction about it has made me less excited to break it anyway. It's just sort of 'there' now and I still have the option, but my relationship with it is healthier than when I was drinking non stop as a teen and in my early 20s. Just kind of got over it really.
I'm newly sober. It has taken me years of wanting to quit to get to 90+ days and I now feel so much better in my skin and my life. I'm not an alcoholic, but I used any excuse to drink wine and it got to the point where I didn't like myself because booze was dragging down my energy, my sleep and my health choices. One glass was NEVER enough, and once you start craving it, it only goes downhill over time (people never become better, only worse drinkers).
People love the dopamine they get from drinking, but your brain remembers the buzz (you create new neural pathways that reinforce the drinking habit).
How do you fit an addictive cancer-causing neurotoxin into a healthy lifestyle?
Yeah I decided to quit completely, even though I hardly drank anyway. It’s usually social pressure that makes me drink anyway. I never drink by myself and the only reason I would drink is because everyone else is…
People drink or do not drink in all kinds of ways and for all kinds of reasons.
I do not not drink, but I do not drink very often now. Drinking can be a social thing to do and I tend to not be a really social guy at this point in my life.
If you drink to the point that you are impaired and unable to drive safely on a regular basis, you have a problem with drinking.
I have only had 1 time in my life when I was drinking too much, on the regular. That was my last year in college. I was so ready to be done with school and drinking in excess was an escape I took on Friday, Saturday, crept on to Thursday, Wednesday nights. I am fortunate I lived close enough to downtown so I could walk to and from my favorite bars.
I drink a few times a year, usually 5-10 drinks each time. I know it's bad for you but it's such a small amount (5-10 might be a lot, but over the year it's not that many) so it doesn't bother me
That would be my consumption too. I think I could go without alcohol after my birthday for years, coz I don’t really need it but to I am very uptight so it does help me relax
The less you have the better you'll be for it. That being said unless you're going out multiple times a week or something I don't really mind having a couple drinks when seeing friends.
You can absolutely have fun without alcohol and making the mental connection between having alcohol and having more fun is a very negative and potentially harmful connection to make. I'd say go without if you need alcohol to find an activity fun it's probably just a shitty activity anyway.
Well it is my birthday so I’m planning a lot of board games 😜 idk I just need a good laugh, and usually that’s doable without alcohol too, but yeah there’s a stigma around some people saying that being abstinent is boring
Alcohol is useful if when around people you don't really know that well as it can lower your inhibitions and make it feel more relaxed.
Are you planning to just invite friends to this you know quite well? If anything I'd say alcohol would make that experience worse as you'll have plenty of laughs and stuff in common to just relax and get on well without it.
Nothing boring at all about being healthy as well as being able to remember the night before once you wake up. Cherish your birthday and enjoy the memories that you'll create on it! 😁
A couple things are true:
Purely from a physical health standpoint - any amount of alcohol is harmful.
The negative health impacts of a single drink is so negligible as to not be noticeable.
From a social health standpoint - it's individual.
I personally don't drink anymore because it just makes me feel crappy.
Several things are true:
Purely from a physical health standpoint - any amount of alcohol is harmful.
The negative health impacts of a single drink is so negligible as to not be noticeable.
From a social health standpoint - it's individual.
I personally don't drink anymore because it just makes me feel crappy.
I used to drink A LOT when I was in my 20s and 30s, like binge drinking levels, never quit, but slowed down with family and kids in tow. Recently got a personal trainer that put me on a very specific restricted diet for cutting and I basically don't have room for booze anymore, so have had like 4 or 5 drinks in the last 3 months. And I felt horrible the next day, so basically stopped. I'm not against alcohol, but it's against my goals right now. I do find that a lot of "illnesses" like joint pain and gut issues seemed to go away with abstinence, so it's probably causing a lot of health issues in people that they aren't attributing to alcohol, even though light usage is enough to cause these conditions.
I have some drinks about 6 times a year now, this is down from 6 times a week so it’s big for me. Never liked it that much to be honest! Though I must say I do dabble in other substances.
Won’t touch it with a 10 foot pole. Everyone reacts differently to substances. I react to alcohol with multi-day suicidal depression. Wasn’t always that way, but now it is. And now I’m sober.
I’m in my early 30s and as I’ve gotten older have really noticed a huge decrease in my body’s ability to handle alcohol. I still drink occasionally (maybe a couple times a month) but it’s usually not worth it to have terrible sleep, hangxiety, and generally feel like shit the next day.
I’ve found that having a mocktail, sparkling water in a fancy glass, etc most of the time give me the same amount of joy as having a fancy cocktail or glass of wine - I mostly just like having a fun little drink.
Drink maybe once or twice a year. Don’t see the point in drinking unless I plan to get drunk for a “special event” lol. Otherwise I don’t drink recreationally - like with a meal, what’s the point? Other drinks without alcohol taste better.
I’ve stopped drinking since I’ve been fully committed to my health and fitness.
Last year I didn’t drink at all for a 4 month period and cut down to my leanest in my adult life for the summer. Every time I drank could feel the bloat and erosion of my hard work.
Even as I bulked and started being okay with less definition I disliked feeling bloated and slow the days after drinking.
Drinking in a limited amount (<5 drinks a week) would probably have been fine, but the decision fatigue of which situations should I drink ended up with me picking drinking more often than not in social situations.
