Give Up the Hooch: Booze Free for as long as you please!

[LightStache]

yes!!! Lightstache,  You can do it! I challenge you to look it like a self care adventure. Get in shape without being hard on yourself. Cut yourself some slack if you fall and just get right back on.
I hope to hear from you on this journey.

Appreciate the support! I'm feeling optimistic on day two haha. Day 32 might be a different story.

[drumstache]

Great job all!  Just hit 5 months here. 

[Dee]

Yay for 5 months, drumstache!

I had a bit of a slip, deciding that I could go ahead and drink while I was on vacation. Not a bad idea. But then I planned another vacation after my first vacation without too much time in between and drinking seemed to ooze in between the two. Moderation is still not something I lean to naturally with booze.

So back to no booze. I am planning on next lifting the personal ban for the holidays, from, say, Dec. 21 to Dec. 31.

In the meantime, I heard that alcohol can cause cancer so that is extra motivation to stay clear of the stuff.

[Metalcat]

Yay for 5 months, drumstache!

I had a bit of a slip, deciding that I could go ahead and drink while I was on vacation. Not a bad idea. But then I planned another vacation after my first vacation without too much time in between and drinking seemed to ooze in between the two. Moderation is still not something I lean to naturally with booze.

So back to no booze. I am planning on next lifting the personal ban for the holidays, from, say, Dec. 21 to Dec. 31.

In the meantime, I heard that alcohol can cause cancer so that is extra motivation to stay clear of the stuff.

Alcohol is a rather powerful carcinogen actually. Nasty shit.

As for Christmas,you should at least considering trying one sober, or picking select events to drink at instead of opening up the full floodgates.

The reason I say this is because I quit right before some major open-bar events, and because I chose to make it through those very booze-centric events, after that. I felt like I could handle staying sober though anything.

It's good to experiment with trying sobriety for events that you would normally default to as "drinking events."

The way I saw it was that if I couldn't comfortably do those events sober, even for just one year, didn't that mean I really should?

Now, you can't actually make decisions for your future self. So I'm not saying you should decide today not to drink over Christmas. You can't. That's just pointless and will put meaningless pressure on you.

What I *am* saying is to perhaps just chew on the possibility for a bit and see what thoughts and feelings come up in response.

[Cassie]

I think it’s important for someone to go a entire year sober. Then you will have shown yourself that you don’t need alcohol. I think if you can’t do that then there’s a problem. I recently celebrated 2 years AF.

[Hula Hoop]

The way I saw it was that if I couldn't comfortably do those events sober, even for just one year, didn't that mean I really should?

Hah! you obviously haven't met my family. 

Not sure if I'm welcome in this thread as I haven't given up the booze but I've cut way down.  I started drinking a glass of wine a day during Covid and it continued once we were all let out of our apartments in late May 2020.  This is entirely normal for where I live (Italy) where most people drink a glass of wine with dinner.  Wine is considered a staple here like milk or bread.

Anyway I noticed that I gained several kilos during Covid and I suspect it's the wine along with lack of exercise while locked into my apartment. I can't fit into many of my tighter dresses anymore.  Here in Italy, during Covid, we were locked into our apartments for several months and not allowed to go out at all, including exercise, except to buy food at the nearest grocery store.

So I decided to cut down on the booze for health and weight loss reasons but I'm not cutting it out completely as I really enjoy a nice glass or two of wine with a nice meal occasionally.  I had a glass of wine with my dinner last weekend when out with a friend and I plan to have a beer with my pizza tomorrow night.  But I think I'll keep it to a once a week or so thing.

The first few days I really craved my glass of wine with dinner.  But I replaced it with a glass of milk (very weird I know!) and all is good. 

[Metalcat]

The way I saw it was that if I couldn't comfortably do those events sober, even for just one year, didn't that mean I really should?

Hah! you obviously haven't met my family. 

I know this is a joke, but if you've read any of my previous posts about drinking in response to stress, then you likely know my response to this.

[BikeFanatic]

@hulahoop yes you are welcome in this thread, this is the booze free as long as you like discussion .
@Cassie congratulations to you and your 2 years, a huge accomplishment. I felt amazing at 2 years.
I like the challenge of one year no beer, it does train you to experience everything without alcohol and after experiencing those parties and gatherings I realize
, I don’t need it at all.
This is year 3 for me or rather will be on 09/01 and I am in much better shape than I have been in 15 years. I somehow made it through a rough year with divorce and death and still here I am sober.
I feel mentally I am in a better place than if I was drinking.
I have had a few sips of beer this year. And twice I drank an entire drink.Once with a friend and once when someone left me a drink in the fridge and I was having a rough month.  The last time I actually was hung over the next day, talk about motivation! I felt like crap until 6 pm and I was like NEVER AGAIN!
It was margarita in a can, super strong 12% alcohol I guess the equivalent of half a bottle of wine, didn’t really enjoy it, passed out on the couch then sick.
This last year I had a lot of temptation, but I hope I learned my lessons and will not go back. I no longer feel addicted, but I don’t want to tempt fate, I really enjoy my mornings, I love getting out early, my flat belly motivates me, as I had a beer gut last 15 years.
Anyway rambling, but hoping for another sober year.

[PoutineLover]

I haven't had anything to drink in 2022, but to be fair, it's because I'm pregnant so I don't know if it really counts. I feel pretty good about it, and am in no rush to get back to drinking, if I even decide to at all. All the "wine mom"  memes and jokes about how moms need to drink to cope with their families really bother me, and even if it's likely safe to have some alcohol while breastfeeding, I'm not sure the risk is worth it.

The only time I'm tempted is when there's something interesting to try, like the homemade wine my partner made, a homemade liquor from a friend, or some natural orange wines my friends had. In those cases I've taken a sniff and a tiny sip just for the flavour, but not enough to really swallow, and that's satisfied my curiosity.

