Alcohol, hints, tips, advice etc.

[blue oli]

Brilliant mate, thanks.
I've met a few recovering addicts who have the same attitude, that's why I asked. It's strange how much we all have in common, and how easy it is to pick up on.
Addiction, denial, hiding it, pushing friends + family away, self pity, realisation, action, relapse, recovery.
All things we share in some form. Our common goal is getting to the recovery stage and sticking with it. If a little dark humour helps i'm all for it.
Thanks for your honesty it's appreciated. I'm willing to bet you've already helped people on here.
Good luck with it all mate

The denial is the one that gets me, I’ve never been a drinker really, and four years ago I had a bit of a health scare that put me off drinking full stop - not that it was much of a loss.

What it did do however was to throw a light on how much people around me drink and I was to be honest. Astonished - every meet up with mates is ‘down the pub’ or a ‘quick drink after work’ etc. It’s core to our culture in a way that’s almost ridiculous.

From what I can see we have a much higher number of functioning alcoholics in society than we think. I’m not against people having a drink at all but the amount of people that abuse their own lives through drink is still incredible - I’m happy that the younger generation (as a whole) are moving away from this.

It’s as much a societal problem as a personal problem if you ask me.

To anyone that’s on a journey in the space, be proud and keep it up - it’s very very impressive to believe in yourself and to stick to it.

 

[Marklr]

Glad to hear it. Tea can be a bastard.

You haven't got an PGtips to sell, have you mate? In a bag?

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

It's right, though, mate. People tend to think: "well I'm nowhere near as bad as he got, so I'll carry on and worry about it when i get near that stage". Most people that get anywhere near that stage, don't recover.

George Best got a new liver and he f*cked that one away too within a short space of time. There is something to be said for those who are strong enough to come back from the edge and get their lives back on track. Alcohol is such a horrible drug.

 

[Danny Hoekman]

The denial is the one that gets me, I’ve never been a drinker really, and four years ago I had a bit of a health scare that put me off drinking full stop - not that it was much of a loss.

What it did do however was to throw a light on how much people around me drink and I was to be honest. Astonished - every meet up with mates is ‘down the pub’ or a ‘quick drink after work’ etc. It’s core to our culture in a way that’s almost ridiculous.

From what I can see we have a much higher number of functioning alcoholics in society than we think. I’m not against people having a drink at all but the amount of people that abuse their own lives through drink is still incredible - I’m happy that the younger generation (as a whole) are moving away from this.

It’s as much a societal problem as a personal problem if you ask me.

To anyone that’s on a journey in the space, be proud and keep it up - it’s very very impressive to believe in yourself and to stick to it.

Serious question - what do you do on a Friday and Saturday night? I love going to the pub at weekends and would hate sitting at home watching tv. Similar on matchdays, meeting family and mates pre and post-match.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

The denial is the one that gets me, I’ve never been a drinker really, and four years ago I had a bit of a health scare that put me off drinking full stop - not that it was much of a loss.

What it did do however was to throw a light on how much people around me drink and I was to be honest. Astonished - every meet up with mates is ‘down the pub’ or a ‘quick drink after work’ etc. It’s core to our culture in a way that’s almost ridiculous.

From what I can see we have a much higher number of functioning alcoholics in society than we think. I’m not against people having a drink at all but the amount of people that abuse their own lives through drink is still incredible - I’m happy that the younger generation (as a whole) are moving away from this.

It’s as much a societal problem as a personal problem if you ask me.

To anyone that’s on a journey in the space, be proud and keep it up - it’s very very impressive to believe in yourself and to stick to it.

I’m not being funny, or trying to belittle anyone who‘s got a serious drinking problem that blights their life, but why does being a habitual, even inveterate drinker have to be a problem that needs to be cured? What makes you assume that’s the best outcome for everyone? Why do you assume (as you seem to) that enjoying drinking regularly leads to an unhappy life.

I’m (probably) a functioning alcoholic and I’ve got an unbelievably happy life. I love my life and very rarely feel down or unfulfilled.