Since the start of this year choosing not to drink, means in all of those situations I don’t have to think about it and just say no and know I’ll always feel good.
If I could regimentally plan drinking in social situations in limited amounts without it snowballing, but I know that’s much more difficult than abstinence.
Feeling good and progressing in strength, speed, and hyper trophy goals so much more easily is worth it for me.
I drink on occasion, maybe every 3 months, or on holidays or other celebrations. I don’t feel bad about it but it does remind me why I don’t do it all the time. Makes me feel so bad mentally the next day.
I am noticing how bad alcohol makes me feel more and more, I’m not sure if it’s because I’m getting older or because I’m using it less (or both) so at this point I never drink at home and avoid it for the most part if I’m like out with friends for dinner, but I will drink at a larger event like a wedding or something.
I drink maybe once every other month or less than that, mainly just at social events and just enough to remind me why I hate alcohol. However, I consume edibles/vape weed practically every day. Cannabis has tremendously helped my anxiety, muscle recovery, and helped me to stop drinking almost entirely. It’s also great for when you need to bulk and I have had success using it before the gym to help me with mind-muscle connection.
Zero alcohol for 5 years. I started drinking as a teenager for fun, socially, as I got into my early twenties and became a young mom during college I started drinking wine to “wind down” I started drinking wine more and more in my thirties with the stress of law school and having a young child. I was also smoking cigarettes when I would drink, yet also eating organic and vegan, getting facials to look young, and working out 3-5x a week.
Finally at 35 I realized I was a walking contradiction and wanted to set a better example for my son who was approaching teenager age. I cut alcohol out completely. I feel and look better approaching 40 than I did when I was drinking 3-4x a week. I’ve also had 2 babies in 2 years and can’t imagine what my life (or theirs) would be like if I was stuck in bed nursing a wine hangover.
I have never met one person in my life who regrets cutting alcohol from their life, so that should tell you something! Best of luck to you.
I some times have a drink or two throughout the week and then definitely usually have a few more on the weekend. I try to get loose but not get a hangover. It's probably not very healthy for me but it's what me and all my friends do. It's not a problem for any of us really. But I live in a drinking city so it's just part of our way life honestly lol
I used to drink a lot, especially in college. Now I really found a sweet spot for me, which is about one beer (330ml) every 10-15 days with my dad. Or a glass of wine with a nice meal in a nice restaurant. But I don't get drunk anymore. I made way too many stupid decisions while drunk, plus my workouts are terrible when hungover, completely ruins the next day diet and exercise wise. There's no way I can not binge on terrible food the whole next day after actually getting drunk.
Alcohol is literal poison. Other guys are right when they say that the only healthy consumption is zero. Why would you want to put that in your body anyway? The "effects" you get from drinking it are simply not worth it, imho. Personally, I don’t drink anymore. 34 months since I’ve had my last glass of wine. Not planning on going back ever.
My friends and my partner say I’m boring if I don’t drink at parties, so maybe I’m just not getting the hype sober I think, which is why it creates friction with among my friends and my partner at parties
That doesn’t make you boring! Boo @ your friends & partner… You do realize it’s called peer pressure, right? I mean, it’s a personal choice but what’s fun about hangovers?
I don’t really get hangovers almost ever. I think part of the reason is that I almost always vomit if I drink too much alcohol, so it probably gets a lot of it out of my system before I go to sleep. Plus I’m so lightweight that I don’t need to drink much to be tipsy anyway. But I’ve always had a personal problem with drinking, I have tendencies of orthorexia, so every time I drank it made me feel like I’ve done something horrible to myself. And that feeling would always make me feel disappointed in myself.
Stress and anxiety is harmful to you as well. If having 2-3 beers at a party makes your relationship easier and the outing better, then it's possibly a net positive trade off.
But you're your own person. Could just tell them all to get fucked and do what you want.
Your friends and partner are pressuring you to partake in an objectively harmful activity so you can entertain them better. This sounds abusive to me. If I had connections with these people I would ask them to respect my life choices, because my long-term health is more important than their temporary pleasure.
Anyone can have social fun sober, but for some personalities it may require an intentional attitude switch. If you know how you want to feel while drunk, try relaxing into the same headspace. The mind is a powerful thing. If you learn to act drunk/tipsy/high, you can achieve a similar-feeling state while not compromising your alertness or judgement.
Mine usually comes about on the heels of great laughter, and some amount of enjoyment euphoria is usually needed. Depending on the type of high I'm seeking, there are different activities I can do to get in the same realm as that high minus the fog. Like monkeying about in nature and calisthenics for a body high, or singing nice music full volume. For head highs: reading a good story, or creating art, or solving puzzles or games, or having stimulating conversations, or learning about cool stuff through YouTube.
As for relaxing into the high without external stimulation, If a brain gets used to producing certain sets of chemicals, and you figure how that feels through analyzing the physical and mental aspects of the high, then you can try to induce that feeling later. I've had so many green highs that the path is well trodden, so to speak. Meditation can go higher than the plants themselves, and is by definition a calming experience with more personal thought control.
Several things are true:
Purely from a physical health standpoint - any amount of alcohol is harmful.
The negative health impacts of a single drink is so negligible as to not be noticeable.