[Hula Hoop]

@hulahoop yes you are welcome in this thread, this is the booze free as long as you like discussion .
@Cassie congratulations to you and your 2 years, a huge accomplishment. I felt amazing at 2 years.
I like the challenge of one year no beer, it does train you to experience everything without alcohol and after experiencing those parties and gatherings I realize
, I don’t need it at all.
This is year 3 for me or rather will be on 09/01 and I am in much better shape than I have been in 15 years. I somehow made it through a rough year with divorce and death and still here I am sober.
I feel mentally I am in a better place than if I was drinking.
I have had a few sips of beer this year. And twice I drank an entire drink.Once with a friend and once when someone left me a drink in the fridge and I was having a rough month.  The last time I actually was hung over the next day, talk about motivation! I felt like crap until 6 pm and I was like NEVER AGAIN!
It was margarita in a can, super strong 12% alcohol I guess the equivalent of half a bottle of wine, didn’t really enjoy it, passed out on the couch then sick.
This last year I had a lot of temptation, but I hope I learned my lessons and will not go back. I no longer feel addicted, but I don’t want to tempt fate, I really enjoy my mornings, I love getting out early, my flat belly motivates me, as I had a beer gut last 15 years.
Anyway rambling, but hoping for another sober year.

I'm 50 and I've found that lately, I can only have one glass of wine or beer and that's it. If I have more than that it ruins my sleep and I feel kind of 'off' and exhausted the following day.  My husband is the same.  He gave up drinking for a year and a half but now he drinks sometimes but at our ages our limits are way down.  The sleep thing is really important.  I have a fitbit so can tell when my sleep is off after two glasses of wine or whatever.

[Hula Hoop]

The way I saw it was that if I couldn't comfortably do those events sober, even for just one year, didn't that mean I really should?

Hah! you obviously haven't met my family. 

I know this is a joke, but if you've read any of my previous posts about drinking in response to stress, then you likely know my response to this.

Gotcha

[Metalcat]

@hulahoop yes you are welcome in this thread, this is the booze free as long as you like discussion .
@Cassie congratulations to you and your 2 years, a huge accomplishment. I felt amazing at 2 years.
I like the challenge of one year no beer, it does train you to experience everything without alcohol and after experiencing those parties and gatherings I realize
, I don’t need it at all.
This is year 3 for me or rather will be on 09/01 and I am in much better shape than I have been in 15 years. I somehow made it through a rough year with divorce and death and still here I am sober.
I feel mentally I am in a better place than if I was drinking.
I have had a few sips of beer this year. And twice I drank an entire drink.Once with a friend and once when someone left me a drink in the fridge and I was having a rough month.  The last time I actually was hung over the next day, talk about motivation! I felt like crap until 6 pm and I was like NEVER AGAIN!
It was margarita in a can, super strong 12% alcohol I guess the equivalent of half a bottle of wine, didn’t really enjoy it, passed out on the couch then sick.
This last year I had a lot of temptation, but I hope I learned my lessons and will not go back. I no longer feel addicted, but I don’t want to tempt fate, I really enjoy my mornings, I love getting out early, my flat belly motivates me, as I had a beer gut last 15 years.
Anyway rambling, but hoping for another sober year.

Ah yes, the flat stomach is a heavy motivator in this household as well, lol.

All of DH's friends are always asking how he manages to stay so cut at almost 50, and he always replies "I don't drink." And then they all just kind of sigh and slump a bit because that is *not* what they wanted to hear.

As for not feeling addicted, it's such a nice feeling to no longer feel like your thoughts and behaviour are being co-opted. However, the evidence supports that the addictive neural pathways don't go away, and it takes at least two years for them to rewire enough to meaningfully change.

This is why so many addicts can land exactly back where they were before so quickly. I've seen it so many times with smokers. They feel free, then casually take a puff of someone's cigarette one day, feel utterly disgusted by it, and become overconfident that they are now totally cured. Within two weeks usually, they're back to a pack day.

I know for me, around the 2 year mark I felt a shift. Annie Grace talks about the research that supports that addicts often can at the two year mark start drinking moderately again with reasonable rates of success of managing their habits.

I do feel like I could do that now if I wanted to, I just don't want to.

The big shift is that I now view alcoholic beverages as just beverages. Like, if someone told me that orange juice was toxic, I just wouldn't drink it. It's just a beverage.

[BikeFanatic]

My EX Spouse went back after 2 years we quit together. At first she partied hard, but seems to have tapered off to controlled drinking.
I am about to hit the 3 year mark, but really want to stay firmly in the no drinking so I doubt I will have the occasional beer. I didn't enjoy any beer I had during sobriety I had just a taste out of curiosity but really the taste was not so great anyways. I do indulge in the occasional non alcoholic beer, it was a crutch at first now it is an occasional crutch or way to satisfy a craving especially if out to dinner or a party, But I can do both without non alcoholic beer just occasionally I want one. 

[Dee]

Interestingly, @Malcat, your comments in direct response to my post didn't have much immediate direct effect on me, but then your comments in a further post about the 2 year mark did.

I quit drinking in 2021, with the commitment to myself that I would not have any alcohol up until mid-December of that year. It wasn't due to any particular holiday parties or events, just that I wanted to have two weeks where I gave myself permission to booze or not to booze. I don't know why in particular. It mostly has to do with the calendar year and I think I do this for most of my New Year's Resolution, especially if they are related to physical activity (i.e. walk a certain distance every week this year), I give myself an exemption for the last two weeks of they year and consider the goal achieved if I make it to mid-December. This calendar year -- 2022 -- I didn't really renew the commitment to not drink at all, thinking I could go ahead and drink while on vacation if I felt like it. And apparently, I did feel like it.

But the info on the 2 year mark for addiction may change my mind and convince me to commit to a full 2 years of no alcohol before revisiting the question.

[Metalcat]

Interestingly, @Malcat, your comments in direct response to my post didn't have much immediate direct effect on me, but then your comments in a further post about the 2 year mark did.

I quit drinking in 2021, with the commitment to myself that I would not have any alcohol up until mid-December of that year. It wasn't due to any particular holiday parties or events, just that I wanted to have two weeks where I gave myself permission to booze or not to booze. I don't know why in particular. It mostly has to do with the calendar year and I think I do this for most of my New Year's Resolution, especially if they are related to physical activity (i.e. walk a certain distance every week this year), I give myself an exemption for the last two weeks of they year and consider the goal achieved if I make it to mid-December. This calendar year -- 2022 -- I didn't really renew the commitment to not drink at all, thinking I could go ahead and drink while on vacation if I felt like it. And apparently, I did feel like it.

But the info on the 2 year mark for addiction may change my mind and convince me to commit to a full 2 years of no alcohol before revisiting the question.

See that's the big difference between a brain that's addicted and brain that isn't.

