Could you give up alcoholic drinks?

[Roses]

I haven't had an alcoholic drink for about three months, before that I had a very small glass of a single malt whisky once a week. A bottle of the stuff would last me about 3/4 months. When the last one was finished, I realised that I really wasn't that keen on it, and why bother? So I gave it up and haven't missed having it in the slightest. I may still partake of a glass of wine on special occasions like Christmas Day, but not otherwise.

Could other posters give up alcohol?

[Outrider]

I've never been a drinker.  We sometimes use a little wine when cooking if the recipe calls for it, Mrs O. likes the (very) occasional sweet sherry, but she's still feeding the youngest so even that isn't happening at the moment.

I've never seen the appeal - I've not found anything that tastes any good on its own, and spirits that you mix end up just tasting like whatever you mix it with, which is invariably cheaper...

O.

[ad_orientem]

I have no interest in giving up booze. Of course I might have periods when I don't drink but to give it up completely? No, I just enjoy it too much. It's a gift of God to warm the hearts of men!

[Christine]

Hello Littleroses,

No.  Not at the moment anyway, I suppose there's always the possibility of change.

I don't know how people get through life constantly facing reality without mind-altering substances.

But then, I've always been a little ray of sunshine 

[Udayana]

Given up lot's of times - can't see the problem

In truth don't drink much - but if I get going can easily drink myself under the table 

[Roses]

I am glad to say I have never been drunk in my life, not being in complete control of my actions, as well as having a hangover, would be my idea of hell.

[ad_orientem]

I am glad to say I have never been drunk in my life, not being in complete control of my actions, as well as having a hangover, would be my idea of hell.

There's a cure for a hangover that's a dead cert.

[bluehillside Retd.]

ad,

There's a cure for a hangover that's a dead cert.

Never sober up?

[ad_orientem]

ad,

Never sober up?

Something like that. 

[SusanDoris]

I have never been the least bit interested in alcoholic drink. A glass of sherry was available at home at Christmas when I was young, but I didn't like the taste and had heard and read enough about drunkenness to know that I wasn't interested anyway.

I've probably told this story before: When I was in Aden, people said, 'Oh, you'll be drinking soon; everyone does.' They didn't know me! After a while they didn't even bother to ask me but simply said, 'Orange juice?' or something similar

When my sons were teens, I made it clear that I wasn't against drink itself and when I got to about 40, I had six Dubonnets one evening - they did not affect me at all, so I decided that was a waste of time! In more recent years I have had the odd glass of wine, but really, I never started drinking in the first place. 

[Roses]

I have no interest in giving up booze. Of course I might have periods when I don't drink but to give it up completely? No, I just enjoy it too much. It's a gift of God to warm the hearts of men!

A gift of god Jesus seemed to enjoy.

[Nearly Sane]

Do as thou wilt, just don't be so boring as to judge someone for some drink or no drink.

I have qualifications in it. It's not important if you do or if you don't. Do it too much and it will be like many things.

[Walter]

Do as thou wilt, just don't be so boring as to judge someone for some drink or no drink.

I have qualifications in it. It's not important if you do or if you don't. Do it too much and it will be like many things.

i once gave up alcohol completely for about 3 and a half years.
My Missis left me during that period , she said I'd become very boring and had lost all sence of fun😱

My plan had worked perfectly 😂😂😂

[Harrowby Hall]

There have been a few occasions in the past where I have been drunk. On a regular basis I consume about 2 or 3 units of alcohol a week but that is always in specific social settings where if someone offers me a drink I will take it and enjoy it. I do not drink on my own, I regard drinking alcohol as a social activity - if friends are drinking I will join them.

But ... if I never have another alcoholic drink in my life then I shall not miss it.

Because I have a home in France, acquaintances seem to think that I love wine and bring bottles back to England. I don't, any that I do bring back are for other people.

Occasionally, I am given a bottle of wine as a gift. I accept it with gratitude, but it just goes into the cupboard with the other 25 or so ...

[ad_orientem]

A gift of god Jesus seemed to enjoy.

Yep.

[ad_orientem]

When I was a nipper my dad always let me have a sip of his beer or bought me a lager top down the pub. My brother and I also had our own little wine glasses for Sunday dinner. But having Finnish, English and Irish blood in me I reckon I was always predisposed to enjoying a jolly good piss up. It's in the genes. LOL!

[jeremyp]

Given up lot's of times - can't see the problem

Several times day in fact.

I do like a drink but if there is good reason not to (e.g. got to drive or work next day), I don't.

[Steve H]

I drink probably 5 or 6 pints of beer or cider a week, but give it up for Lent every year. I miss it, but survive. I'll be drinking more than that this week, though, as I'm off to the CAMRA Great British Beer Festival at Olympia tomorrow.

[Spud]

I get through a bottle of sugar-free orange squash every week. I used to drink the sugar-containing variant and thought I'd not be able to switch to sugar free, but I eventually did.

[Roses]

I drink probably 5 or 6 pints of beer or cider a week, but give it up for Lent every year. I miss it, but survive. I'll be drinking more than that this week, though, as I'm off to the CAMRA Great British Beer Festival at Olympia tomorrow.

YUCK! I have never liked the taste of beer. My husband likes  real ale, and is permitted one very occasionally, he has to be very careful as he is on so much medication.

[Gordon]

It may be that many, if not most, could give up alcohol if they feel inclined to, but whether they should is a different matter: for me 'could' isn't a synonym for 'should' in this case, and while some people perhaps 'should' forego alcohol in certain circumstances, say for health reasons or because they are due to drive, I'd say that it is primarily a personal decision for (alleged) adults to make.

Speaking personally, I could give up alcohol but choose not to.

[Outrider]

It may be that many, if not most, could give up alcohol if they feel inclined to, but whether they should is a different matter: for me 'could' isn't a synonym for 'should' in this case, and while some people perhaps 'should' forego alcohol in certain circumstances, say for health reasons or because they are due to drive, I'd say that it is primarily a personal decision for (alleged) adults to make.

Speaking personally, I could give up alcohol but choose not to.

Absolutely agree. I just want an explanation for why we can do that with alcohol (and nicotine, and caffeine) but not with, say, marijuana.

O.

[bluehillside Retd.]

Gordon,

It may be that many, if not most, could give up alcohol if they feel inclined to, but whether they should is a different matter: for me 'could' isn't a synonym for 'should' in this case, and while some people perhaps 'should' forego alcohol in certain circumstances, say for health reasons or because they are due to drive, I'd say that it is primarily a personal decision for (alleged) adults to make.

Speaking personally, I could give up alcohol but choose not to.

I take the sentiment, but it's not unknown for some people to say "I could give up alcohol but choose not to" when in fact they couldn't. How in other words do you (or I for that matter) know know that unless we actually try it?   

[ad_orientem]

Absolutely agree. I just want an explanation for why we can do that with alcohol (and nicotine, and caffeine) but not with, say, marijuana.

O.

Good point. Never understood why it's illegal.

[Gordon]

Gordon,

I take the sentiment, but it's not unknown for some people to say "I could give up alcohol but choose not to" when in fact they couldn't. How in other words do you (or I for that matter) know know that unless we actually try it?

I suppose the dilemma is how anyone could ever know for sure they could permanently forego alcohol, or was believed by others if they said they could, unless they actually did so - and at that point it becomes a matter of personal circumstances and motivation. Short of becoming (and remaining) teetotal I'd never know for sure even though I have can have periods of abstinence from alcohol, say when driving is involved.

I don't feel the need to prove to myself I could become teetotal, though I think I could, but then my use of alcohol is moderate due to the demands of pesky grandchildren treating me as a taxi-driver.