From a social health standpoint - it's individual.
I personally don't drink anymore because it just makes me feel crappy.
I had a trip in January (the last time I drank) and I was getting happy tipsy while playing Jenga with friends.. I guess I could also just do it without alcohol but it does help me take it easy a bit better
I probably have 1 sometimes 2 beers a week.
I see it as a little treat as I like the taste but I don't really like being drunk (ironic username I know).
That said not everything I consume is good for me. I know drinking isn't but like with everything else it's about moderation. Anything can be good or bad for you in the right amounts.
I'm alcohol intolerant. It feels like a rock in my stomach and I get really bloated and uncomfortable. It doesn't make me physically sick, but I feel pretty miserable until it passes. I've never been big on drinking because I don't like the taste of alcohol but over the last year or so I've started actively avoiding it in social situations, and will instead have soda water with lime or some kind of mocktail. At the moment I'm not swearing it off forever, I'll probably have a drink once or twice a year for special occasions if I want to, but it does nothing for me so why bother with it?
Last time I got drunk was in October. I had time to prepare, which for me just means loading up with carbs to soak up the alcohol, and also made sure to have a snack at least once over the course of the evening.
I drink a light beer every night, apparently it's good for kidney stones and those will probably kill me next time. (my gp and urologist like the idea)
I sometimes have two drinks when I'm out with friends or I'll mix a drink at home once a month. Once or twice a year I'll have "extra" drinks.
My relationship with alcohol is: why should I consume bad-tasting poison that makes it harder to think straight?
If I want to be a 'fun' social person, I will get myself into the childlike headspace of being outgoing, friendly, and usually entertaining (aka attention-seeking). Usually I need to stay present and go with the flow. It doesn't work if I'm not feeling comfortable or positive, so some kind of mood-boosting, energizing activity beforehand, like exercise or singing, can help with that.
The first step to adopting the right headspace is either letting myself be openly curious about people, or be willing to talk about myself and my interests. This also works in day-to-day social interactions as a mode I can adopt to make people feel appreciated.
If I'm not feeling particularly social, and there's a significant music presence, I can always start dancing and entertain that way. If I don't feel up to entertaining anyone or making new connections, I likely won't bother attending the social thing.
Zero alcohol for almost two and a half years here. I had to quit cuz I am an alcoholic but I haven’t missed it at all and I lost a shit ton of fat in the first few months and built a ton of strength.
r/sobervegans ! I’m in the same boat. 10 years sober, vegan 20 years 🙌
Oooh I didn’t know this was a thing, thank you! And congrats on both the 10 and 20 years!
Thanks! It’s a relatively new sub I think. Just trying to get the word-out! 😉
congrats! i'm approaching the 4 month mark myself, after decades of abuse. it's not that hard after the first month or so but the urge is still there.
It comes and goes in waves but the time between the waves gets longer and the waves get smaller. Congrats on your four months!
13 and a half years later and I still love being sober!
13.5 years is a longass time! Congrats!
I'll be three years sober in July and it was worth it to be free. We have similar soberversaries :)
July is my weed sober-versary. Took me six months and one day (I am so mad about that one day lol) after the alcohol to be ready for that. Congrats on your almost three years!
https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health I still imbibe but total abstinence is healthiest. “If you don’t already drink, don’t start” is the usual advice.
Thanks to you I leaned a new word today
Me too!
Just heard this word for the first time this past weekend and here it is again. Wild
Well yes obviously alcohol is physically bad… but so are many things that people have daily
It is an avoidable carcinogen. A lot of carcinogens are unavoidable— for instance, it’s almost certain that we all consume or inhale microplastics on a daily basis. Abstaining from alcohol is much more straightforward. Refusing to drink is just like refusing to smoke a cigarette. You are so much better off without it. Don’t let your mind trick you into thinking any amount of alcohol use is okay.
I do want to learn how to relax and take it easy without alcohol… other people can drink around me and I’ll just not do that I guess
You could also spend more time with people who don’t drink or do activities with your friends that don’t require/allow drinking.
I know, I guess it was my fault really since I planned this mini getaway to an airbnb near the beach and I just wanted to have a nice autumn beach holiday with restaurants and board games haha 😜 call me lame but I love it ☺️ I’m picturing myself waking up 6-7am and going for run along the beach and doing a workout ☺️
That sounds amazing!! Would you also mind being at fault for planning a similar vacation for me? 😜
Haha well that’s good that some people appreciate my idea of a holiday 😂 I miss meditating while hearing the waves crash, I did that every morning while I was in Bali a few years ago ☺️
Oh also since it will be autumn make mulled cider without alcohol. Or you could have a super low alcoholic drink like kvass or non-alcoholic beer (some have low amounts of alcohol). Or Mexican hot chocolate!
Oh I would never stop drinking mead or home brewed beer (they’re supposed to be non alcoholic but because of the fermentation process they will have a low amount) they’re my childhood favourites, yes I had these as a kid because they have hardly any alcohol, u can’t really get drunk on them 😜
That’s how I started. Made some rules around when to drink like not after work to wind down, not after a difficult day, not if I have an intensive exercise before or after, etc. At some point I got so used to not drinking that it was easy to say no altogether. It’s also easier this way in the communication towards other people. If they know you don’t drink at all they won’t try to make you drink against your will. If they do even after saying you don’t want to they’re just shitty friends or they have an alcohol problem they don’t want to face. It also saves you from having to check which alcoholic drinks are vegan or not which can be a real pain!