There are plenty of people, myself included, who drink too much, where it will probably foreshorten their lives, who get more from alcohol than it takes from them.

I’m a heavy drinker, and, as previously said, probably a highly functioning alcoholic, but I’ve never felt the need to stop, and the thought of never drinking again simply doesn’t appeal, yet I think it’s fair to say I’m a high achiever, it never stops me performing professionally and nor does it ever interfere with my relationships. I have many strong relationships in my life, within my family and my circle of friends.

Why is being a functioning alcoholic necessarily a bad thing, as you seem to be suggesting?

There are plenty of people I know who don’t drink who are fucking miserable.

Four legs good, two legs bad simply doesn’t apply in every instance.

 

[Marklr]

George Best got a new liver and he f*cked that one away too within a short space of time. There is something to be said for those who are strong enough to come back from the edge and get their lives back on track. Alcohol is such a horrible drug.

You have to think differently. Rewire the brain. George Best kept the same mindset, so was always going to go back to drinking. I've made myself repulsed by it now (especially the White Cider shit haha)... I just think of alcohol as poison now. And it will kill me. So I'm not tempted. I've had good times on it and...I've been there, done that and got the liver to prove it. Some things in life we HAVE to sacrifice. I've got loads of other shitty little addictions now, though. Easier to manage, though...and they won't kill me.

 

[Marklr]

I’m not being funny, or trying to belittle anyone who‘s got a serious drinking problem that blights their life, but why does being a habitual, even inveterate drinker have to be a problem that needs to be cured? What makes you assume that’s the best outcome for everyone? Why do you assume (as you seem to) that enjoying drinking regularly leads to an unhappy life.

I’m (probably) a functioning alcoholic and I’ve got an unbelievably happy life. I love my life and very rarely feel down or unfulfilled.

There are plenty of people, myself included, who drink too much, where it will probably foreshorten their lives, who get more from alcohol than it takes from them.

I’m a heavy drinker, and, as previously said, probably a highly functioning alcoholic, but I’ve never felt the need to stop, and the thought of never drinking again simply doesn’t appeal, yet I think it’s fair to say I’m a high achiever, it never stops me performing professionally and nor does it ever interfere with my relationships. I have many strong relationships in my life, within my family and my circle of friends.

Why is being a functioning alcoholic necessarily a bad thing, as you seem to be suggesting?

There are plenty of people I know who don’t drink who are fucking miserable.

Four legs good, two legs bad simply doesn’t apply in every instance.

Yeah, I think YOU know when it's a problem to YOU and the people around you. If drinking gets in the way of your normal life or causes other problems, maybe it's time to do something.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Yeah, I think YOU know when it's a problem to YOU and the people around you. If drinking gets in the way of your normal life or causes other problems, maybe it's time to do something.

I completely agree, and I’ll hazard I’ve seen (and been responsible for) more than anyone on this board the deleterious effects of alcohol, but there are plenty of people who drink too much and it doesn’t negatively affect their lives, or those around them.

There is a prevailing assumption among some non-drinkers that state of affairs isn’t possible. And they’re wrong.

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

You have to think differently. Rewire the brain. George Best kept the same mindset, so was always going to go back to drinking. I've made myself repulsed by it now (especially the White Cider shit haha)... I just think of alcohol as poison now. And it will kill me. So I'm not tempted. I've had good times on it and...I've been there, done that and got the liver to prove it. Some things in life we HAVE to sacrifice. I've got loads of other shitty little addictions now, though. Easier to manage, though...and they won't kill me.

There is only one reason that White Cider shit exists; to satisfy problem drinkers. These companies that make/import this garbage are basically profiteering off the back of alcoholics and binge drinkers. Seriously, does anyone actually (honestly) like that shit? It is made from shitty raw materials (often as little as 7% apples) and processed to death to yield maximum profit. You are right. It's just poison.

 

[Marklr]

Do you remember the advert for White Lightning? They tried to make it trendy and appealing to young people by showing lots of party people having a good time with it haha. Like some ironic comedy sketch.
It's for alcoholics on benefits!! Good of those alcohol companies to think of the poorer alcoholics, wasn't it?