An addicted brain, when given permission to drink, is going to drink.

I have permission to drink. I don't hold myself back or limit myself. If I genuinely feel that drinking will produce a net benefit, I'll do it. I just don't see that ever happening.

The less addicted you are to something, the less appeal it has.

Basically, a two week drinking free for all only sounds fun if you are addicted. To me, that sounds like a miserable time. Also to me, vacation sounds like the least opportune time to drink more, because alcohol makes you infinitely less present in the moment and blocks the formation of memories.

So the question isn't "have I been sober long enough to handle two weeks of no-limits drinking" the question is "am I still addicted enough to want two weeks of no-limits drinking?"

[drumstache]

Yay for 5 months, drumstache!

Thanks Dee! 

@BikeFanatic congrats on upcoming 3 years!
@Cassie Congrats on 2 years!

...
I know for me, around the 2 year mark I felt a shift. Annie Grace talks about the research that supports that addicts often can at the two year mark start drinking moderately again with reasonable rates of success of managing their habits.

I do feel like I could do that now if I wanted to, I just don't want to.

@Malkat, The Annie Grace program was a big help in changing my thinking.
A friend, who's been mostly supportive suggested, 'Well, now you can just have 1 or 2 every now and then'.  I think he misses 'Drinking Buddy'.  Glad I did her program, otherwise, I might have thought, 'yeah, you're right'.

For me, moderation sounds like too much work.  I know I can turn down the first beer.  Turning down the 2nd or 3rd, etc, now it's a 'Thing', I have to think about.  I just want to relax, and enjoy life.

[mspym]

At the two year mark was when I knew for sure that I was never going to drink again - I had done two rounds of all the special occasions and seasons, all the summer picnics and long bikes rides, the mountains in winter, seeing my family, travelling overseas and it turned out all of it was not only manageable but better for being present for all of it. Plus it was the second year when the booze weight came off, which I was very pleased about.

[getsorted]

See that's the big difference between a brain that's addicted and brain that isn't.

An addicted brain, when given permission to drink, is going to drink.

I have permission to drink. I don't hold myself back or limit myself. If I genuinely feel that drinking will produce a net benefit, I'll do it. I just don't see that ever happening.

The less addicted you are to something, the less appeal it has.

Basically, a two week drinking free for all only sounds fun if you are addicted. To me, that sounds like a miserable time. Also to me, vacation sounds like the least opportune time to drink more, because alcohol makes you infinitely less present in the moment and blocks the formation of memories.

So the question isn't "have I been sober long enough to handle two weeks of no-limits drinking" the question is "am I still addicted enough to want two weeks of no-limits drinking?"

This is an important distinction. Even people who have abused alcohol in the past may never have really been addicted.

I've just never thought drinking was that much fun. I drink whenever I want to; the last time I wanted to was eight months ago. Drinking multiple days in a row has never sounded good to me.

Now, cigarettes? I cannot have a single one, ever, or I will go right back to thinking about them constantly and plotting out when my next one will be, and then have to start the whole wretched process of quitting all over again.

[Cassie]

I didn’t drink for 14 years while I was raising my kids. Back then I only drank once a year but would usually get drunk.  Then once they were grown and I had been with my last husband a year he convinced me that I could drink occasionally with him. It started out fine for a few years and then I was drinking every night to relax after work. Ugh!  He ironically didn’t have a problem.

[Tempname23]

I didn't drink while raising my kids, once they left the house I started have a drink or two in the evening. A couple months ago I started a Carnivore diet and that doesn't fit, so, I haven't had a drink in 9 weeks. I rarely miss it, when I do, it's because my back hurts and it's bedtime, just wishing for a drink to get me to sleep.

[Metalcat]

I didn't drink while raising my kids, once they left the house I started have a drink or two in the evening. A couple months ago I started a Carnivore diet and that doesn't fit, so, I haven't had a drink in 9 weeks. I rarely miss it, when I do, it's because my back hurts and it's bedtime, just wishing for a drink to get me to sleep.

Well, whenever you are craving alcohol to fall asleep, remind yourself that it damages your quality of sleep so badly that you're generally better off just not drinking.

[LeftA]

Just wanted to pop in to say it’s been just over 6 months without a drop of alcohol. I have not craved it once over these 6 months.

My journey to AF life began almost 1 year before that. I cut out almost all alcohol but had about 6 glasses in total during that one year. Most of the time it was less than a glass for a total of about 10 times during that year. I found that I couldn’t even smell red wine, so had only white. But, wasn’t really enjoying it, so decided to just stop altogether. It’s been a great decision!

If anyone is considering it, but just doesn’t feel ready, that is okay. I must have popped in to read this thread for a good 6 months before deciding to try to stop drinking. But, I can tell you, you will not regret giving it up!!

[Tyson]

When I was drinking, I had higher highs and lower lows.  When I stopped drinking, the roller coaster evened out and as a bonus, my day to day quality of life improved substantially.

[Dee]

I've given more thought to @Malcat's comments, especially:

So the question isn't "have I been sober long enough to handle two weeks of no-limits drinking" the question is "am I still addicted enough to want two weeks of no-limits drinking?"

And I've decided to go ahead and be dry for a full 2 years before I revisit the question of when (if at all) I want to drink. So I've committed to myself to have no alcohol (at least not on purpose*) until September 5, 2024.

I actually shook on it with my spouse, who made the same commitment, but he's got short term memory issues (so he won't remember) and no history of buying alcohol or ordering alcohol, but would occasionally have wine when I'd get some, so I think he will have no difficulty with his commitment to stay dry despite forgetting about it.

*The "at least not on purpose" means I might accidentally use mouth wash or cough syrup with alcohol or order a "virgin" drink but be misunderstood by a server...or something like that...not that I'm giving myself some sort of secret free pass to drink through some novel interpretation of the words "not on purpose".