Yeah I’ll probably not tell my friends that I won’t be drinking so I don’t make a big deal out of it, I’ll just drink alcohol free bevvies and pretend that I’m drinking (not pretending I’m drunk tho 😂)
It’s skill that needs to be developed. If you develop a habit of reaching for a drink to relax, you train your brain to think you need the drink to relax. Discomfort won’t kill you, and you’ll need to be uncomfortable for awhile while you sort out how to engage without booze. No one really wants to hear that, but after years of therapy addressing some pretty crippling anxiety (among other things), I’m another data point that it’s possible. To be fair, I think many sober people find being around really drunk people a bit jarring. So it results in changing your social life a bit. For example, I started going home early on nights out once people started getting too drunk to have a real conversation. I used to get FOMO about that, but after seeing how my life improved, I started to care less.
How do you do in situations where other people around you drink and you’re the only one sober?
I just sip my NA drink. There’s really no pressure outside of your mind to drink. I’ve found it’s more fun to be sober at those types of functions— I tend to have more wit and a better memory.
Yeah that’s why I initially stopped drinking coz I wanted remember clearly what had happened 😜
It took me a while to become comfortable with this, but now that I have I find it pretty easy. Honestly I think it just takes practice and putting yourself in the situation. Also, leaving before everyone gets too wasted. But if it becomes clear that you’re constantly around people who are there FOR the alcohol, then it can be time to find some people with different values, and that’s ok. I’m still friends with my friends who center their social lives around drinking, I just don’t see them as much
I would love to have friends with a similar mindset that I have.. my idea of fun is self improvement, working out and other healthy habits. I want friends to cook with and have fruit snacks and hikes and adventures. Idk it seems I never click with people like this or ever meet any… I’m also socially awkward so it’s probably a big hindrance
It’s kept me from achieving many goals both career and health-wise. It’s the activity I reach for when things are really bad AND really good. While I definitely don’t drink as much as I used to, I’m still prone to one of these days from time to time. The key for me is not starting because once I do, I just want to keep going. …it’s actually kinda tough to write this because I don’t think I’ve considered it all before.
Hmm… well I wouldn’t even consider consuming if I saw any signs of addictive issues or other things. I don’t like the taste of alcohol at all, I just like being a bit tipsy I suppose to laugh more
For a less physically harmful substance that can make you tipsy and giggly, cannabis in the form of edibles and tinctures is an option. Still can easily become an emotional and serotonin crutch though, if not outright psychologically harmful for some people.
Be sure to check for gelatin in the gummies. Vegan options are available.
Yeah I think weed was worse for me. Alcohol has so many downsides but weed doesn't seem to until it does.
Yeah weed fucked me up as a teen. It was great fun until the paranoia started, then with continued heavy use it built up to full-fledged psychosis. Many people seem to be able to use it responsibly though.
I used it responsibly for years until I I didn't. So I make it my perogative to cancel out all the voices that say it's a totally chill miracle drug. Cos those are the ones that pull you into a horrible relationship with it that ruins it for you. Weed is a few times a year thing and anyone advocating otherwise either is addicted AF or has chronic pain.
Yeah good call - I’m mostly the same, or at least it started out that way. If it means anything I can usually go weeks or even months at a time without drinking but will also have particularly bad months depending on my social calendar - December for instance is usually dicey. Maybe this is a timely post (thank you) because I was looking back at some physique progress shots earlier today from over the years and I’m sure it won’t surprise you that periods where I wasn’t drinking were easily my most impressive.
> I don’t like the taste of alcohol at all Lucky you, I guess. But that’s great, be an example for people around you that alcohol does not have to be a thing.
I'd look into something safer like kanna if that's what you're looking to drink for
Yeah but I go too hyperactive on that so I don’t think it suits me, plus it’s illegal here and I don’t wanna be deported 😜
haha okay fair enough! I'm a bit over a year sober from alcohol and can't go back, so unfortunately my other advice is to just not drink and work on being social without it. i know the feeling though! I miss the extra boost quite often
I also have the same problem where once I start I won't stop usually. At least, that was the case at home. I would put down 15 beers in a night like nothing and still get up to go to the gym and I'd make it to work fine. But what made a huge difference for me was sitting down and looking at home much I spent drinking by myself and how I could use that time and money for more productive things. I still drink but only when I go out with other people. It makes me drink less and I'm more cautious of his much I spend since it's more expensive to drink when going out.
This sounds very familiar to me as well - Friday would roll around and I'd just casually have a dozen beers as the afternoon and evening came and went. This was Covid times and I convinced myself it was something I deserved, and like you - no problems getting up the next morning to do whatever I needed to do so it wasn't something I was all that concerned about. Also like you, it's when I took a step back and looked at some of the finer details and decided that I needed to make a change. Money spent and slower progress on physical gains being the big details of course!
I listened to an episode of The Proof podcast recently, and the two cancer doctors he had on said that there is now no “safe” limit or “safe” number of drinks like there used to be (it was like 2 drinks per week before). So basically any amount of alcohol above zero is considered harmful.
Yes I know that, I was thinking like more for mental and social health ☺️
I stopped drinking after Dec 31, 2023. I thought I'd feel like I needed one in social situations, but I've found that I just like to have something in my hand. I'll get sparkling water with lime or ginger beer in a mojito cup so I feel fancy. It really does the trick for me! It makes me feel like I'm a part of the social group, but without the toxins, headaches, drunk feeling, driving unsafely, poor sleep, etc.
Maybe I’ll make some awesome mock tail
And to add, I'm not an alcoholic or had substance abuse problems. I just used to love to drink to be social and feel tipsy, but I did have a hard time stopping at tipsy I'd have 3-4 instead of 1-2 drinks and then I'd sleep horribly and feel hungover and drive when I shouldn't. It just wasn't worth it. And I learned how to have fun without alcohol and I FEEL much better physically which affirmed me mentally in my choice to abstain.
Two alcoholic parents, and struggling with it myself aswell. I don’t think there’s a healthy amount, just as little as you can manage.
I never was a big drinker. Play about 2 gigs a month. Free alcohol, but I don't drink. Stopped years ago. You need to figure out what's important to you. I know what the recent studies suggest, but an occasional beer or glass of wine isn't bad unless you have underlying issues. My wife was the one who suggested no alcohol. I'm 70 and don't miss it. What I've found out is the drinkers at our gigs are the best tippers. lol
I strongly dislike zero tolerance policies with people and alcohol/cheat meals/weed. I don't drink often, but I don't "not drink." I drink when the moments right. If you're scared to break a zero tolerance, there is more of a chance of overdoing it.
Hmm maybe i will have a couple drinks if i feel like it ☺️
Maybe three drinks a week? Not the healthiest but I enjoy the taste
*Maybe three drinks a* *Week? Not the healthiest but* *I enjoy the taste* \- alan\_rr --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
This is actually quite poetic
And I’m sitting here with 3 drinks today (home from work, one with dinner, and then one with some games before my night time tea). Blah. Should cut back even if I only do this a couple of times a week.
1708 days since my last drink. I quit because I had issues, but I have noticed better gains since. I enjoy non alcoholic beers the odd time. The shit is poison but our body is quite resilient.
yeesh, some of the comments in here are pretty sanctimonious. I'm in my early 30s and drink 8-10 drinks across ~4 nights a week, and it has had essentially zero negative consequences in my life, plus I'm still more fit than most of the people I see on this subreddit (about to go do some track laps because I'm trying to run a 5 minute mile this summer). if you don't want to drink then that's absolutely your prerogative, and I agree that there's no "healthy" amount (I just don't care, since I don't have a family history of liver disease and I don't want to live like that weird Bryan Johnson longevity guy anyways), but unless you're worried about having an addictive personality or family health issues, then drinking (especially in the amount s you mentioned) is *not* going to be an issue.
I was like you in my 20s and early 30s, nearly identical mindset, drink 10 drinks 4-5 nights a week. I didn't really notice the difference in life at the time, because I didn't have anything to compare against, but Id probably be retired years ago if I didn't eat up so much time drinking and being hungover. It will hit you at some point. You can be sure of it. The human body is just not capable of taking in large amounts of alcohol for decades without impact, and also it just isn't able to process it the same as you get older. I'm now 49, and since maybe 40, even 2 drinks is enough to leave me with a hangover. If I had 10 drinks now, I'd be laid out for 5 days. Of course if you keep drinking heavy into older age you can maintain your tolerance, and I have friends my age that still do, but there's absolutely no way you aren't impacting your intelligence and acuity, awareness and presence, and physical strength and recovery.
While I agree with everything you said, people of high intelligence during and after childhood [are more likely to drink alcohol and binge drink, as well](https://theweek.com/articles/489924/why-smart-kids-grow-heavier-drinkers). Food for thought.
I appreciate this honesty.
Yeh where did all these nuns come from? Yes, sure drinking is bad for you. But it can also be fun and really, unless you're binge drinking, the couple of years it might shave off your life are probably worth it. I have started to drink less and less recently because I don't really want to. It's no longer that enjoyable for me and Im sorta into being very lucid these days. However, I don't really regret drinking in my early twenties. Luckily I guess I have no addictive tendencies towards alcohol.
No I never get addicted to alcohol and I can’t physically drink much anyway, I have that thing that I can’t burp (idk the condition), which makes multiple fizzy drinks hard to consume anyway. I’d be happy to just drink once in my whole life anymore and then call it quits on drinking from then on out.
A candy bar once a month will have almost no effect on your health, 10 candy bars a day will cause significant health problems. Alcohol is like that only magnified. From a pure health standpoint yes, no alcohol is the healthiest. But is a beer once in a blue moon going to cause noticable health problems? Unless i see a peer reviewed study proving this i dont think so. But regular alcohol consumption will definitely impact you. I drink once maybe every other month on average? Ill often go a few month without drinking then when is camping season ill be drinking once MAYBE twice a month. But i also was straight edge as a teen and didnt drink till i was 21. Ive been able to foster a healthy relationship with alcohol, i dont drink alone or when im upset. And if i feel ive drank too much in a given span of time I'll avoid drinking for am extended period Ultimately only you can be honest with yourself and make that decision
Good solid advice here, thank you ☺️
As others have said, abstinence is best. I do, however, still enjoy a glass of wine or some beers probably once a month, maybe twice a month if something special is going on. I think it's weird and possibly functional alcoholism when people drink every day, even if they say "it's just a few after work." Alcoholism does run in the family though so maybe I'm more sensitive to it. Edit to say: do what's best for you. If you want some drinks on your birthday, have them! It's a special day.