[BikeFanatic]

I think I was alcohol free 2 years before I experimented a little with sips and then one or two drinks just recently.
I did also have a rough year with divorce and death and other stresses, I was very tempted several times, and I just had a beer one night, then a week or so later, 2 beers, and they were not that good either. Caronna, yuck. Recently had a margarita in a can and was hungover, it said 12% alcohol, and it was 12 ounces. Someone left it in my cooler at the beach and when I got home I drank it.
Later I calculated that was like 1/2 a bottle of wine. I think those 2 years and my 3 year anniversary have given me the resolve to continue abstenance . so far since then I haven’t had a drink in a month.
It does take practice to surf anxiety and parties and other events that used to require alcohol.
I feel now it is just occasionally battling my own desire to use alcohol to cope.
My big triggers are being alone at home and at a party or club and people are doing shots and dancing and letting loose. I am not sure if I can get that loose, but they look like they are having so much fun.
 I find riding my Ebike home in the evening after the party the most fun, and getting up early the next day, feeling amazing is so good too. So my plan is just to take it 30 days at a time, I am still motivated by that hangover and my physical fitness goals.
At least there no real physical cravings just the occasional though maybe I should stop at the liquor store? So far all my drinking and it couldn’t be more than a six pack total, have been alcohol left at my house. Staying away from the big drinkers in my life probably will help. I forgot to mention I was dating a big drinker and thankfully we broke up. So at least I don’t have the temptation of beer in my refrigerator, and I don’t have to deal with drinkers except at parties and that sort of thing.

[Metalcat]

I think I was alcohol free 2 years before I experimented a little with sips and then one or two drinks just recently.
I did also have a rough year with divorce and death and other stresses, I was very tempted several times, and I just had a beer one night, then a week or so later, 2 beers, and they were not that good either. Caronna, yuck. Recently had a margarita in a can and was hungover, it said 12% alcohol, and it was 12 ounces. Someone left it in my cooler at the beach and when I got home I drank it.
Later I calculated that was like 1/2 a bottle of wine. I think those 2 years and my 3 year anniversary have given me the resolve to continue abstenance . so far since then I haven’t had a drink in a month.
It does take practice to surf anxiety and parties and other events that used to require alcohol.
I feel now it is just occasionally battling my own desire to use alcohol to cope.
My big triggers are being alone at home and at a party or club and people are doing shots and dancing and letting loose. I am not sure if I can get that loose, but they look like they are having so much fun.
 I find riding my Ebike home in the evening after the party the most fun, and getting up early the next day, feeling amazing is so good too. So my plan is just to take it 30 days at a time, I am still motivated by that hangover and my physical fitness goals.
At least there no real physical cravings just the occasional though maybe I should stop at the liquor store? So far all my drinking and it couldn’t be more than a six pack total, have been alcohol left at my house. Staying away from the big drinkers in my life probably will help. I forgot to mention I was dating a big drinker and thankfully we broke up. So at least I don’t have the temptation of beer in my refrigerator, and I don’t have to deal with drinkers except at parties and that sort of thing.

There are certainly things I don't tolerate well without alcohol, but I don't see that as a loss, it's just the way I am. I also can't tolerate staying up all night and then doing a 16 hour work day the next day, which I know I could do if I started using meth, but I'm pretty okay with the fact that there are just things I can't do/enjoy without dangerous, toxic, mind altering drugs.

I also notice what I have gained from being sober when socializing. I may not be able to enjoy being part of a group of increasingly loud/disinhibited/cognitively absent people anymore, but I have so much more fun really engaging with friends, really connecting with them, and fully remembering the experience.

So I'm not the person to hang out with and get drunk, but I am the person to go do interesting, engaging things with, and eat good food with, and have really great talks with.

Not drinking has given me the opportunity to really embrace who I am, what I like, who I enjoy, and how I engage with my life. Not what I can force myself to be/do by altering my cognitive function.

Also, every time I see someone "letting loose" and "having fun" I think back to who I was when I did that. I was loud, definitely more arrogant, said dumb shit, and was a terrible listener. Drunk me may have seemed like the life of the party, but she was a bit of an insufferable ass IMO. I'm pretty happy not to summon her and have her represent me anymore.

[clarkfan1979]

Last fall my wife and I went alcohol free for 30 days. We are doing the same right now. It's mostly weight loss for us. The other thing for me was that drinking a beer lost its appeal because it felt so normal. It didn't feel "special". I'm not saying that you need alcohol to feel special. I'm just trying to say that when I drink alcohol, I want it to feel special and not normal. In an effort to cater to this new psychological drive, when our 30 days is over and I go back to drinking alcohol, I think I'm only going to drink on the weekends. We will see how that goes.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

I've followed this thread with interest. Alcohol is something that has always been interesting for me. I was raised in an area where many people are alcohol free for religious reasons, and I was an exception. I was raised that alcohol was no big deal as long as you didn't get intoxicated. For whatever reason, I internalized that message really well. I've drank rarely throughout my adult life - sometimes a couple of drinks one night and maybe not another drink for 3-6 months. I've never been intoxicated - rarely ever drunk to the point where I felt the effects, never remotely had a hangover. I am completely fine without it - have no compulsion to have it, and because I've purchased a decent amount of alcohol but very rarely drink, I have a house with quite a bit of alcohol that, in this time period, for example, I haven't drank any of in probably 4-5 months. So, I'm solidly sure it's not a compulsion. I do enjoy the taste of alcohol - especially scotch and certain beers. I very, very rarely drink if there's not someone over at my house who likes scotch or I'm out with a friend who likes some specific beers.

The thread comments on here are interesting, because it seems I am an anomaly. I see comments of people who have stopped drinking and trying it again don't like it. That's not me because it could be 6 months to a year before I drink, but when I do, I do enjoy it.

Overall, my biggest interest, other than theoretical to learn new perspectives, is how to communicate a healthy perspective of alcohol to my kids. I feel pretty confident that I have a very healthy perspective on alcohol, despite drinking sporadically. I wouldn't mind if my kids never drank, or if they drank in the manner I do. I'd prefer they avoid going down the part where addictive pathways are made. If anyone has any thoughts on that, I'd be appreciate to hear it. I realize on a thread like this, it's doubtful that I would find anyone who's alcohol experiences mirrored mine, but I've found that's true not just on these kinds of threads but in general.

[Metalcat]

I've followed this thread with interest. Alcohol is something that has always been interesting for me. I was raised in an area where many people are alcohol free for religious reasons, and I was an exception. I was raised that alcohol was no big deal as long as you didn't get intoxicated. For whatever reason, I internalized that message really well. I've drank rarely throughout my adult life - sometimes a couple of drinks one night and maybe not another drink for 3-6 months. I've never been intoxicated - rarely ever drunk to the point where I felt the effects, never remotely had a hangover. I am completely fine without it - have no compulsion to have it, and because I've purchased a decent amount of alcohol but very rarely drink, I have a house with quite a bit of alcohol that, in this time period, for example, I haven't drank any of in probably 4-5 months. So, I'm solidly sure it's not a compulsion. I do enjoy the taste of alcohol - especially scotch and certain beers. I very, very rarely drink if there's not someone over at my house who likes scotch or I'm out with a friend who likes some specific beers.