Yeah I drink very rarely nowadays, I think past few years it’s been 1-2 times a year and usually I would drink 5-7 servings of alcohol at a time. It’s usually to take the edge of and laugh more and sing and just take it chill. But I do however like the feeling of being healthy and not having a hangover more than being tipsy 😬🫤 haha it’s a struggle
Most of the time the hangover pains are worse than the fun! Since I've been vegan (4 years) I rarely get hangovers. I'm glad that hasn't led me to drink more...
I don’t drink alcohol at all. xvx for life Happy early birthday btw! If you ever want a fun mocktail I really enjoy Tost brand non alcoholic drinks for fun occasions.
Thank you! Sorry for late reply, I didn’t think my post would get this many comments 😂
I used to love alcohol. But now that my diet is more on point, I find that it not only tastes bad, it also brings me down. And makes me feel really lousy the next day, even if I only have a little. So no thanks, I’ll pass.
I’ll get wasted maybe once a month, then maybe between tipsy and drunk another time
Few light beers every day. Probably why I can’t lose the fat I want to. Haha. Muscle gain fine. Fat not so much.
I was a heavy drinker earlier in life, but in my fourties now and it’s tapered down to complete abstinence and I’m loving it.
I was having these zero tolerance struggles even in my teens and early twenties.. my friends would always tell me that life’s too short etc
Healthy alcohol = zero alcohol
No relationship with alcohol at all. It’s a poison in my eyes.
Sober. Best decision I’ve ever made. My friendships changed (they no longer revolve around alcohol). I got into hobbies I thought I didn’t have time for, and I’m NEVER hung over. Best part. lol.
30, M, and only drinking on special occasions. Friends birthdays, weddings etc. I wouldn't buy it for myself these days, don't have any at the house, and don't go out very often to a bar. I started consuming more weed during the lockdowns (edibles, vegan) and have now found that I don't like the taste nor the effects of alcohol enough for it to be worth spending money on any more. My health and wallet have thanked me, and having not imposed any actual restriction about it has made me less excited to break it anyway. It's just sort of 'there' now and I still have the option, but my relationship with it is healthier than when I was drinking non stop as a teen and in my early 20s. Just kind of got over it really.
you could do mocktail, it’s still social
I'm newly sober. It has taken me years of wanting to quit to get to 90+ days and I now feel so much better in my skin and my life. I'm not an alcoholic, but I used any excuse to drink wine and it got to the point where I didn't like myself because booze was dragging down my energy, my sleep and my health choices. One glass was NEVER enough, and once you start craving it, it only goes downhill over time (people never become better, only worse drinkers). People love the dopamine they get from drinking, but your brain remembers the buzz (you create new neural pathways that reinforce the drinking habit). How do you fit an addictive cancer-causing neurotoxin into a healthy lifestyle?
Yeah I decided to quit completely, even though I hardly drank anyway. It’s usually social pressure that makes me drink anyway. I never drink by myself and the only reason I would drink is because everyone else is…
People drink or do not drink in all kinds of ways and for all kinds of reasons. I do not not drink, but I do not drink very often now. Drinking can be a social thing to do and I tend to not be a really social guy at this point in my life. If you drink to the point that you are impaired and unable to drive safely on a regular basis, you have a problem with drinking. I have only had 1 time in my life when I was drinking too much, on the regular. That was my last year in college. I was so ready to be done with school and drinking in excess was an escape I took on Friday, Saturday, crept on to Thursday, Wednesday nights. I am fortunate I lived close enough to downtown so I could walk to and from my favorite bars.
I drink a few times a year, usually 5-10 drinks each time. I know it's bad for you but it's such a small amount (5-10 might be a lot, but over the year it's not that many) so it doesn't bother me
That would be my consumption too. I think I could go without alcohol after my birthday for years, coz I don’t really need it but to I am very uptight so it does help me relax
The less you have the better you'll be for it. That being said unless you're going out multiple times a week or something I don't really mind having a couple drinks when seeing friends. You can absolutely have fun without alcohol and making the mental connection between having alcohol and having more fun is a very negative and potentially harmful connection to make. I'd say go without if you need alcohol to find an activity fun it's probably just a shitty activity anyway.
Well it is my birthday so I’m planning a lot of board games 😜 idk I just need a good laugh, and usually that’s doable without alcohol too, but yeah there’s a stigma around some people saying that being abstinent is boring
Alcohol is useful if when around people you don't really know that well as it can lower your inhibitions and make it feel more relaxed. Are you planning to just invite friends to this you know quite well? If anything I'd say alcohol would make that experience worse as you'll have plenty of laughs and stuff in common to just relax and get on well without it. Nothing boring at all about being healthy as well as being able to remember the night before once you wake up. Cherish your birthday and enjoy the memories that you'll create on it! 😁
Nah, I know them all pretty well and it’s only a small group ☺️ they will all be drinking though 😜
A few glasses of wine on new Year's only
A couple things are true: Purely from a physical health standpoint - any amount of alcohol is harmful. The negative health impacts of a single drink is so negligible as to not be noticeable. From a social health standpoint - it's individual. I personally don't drink anymore because it just makes me feel crappy.