The thread comments on here are interesting, because it seems I am an anomaly. I see comments of people who have stopped drinking and trying it again don't like it. That's not me because it could be 6 months to a year before I drink, but when I do, I do enjoy it.

Overall, my biggest interest, other than theoretical to learn new perspectives, is how to communicate a healthy perspective of alcohol to my kids. I feel pretty confident that I have a very healthy perspective on alcohol, despite drinking sporadically. I wouldn't mind if my kids never drank, or if they drank in the manner I do. I'd prefer they avoid going down the part where addictive pathways are made. If anyone has any thoughts on that, I'd be appreciate to hear it. I realize on a thread like this, it's doubtful that I would find anyone who's alcohol experiences mirrored mine, but I've found that's true not just on these kinds of threads but in general.

It is possible to acquire a taste for just about anything, so it's not that your case is an exception to a rule, it's just extremely rare that someone will drink enough to acquire a taste without drinking enough to get addicted.

For those of us who quite and can't stand the taste, it wouldn't take much to re-acquire the taste for it.

There are a lot of things that objectively taste bad that you can condition yourself to like. I mean, if I found out that blue cheese was terrible for me and a known powerful carcinogen, I would probably pretty easily lose my taste for that as well. So how you feel about a super strong taste will influence how your brain perceives it as well.

But there's no question, alcohol tastes objectively like gasoline. Whether someone likes it or not, that's the taste.

[getsorted]

I've followed this thread with interest. Alcohol is something that has always been interesting for me. I was raised in an area where many people are alcohol free for religious reasons, and I was an exception. I was raised that alcohol was no big deal as long as you didn't get intoxicated. For whatever reason, I internalized that message really well. I've drank rarely throughout my adult life - sometimes a couple of drinks one night and maybe not another drink for 3-6 months. I've never been intoxicated - rarely ever drunk to the point where I felt the effects, never remotely had a hangover. I am completely fine without it - have no compulsion to have it, and because I've purchased a decent amount of alcohol but very rarely drink, I have a house with quite a bit of alcohol that, in this time period, for example, I haven't drank any of in probably 4-5 months. So, I'm solidly sure it's not a compulsion. I do enjoy the taste of alcohol - especially scotch and certain beers. I very, very rarely drink if there's not someone over at my house who likes scotch or I'm out with a friend who likes some specific beers.

The thread comments on here are interesting, because it seems I am an anomaly. I see comments of people who have stopped drinking and trying it again don't like it. That's not me because it could be 6 months to a year before I drink, but when I do, I do enjoy it.

Overall, my biggest interest, other than theoretical to learn new perspectives, is how to communicate a healthy perspective of alcohol to my kids. I feel pretty confident that I have a very healthy perspective on alcohol, despite drinking sporadically. I wouldn't mind if my kids never drank, or if they drank in the manner I do. I'd prefer they avoid going down the part where addictive pathways are made. If anyone has any thoughts on that, I'd be appreciate to hear it. I realize on a thread like this, it's doubtful that I would find anyone who's alcohol experiences mirrored mine, but I've found that's true not just on these kinds of threads but in general.

I'm like you-- I drink rarely but enjoy it when I do.

Both of my parents are adult children of alcoholics-- generations of alcoholics-- and were terrified of alcohol. But I married into a family of Eastern European Lutherans who kept all manner of firewater on hand in staggering quantity, but really never drank excessively. I learned moderate drinking from them.

I think being exposed to moderate drinkers who are conscious enough of the potential for addiction to know the value of an occasional drying-out period is useful. For instance, all the Lutheran in-laws (now out-laws) gave up alcohol for Lent.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

I've followed this thread with interest. Alcohol is something that has always been interesting for me. I was raised in an area where many people are alcohol free for religious reasons, and I was an exception. I was raised that alcohol was no big deal as long as you didn't get intoxicated. For whatever reason, I internalized that message really well. I've drank rarely throughout my adult life - sometimes a couple of drinks one night and maybe not another drink for 3-6 months. I've never been intoxicated - rarely ever drunk to the point where I felt the effects, never remotely had a hangover. I am completely fine without it - have no compulsion to have it, and because I've purchased a decent amount of alcohol but very rarely drink, I have a house with quite a bit of alcohol that, in this time period, for example, I haven't drank any of in probably 4-5 months. So, I'm solidly sure it's not a compulsion. I do enjoy the taste of alcohol - especially scotch and certain beers. I very, very rarely drink if there's not someone over at my house who likes scotch or I'm out with a friend who likes some specific beers.

The thread comments on here are interesting, because it seems I am an anomaly. I see comments of people who have stopped drinking and trying it again don't like it. That's not me because it could be 6 months to a year before I drink, but when I do, I do enjoy it.

Overall, my biggest interest, other than theoretical to learn new perspectives, is how to communicate a healthy perspective of alcohol to my kids. I feel pretty confident that I have a very healthy perspective on alcohol, despite drinking sporadically. I wouldn't mind if my kids never drank, or if they drank in the manner I do. I'd prefer they avoid going down the part where addictive pathways are made. If anyone has any thoughts on that, I'd be appreciate to hear it. I realize on a thread like this, it's doubtful that I would find anyone who's alcohol experiences mirrored mine, but I've found that's true not just on these kinds of threads but in general.

It is possible to acquire a taste for just about anything, so it's not that your case is an exception to a rule, it's just extremely rare that someone will drink enough to acquire a taste without drinking enough to get addicted.

For those of us who quite and can't stand the taste, it wouldn't take much to re-acquire the taste for it.

There are a lot of things that objectively taste bad that you can condition yourself to like. I mean, if I found out that blue cheese was terrible for me and a known powerful carcinogen, I would probably pretty easily lose my taste for that as well. So how you feel about a super strong taste will influence how your brain perceives it as well.

But there's no question, alcohol tastes objectively like gasoline. Whether someone likes it or not, that's the taste.

That's so interesting! I truly must be an anomaly then. I am not aware of ever acquiring a taste for alcohol. I have known whether or not I like things immediately upon drinking. I've probably had maybe the equivalent of 30-40 glasses of beer spread out over many years. Some I immediately knew was terrible - usually tasted like acidic water rather than gasoline. In fact, I've never tasted any alcohol that made me think of gasoline. On the other hand, I've tasted beers that I liked immediately - usually special-made ones rather than large scale manufactured ones. I also immediately liked hard apple cider when I drank it. I immediately liked scotch when I drank it - some types, and some I immediately disliked. I don't think I've ever acquired the taste for any alcohol.

Anyways, your part about most people developing addictive pathways while they acquire a taste for it makes sense. I've only drank out of enjoyment. i"ve also always metered myself where if the thought ever popped into my head anything to the effect of "Man after today, I could use a drink," (even if it was mostly in jest) I've made sure I didn't drink that day because the intoxicating effect of it was never the goal, and I wanted to make sure it never turned into a coping mechanism.

[Metalcat]

I've followed this thread with interest. Alcohol is something that has always been interesting for me. I was raised in an area where many people are alcohol free for religious reasons, and I was an exception. I was raised that alcohol was no big deal as long as you didn't get intoxicated. For whatever reason, I internalized that message really well. I've drank rarely throughout my adult life - sometimes a couple of drinks one night and maybe not another drink for 3-6 months. I've never been intoxicated - rarely ever drunk to the point where I felt the effects, never remotely had a hangover. I am completely fine without it - have no compulsion to have it, and because I've purchased a decent amount of alcohol but very rarely drink, I have a house with quite a bit of alcohol that, in this time period, for example, I haven't drank any of in probably 4-5 months. So, I'm solidly sure it's not a compulsion. I do enjoy the taste of alcohol - especially scotch and certain beers. I very, very rarely drink if there's not someone over at my house who likes scotch or I'm out with a friend who likes some specific beers.

The thread comments on here are interesting, because it seems I am an anomaly. I see comments of people who have stopped drinking and trying it again don't like it. That's not me because it could be 6 months to a year before I drink, but when I do, I do enjoy it.

Overall, my biggest interest, other than theoretical to learn new perspectives, is how to communicate a healthy perspective of alcohol to my kids. I feel pretty confident that I have a very healthy perspective on alcohol, despite drinking sporadically. I wouldn't mind if my kids never drank, or if they drank in the manner I do. I'd prefer they avoid going down the part where addictive pathways are made. If anyone has any thoughts on that, I'd be appreciate to hear it. I realize on a thread like this, it's doubtful that I would find anyone who's alcohol experiences mirrored mine, but I've found that's true not just on these kinds of threads but in general.

It is possible to acquire a taste for just about anything, so it's not that your case is an exception to a rule, it's just extremely rare that someone will drink enough to acquire a taste without drinking enough to get addicted.

For those of us who quite and can't stand the taste, it wouldn't take much to re-acquire the taste for it.

There are a lot of things that objectively taste bad that you can condition yourself to like. I mean, if I found out that blue cheese was terrible for me and a known powerful carcinogen, I would probably pretty easily lose my taste for that as well. So how you feel about a super strong taste will influence how your brain perceives it as well.

But there's no question, alcohol tastes objectively like gasoline. Whether someone likes it or not, that's the taste.

That's so interesting! I truly must be an anomaly then. I am not aware of ever acquiring a taste for alcohol. I have known whether or not I like things immediately upon drinking. I've probably had maybe the equivalent of 30-40 glasses of beer spread out over many years. Some I immediately knew was terrible - usually tasted like acidic water rather than gasoline. In fact, I've never tasted any alcohol that made me think of gasoline. On the other hand, I've tasted beers that I liked immediately - usually special-made ones rather than large scale manufactured ones. I also immediately liked hard apple cider when I drank it. I immediately liked scotch when I drank it - some types, and some I immediately disliked. I don't think I've ever acquired the taste for any alcohol.

Anyways, your part about most people developing addictive pathways while they acquire a taste for it makes sense. I've only drank out of enjoyment. i"ve also always metered myself where if the thought ever popped into my head anything to the effect of "Man after today, I could use a drink," (even if it was mostly in jest) I've made sure I didn't drink that day because the intoxicating effect of it was never the goal, and I wanted to make sure it never turned into a coping mechanism.

It's extremely typical that when teens first start drinking alcohol that they need to drown out the horrid taste with sugary mixers until they get used to choking down the gasoline taste.

Booze companies invented ultra sugary drinks specifically to target people who hadn't yet acquired the taste: namely women and youth.

I'm sure there are rare, rare exceptions of people who immediately are okay with the taste gasoline, but it's very well documented that the taste of alcohol needs to be drowned out in order for neophyte drinkers to tolerate it.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

I've followed this thread with interest. Alcohol is something that has always been interesting for me. I was raised in an area where many people are alcohol free for religious reasons, and I was an exception. I was raised that alcohol was no big deal as long as you didn't get intoxicated. For whatever reason, I internalized that message really well. I've drank rarely throughout my adult life - sometimes a couple of drinks one night and maybe not another drink for 3-6 months. I've never been intoxicated - rarely ever drunk to the point where I felt the effects, never remotely had a hangover. I am completely fine without it - have no compulsion to have it, and because I've purchased a decent amount of alcohol but very rarely drink, I have a house with quite a bit of alcohol that, in this time period, for example, I haven't drank any of in probably 4-5 months. So, I'm solidly sure it's not a compulsion. I do enjoy the taste of alcohol - especially scotch and certain beers. I very, very rarely drink if there's not someone over at my house who likes scotch or I'm out with a friend who likes some specific beers.

The thread comments on here are interesting, because it seems I am an anomaly. I see comments of people who have stopped drinking and trying it again don't like it. That's not me because it could be 6 months to a year before I drink, but when I do, I do enjoy it.

Overall, my biggest interest, other than theoretical to learn new perspectives, is how to communicate a healthy perspective of alcohol to my kids. I feel pretty confident that I have a very healthy perspective on alcohol, despite drinking sporadically. I wouldn't mind if my kids never drank, or if they drank in the manner I do. I'd prefer they avoid going down the part where addictive pathways are made. If anyone has any thoughts on that, I'd be appreciate to hear it. I realize on a thread like this, it's doubtful that I would find anyone who's alcohol experiences mirrored mine, but I've found that's true not just on these kinds of threads but in general.