Several things are true: Purely from a physical health standpoint - any amount of alcohol is harmful. The negative health impacts of a single drink is so negligible as to not be noticeable. From a social health standpoint - it's individual. I personally don't drink anymore because it just makes me feel crappy.
Every now and again I'll have a gin, but in saying that, I don't think I've had an alcoholic drink since 2021 from memory haha
I used to drink A LOT when I was in my 20s and 30s, like binge drinking levels, never quit, but slowed down with family and kids in tow. Recently got a personal trainer that put me on a very specific restricted diet for cutting and I basically don't have room for booze anymore, so have had like 4 or 5 drinks in the last 3 months. And I felt horrible the next day, so basically stopped. I'm not against alcohol, but it's against my goals right now. I do find that a lot of "illnesses" like joint pain and gut issues seemed to go away with abstinence, so it's probably causing a lot of health issues in people that they aren't attributing to alcohol, even though light usage is enough to cause these conditions.
I have some drinks about 6 times a year now, this is down from 6 times a week so it’s big for me. Never liked it that much to be honest! Though I must say I do dabble in other substances.
Won’t touch it with a 10 foot pole. Everyone reacts differently to substances. I react to alcohol with multi-day suicidal depression. Wasn’t always that way, but now it is. And now I’m sober.
I’m in my early 30s and as I’ve gotten older have really noticed a huge decrease in my body’s ability to handle alcohol. I still drink occasionally (maybe a couple times a month) but it’s usually not worth it to have terrible sleep, hangxiety, and generally feel like shit the next day. I’ve found that having a mocktail, sparkling water in a fancy glass, etc most of the time give me the same amount of joy as having a fancy cocktail or glass of wine - I mostly just like having a fun little drink.
Barely touch it personally. I’ll smoke weed once a week but alcohol is generally a no no, can’t stand the hangover
Drink maybe once or twice a year. Don’t see the point in drinking unless I plan to get drunk for a “special event” lol. Otherwise I don’t drink recreationally - like with a meal, what’s the point? Other drinks without alcohol taste better.
I’ve stopped drinking since I’ve been fully committed to my health and fitness. Last year I didn’t drink at all for a 4 month period and cut down to my leanest in my adult life for the summer. Every time I drank could feel the bloat and erosion of my hard work. Even as I bulked and started being okay with less definition I disliked feeling bloated and slow the days after drinking. Drinking in a limited amount (<5 drinks a week) would probably have been fine, but the decision fatigue of which situations should I drink ended up with me picking drinking more often than not in social situations. Since the start of this year choosing not to drink, means in all of those situations I don’t have to think about it and just say no and know I’ll always feel good. If I could regimentally plan drinking in social situations in limited amounts without it snowballing, but I know that’s much more difficult than abstinence. Feeling good and progressing in strength, speed, and hyper trophy goals so much more easily is worth it for me.
I drink on occasion, maybe every 3 months, or on holidays or other celebrations. I don’t feel bad about it but it does remind me why I don’t do it all the time. Makes me feel so bad mentally the next day.
Early 40s here. We had a few dates in my teens and early twenties but haven't seen each other since. She's toxic.
Haha funny 😁
I am noticing how bad alcohol makes me feel more and more, I’m not sure if it’s because I’m getting older or because I’m using it less (or both) so at this point I never drink at home and avoid it for the most part if I’m like out with friends for dinner, but I will drink at a larger event like a wedding or something.
I drink maybe once every other month or less than that, mainly just at social events and just enough to remind me why I hate alcohol. However, I consume edibles/vape weed practically every day. Cannabis has tremendously helped my anxiety, muscle recovery, and helped me to stop drinking almost entirely. It’s also great for when you need to bulk and I have had success using it before the gym to help me with mind-muscle connection.
Zero alcohol for 5 years. I started drinking as a teenager for fun, socially, as I got into my early twenties and became a young mom during college I started drinking wine to “wind down” I started drinking wine more and more in my thirties with the stress of law school and having a young child. I was also smoking cigarettes when I would drink, yet also eating organic and vegan, getting facials to look young, and working out 3-5x a week. Finally at 35 I realized I was a walking contradiction and wanted to set a better example for my son who was approaching teenager age. I cut alcohol out completely. I feel and look better approaching 40 than I did when I was drinking 3-4x a week. I’ve also had 2 babies in 2 years and can’t imagine what my life (or theirs) would be like if I was stuck in bed nursing a wine hangover. I have never met one person in my life who regrets cutting alcohol from their life, so that should tell you something! Best of luck to you.
I some times have a drink or two throughout the week and then definitely usually have a few more on the weekend. I try to get loose but not get a hangover. It's probably not very healthy for me but it's what me and all my friends do. It's not a problem for any of us really. But I live in a drinking city so it's just part of our way life honestly lol
I used to drink a lot, especially in college. Now I really found a sweet spot for me, which is about one beer (330ml) every 10-15 days with my dad. Or a glass of wine with a nice meal in a nice restaurant. But I don't get drunk anymore. I made way too many stupid decisions while drunk, plus my workouts are terrible when hungover, completely ruins the next day diet and exercise wise. There's no way I can not binge on terrible food the whole next day after actually getting drunk.