I'm like you-- I drink rarely but enjoy it when I do.

Both of my parents are adult children of alcoholics-- generations of alcoholics-- and were terrified of alcohol. But I married into a family of Eastern European Lutherans who kept all manner of firewater on hand in staggering quantity, but really never drank excessively. I learned moderate drinking from them.

I think being exposed to moderate drinkers who are conscious enough of the potential for addiction to know the value of an occasional drying-out period is useful. For instance, all the Lutheran in-laws (now out-laws) gave up alcohol for Lent.

This was my hypothesis and probably what I'm going to try to instill in my kids. Again, I've been around people who have been raised that any alcohol is terrible. It works sometimes - usually if there's direct trauma related to it. On the other side, if there's no trauma and no evidence that things will go bad (usually the second generation after trauma), I've seen people become abusers after being out from under their parents' care. I had parents who pretty much did as I do. Didn't see anything wrong with drinking if they liked the taste and didn't get drunk. I turned out not being fascinated by or afraid of alcohol - just saw it as something that was there like anything else. It seemed to work.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

I've followed this thread with interest. Alcohol is something that has always been interesting for me. I was raised in an area where many people are alcohol free for religious reasons, and I was an exception. I was raised that alcohol was no big deal as long as you didn't get intoxicated. For whatever reason, I internalized that message really well. I've drank rarely throughout my adult life - sometimes a couple of drinks one night and maybe not another drink for 3-6 months. I've never been intoxicated - rarely ever drunk to the point where I felt the effects, never remotely had a hangover. I am completely fine without it - have no compulsion to have it, and because I've purchased a decent amount of alcohol but very rarely drink, I have a house with quite a bit of alcohol that, in this time period, for example, I haven't drank any of in probably 4-5 months. So, I'm solidly sure it's not a compulsion. I do enjoy the taste of alcohol - especially scotch and certain beers. I very, very rarely drink if there's not someone over at my house who likes scotch or I'm out with a friend who likes some specific beers.

The thread comments on here are interesting, because it seems I am an anomaly. I see comments of people who have stopped drinking and trying it again don't like it. That's not me because it could be 6 months to a year before I drink, but when I do, I do enjoy it.

Overall, my biggest interest, other than theoretical to learn new perspectives, is how to communicate a healthy perspective of alcohol to my kids. I feel pretty confident that I have a very healthy perspective on alcohol, despite drinking sporadically. I wouldn't mind if my kids never drank, or if they drank in the manner I do. I'd prefer they avoid going down the part where addictive pathways are made. If anyone has any thoughts on that, I'd be appreciate to hear it. I realize on a thread like this, it's doubtful that I would find anyone who's alcohol experiences mirrored mine, but I've found that's true not just on these kinds of threads but in general.

It is possible to acquire a taste for just about anything, so it's not that your case is an exception to a rule, it's just extremely rare that someone will drink enough to acquire a taste without drinking enough to get addicted.

For those of us who quite and can't stand the taste, it wouldn't take much to re-acquire the taste for it.

There are a lot of things that objectively taste bad that you can condition yourself to like. I mean, if I found out that blue cheese was terrible for me and a known powerful carcinogen, I would probably pretty easily lose my taste for that as well. So how you feel about a super strong taste will influence how your brain perceives it as well.

But there's no question, alcohol tastes objectively like gasoline. Whether someone likes it or not, that's the taste.

That's so interesting! I truly must be an anomaly then. I am not aware of ever acquiring a taste for alcohol. I have known whether or not I like things immediately upon drinking. I've probably had maybe the equivalent of 30-40 glasses of beer spread out over many years. Some I immediately knew was terrible - usually tasted like acidic water rather than gasoline. In fact, I've never tasted any alcohol that made me think of gasoline. On the other hand, I've tasted beers that I liked immediately - usually special-made ones rather than large scale manufactured ones. I also immediately liked hard apple cider when I drank it. I immediately liked scotch when I drank it - some types, and some I immediately disliked. I don't think I've ever acquired the taste for any alcohol.

Anyways, your part about most people developing addictive pathways while they acquire a taste for it makes sense. I've only drank out of enjoyment. i"ve also always metered myself where if the thought ever popped into my head anything to the effect of "Man after today, I could use a drink," (even if it was mostly in jest) I've made sure I didn't drink that day because the intoxicating effect of it was never the goal, and I wanted to make sure it never turned into a coping mechanism.

It's extremely typical that when teens first start drinking alcohol that they need to drown out the horrid taste with sugary mixers until they get used to choking down the gasoline taste.

Booze companies invented ultra sugary drinks specifically to target people who hadn't yet acquired the taste: namely women and youth.

I'm sure there are rare, rare exceptions of people who immediately are okay with the taste gasoline, but it's very well documented that the taste of alcohol needs to be drowned out in order for neophyte drinkers to tolerate it.

Makes sense. Most people do use mixers, after all, and it makes perfect sense that companies would try to get as many people to like their products as possible. I suppose the parts I liked in the beers I liked - the hops and different flavors added could be considered sweeteners like you're describing to. The only thing I drink straight that definitely doesn't fit into this is scotch. I really enjoy it oftentimes to see how much I can taste of the different flavors in it.

All that being said, I also don't have the most sensitive sense of taste, so maybe that thas something to do with it. Perhaps I would taste gasoline if I had more refined taste buds.

[Metalcat]

Makes sense. Most people do use mixers, after all, and it makes perfect sense that companies would try to get as many people to like their products as possible. I suppose the parts I liked in the beers I liked - the hops and different flavors added could be considered sweeteners like you're describing to. The only thing I drink straight that definitely doesn't fit into this is scotch. I really enjoy it oftentimes to see how much I can taste of the different flavors in it.

All that being said, I also don't have the most sensitive sense of taste, so maybe that thas something to do with it. Perhaps I would taste gasoline if I had more refined taste buds.

My working theory is that people who immediately don't mind the taste of alcohol don't have the best sense of smell.

People who think they don't taste all that well generally taste just fine, the tongue doesn't actually taste all that much. But flavour comes from sense of smell, and people who can't smell very well tend to depend more on actual taste than the rest of us, and ethanol is fairly sweet, but it smells godawful...until you acquire a taste for it, of course.