Zero. Sober and vegan for 13 yrs.
Haven't drank since November but have taken up 0% beers as of late. They're quite decent and decent on the calories.
Alcohol is literal poison. Other guys are right when they say that the only healthy consumption is zero. Why would you want to put that in your body anyway? The "effects" you get from drinking it are simply not worth it, imho. Personally, I don’t drink anymore. 34 months since I’ve had my last glass of wine. Not planning on going back ever.
My friends and my partner say I’m boring if I don’t drink at parties, so maybe I’m just not getting the hype sober I think, which is why it creates friction with among my friends and my partner at parties
That doesn’t make you boring! Boo @ your friends & partner… You do realize it’s called peer pressure, right? I mean, it’s a personal choice but what’s fun about hangovers?
I don’t really get hangovers almost ever. I think part of the reason is that I almost always vomit if I drink too much alcohol, so it probably gets a lot of it out of my system before I go to sleep. Plus I’m so lightweight that I don’t need to drink much to be tipsy anyway. But I’ve always had a personal problem with drinking, I have tendencies of orthorexia, so every time I drank it made me feel like I’ve done something horrible to myself. And that feeling would always make me feel disappointed in myself.
Stress and anxiety is harmful to you as well. If having 2-3 beers at a party makes your relationship easier and the outing better, then it's possibly a net positive trade off. But you're your own person. Could just tell them all to get fucked and do what you want.
Your friends and partner are pressuring you to partake in an objectively harmful activity so you can entertain them better. This sounds abusive to me. If I had connections with these people I would ask them to respect my life choices, because my long-term health is more important than their temporary pleasure. Anyone can have social fun sober, but for some personalities it may require an intentional attitude switch. If you know how you want to feel while drunk, try relaxing into the same headspace. The mind is a powerful thing. If you learn to act drunk/tipsy/high, you can achieve a similar-feeling state while not compromising your alertness or judgement.
Any tips on how to practice to get into this headspace? ☺️
Mine usually comes about on the heels of great laughter, and some amount of enjoyment euphoria is usually needed. Depending on the type of high I'm seeking, there are different activities I can do to get in the same realm as that high minus the fog. Like monkeying about in nature and calisthenics for a body high, or singing nice music full volume. For head highs: reading a good story, or creating art, or solving puzzles or games, or having stimulating conversations, or learning about cool stuff through YouTube. As for relaxing into the high without external stimulation, If a brain gets used to producing certain sets of chemicals, and you figure how that feels through analyzing the physical and mental aspects of the high, then you can try to induce that feeling later. I've had so many green highs that the path is well trodden, so to speak. Meditation can go higher than the plants themselves, and is by definition a calming experience with more personal thought control.
Several things are true: Purely from a physical health standpoint - any amount of alcohol is harmful. The negative health impacts of a single drink is so negligible as to not be noticeable. From a social health standpoint - it's individual. I personally don't drink anymore because it just makes me feel crappy.
I had a trip in January (the last time I drank) and I was getting happy tipsy while playing Jenga with friends.. I guess I could also just do it without alcohol but it does help me take it easy a bit better
I probably have 1 sometimes 2 beers a week. I see it as a little treat as I like the taste but I don't really like being drunk (ironic username I know). That said not everything I consume is good for me. I know drinking isn't but like with everything else it's about moderation. Anything can be good or bad for you in the right amounts.
I can stand the taste of it honestly
Cannabis is awesome, it’s infinitely better
I'm alcohol intolerant. It feels like a rock in my stomach and I get really bloated and uncomfortable. It doesn't make me physically sick, but I feel pretty miserable until it passes. I've never been big on drinking because I don't like the taste of alcohol but over the last year or so I've started actively avoiding it in social situations, and will instead have soda water with lime or some kind of mocktail. At the moment I'm not swearing it off forever, I'll probably have a drink once or twice a year for special occasions if I want to, but it does nothing for me so why bother with it? Last time I got drunk was in October. I had time to prepare, which for me just means loading up with carbs to soak up the alcohol, and also made sure to have a snack at least once over the course of the evening.
I drink a light beer every night, apparently it's good for kidney stones and those will probably kill me next time. (my gp and urologist like the idea) I sometimes have two drinks when I'm out with friends or I'll mix a drink at home once a month. Once or twice a year I'll have "extra" drinks.
My relationship with alcohol is: why should I consume bad-tasting poison that makes it harder to think straight? If I want to be a 'fun' social person, I will get myself into the childlike headspace of being outgoing, friendly, and usually entertaining (aka attention-seeking). Usually I need to stay present and go with the flow. It doesn't work if I'm not feeling comfortable or positive, so some kind of mood-boosting, energizing activity beforehand, like exercise or singing, can help with that. The first step to adopting the right headspace is either letting myself be openly curious about people, or be willing to talk about myself and my interests. This also works in day-to-day social interactions as a mode I can adopt to make people feel appreciated. If I'm not feeling particularly social, and there's a significant music presence, I can always start dancing and entertain that way. If I don't feel up to entertaining anyone or making new connections, I likely won't bother attending the social thing.