Alcohol and mixers have an odd relationship with one another though, as mixers blunt the smell and burn of alcohol, but alcohol blunts the smell of mixers.

A glass of orange juice smells much stronger than a glass of orange juice and vodka, and with a blunted smell, alcohol can therefore make mixers taste more sweet/sour because the main source of their complex flavours gets blunted.

[mspym]

I could definitely tell when I was getting out of the habit because alcohol started smelling *disgusting*. I still liked the smell of the beer my husband brewed but even that smelt bad once it was being processed by the body and started coming out the pores.

[Metalcat]

I could definitely tell when I was getting out of the habit because alcohol started smelling *disgusting*. I still liked the smell of the beer my husband brewed but even that smelt bad once it was being processed by the body and started coming out the pores.

So true.

DH drinks one pint every now and then with his friend, and the smell coming off of him about an hour afterwards smells rancid.

[Wolfpack Mustachian]

Makes sense. Most people do use mixers, after all, and it makes perfect sense that companies would try to get as many people to like their products as possible. I suppose the parts I liked in the beers I liked - the hops and different flavors added could be considered sweeteners like you're describing to. The only thing I drink straight that definitely doesn't fit into this is scotch. I really enjoy it oftentimes to see how much I can taste of the different flavors in it.

All that being said, I also don't have the most sensitive sense of taste, so maybe that thas something to do with it. Perhaps I would taste gasoline if I had more refined taste buds.

My working theory is that people who immediately don't mind the taste of alcohol don't have the best sense of smell.

People who think they don't taste all that well generally taste just fine, the tongue doesn't actually taste all that much. But flavour comes from sense of smell, and people who can't smell very well tend to depend more on actual taste than the rest of us, and ethanol is fairly sweet, but it smells godawful...until you acquire a taste for it, of course.

Alcohol and mixers have an odd relationship with one another though, as mixers blunt the smell and burn of alcohol, but alcohol blunts the smell of mixers.

A glass of orange juice smells much stronger than a glass of orange juice and vodka, and with a blunted smell, alcohol can therefore make mixers taste more sweet/sour because the main source of their complex flavours gets blunted.

Interesting on the counteracting result of their smells.

Add me as a data point for your theory. My sense of smell is worse than my sense of taste. I've never understood why people say alcohol, in general, tastes bad. I mean, some of it does for sure - various light beers come to mind easily.

I guess overall, I'm living an ignorant, smell-deprived life, and it allows me to enjoy the taste of certain alcohols and beers.

[Serendip]

I guess overall, I'm living an ignorant, smell-deprived life, and it allows me to enjoy the taste of certain alcohols and beers.

Ha! :) @Wolfpack Mustachian

I am starting small by committing to 5 days without alcohol. Will assess from there.  We have developed a fairly regular daily drink habit and I've noticed more headaches/fogginess in the morning so would like to quell that (and also help my energy improve)

[Steeze]

Hello, my name is Steeze. I’m an alcoholic.
...
...
...
Congrats to all the sober people here!

Coming up on 1-year sober on 09/06/21

I believe this is only the 2nd 1-year sober celebration I have had since I started boozing in high school, and the only one that wasn't court ordered. Let's hope this sticks! Cheers to all!

2 years sober!

[Serendip]

@Steeze --fabulous!! Congratulations :)

[Cassie]

Steele, that’s awesome!! I hit 2 years a month ago.

[Steeze]

Steele, that’s awesome!! I hit 2 years a month ago.

Thank you!! Congrats to you as well.

[GuitarStv]

Makes sense. Most people do use mixers, after all, and it makes perfect sense that companies would try to get as many people to like their products as possible. I suppose the parts I liked in the beers I liked - the hops and different flavors added could be considered sweeteners like you're describing to. The only thing I drink straight that definitely doesn't fit into this is scotch. I really enjoy it oftentimes to see how much I can taste of the different flavors in it.

All that being said, I also don't have the most sensitive sense of taste, so maybe that thas something to do with it. Perhaps I would taste gasoline if I had more refined taste buds.

My working theory is that people who immediately don't mind the taste of alcohol don't have the best sense of smell.

People who think they don't taste all that well generally taste just fine, the tongue doesn't actually taste all that much. But flavour comes from sense of smell, and people who can't smell very well tend to depend more on actual taste than the rest of us, and ethanol is fairly sweet, but it smells godawful...until you acquire a taste for it, of course.

Alcohol and mixers have an odd relationship with one another though, as mixers blunt the smell and burn of alcohol, but alcohol blunts the smell of mixers.

A glass of orange juice smells much stronger than a glass of orange juice and vodka, and with a blunted smell, alcohol can therefore make mixers taste more sweet/sour because the main source of their complex flavours gets blunted.

Interesting on the counteracting result of their smells.

Add me as a data point for your theory. My sense of smell is worse than my sense of taste. I've never understood why people say alcohol, in general, tastes bad. I mean, some of it does for sure - various light beers come to mind easily.

I guess overall, I'm living an ignorant, smell-deprived life, and it allows me to enjoy the taste of certain alcohols and beers.

Tastes vary quite a bit.  I let my son have a sip of my Guinness when he was about 5 or 6 and he loved it.  I remember trying some that my dad was drinking when I was about his age and thought it was awful/bitter/disgusting.

[getsorted]

Makes sense. Most people do use mixers, after all, and it makes perfect sense that companies would try to get as many people to like their products as possible. I suppose the parts I liked in the beers I liked - the hops and different flavors added could be considered sweeteners like you're describing to. The only thing I drink straight that definitely doesn't fit into this is scotch. I really enjoy it oftentimes to see how much I can taste of the different flavors in it.

All that being said, I also don't have the most sensitive sense of taste, so maybe that thas something to do with it. Perhaps I would taste gasoline if I had more refined taste buds.

My working theory is that people who immediately don't mind the taste of alcohol don't have the best sense of smell.

People who think they don't taste all that well generally taste just fine, the tongue doesn't actually taste all that much. But flavour comes from sense of smell, and people who can't smell very well tend to depend more on actual taste than the rest of us, and ethanol is fairly sweet, but it smells godawful...until you acquire a taste for it, of course.

Alcohol and mixers have an odd relationship with one another though, as mixers blunt the smell and burn of alcohol, but alcohol blunts the smell of mixers.

A glass of orange juice smells much stronger than a glass of orange juice and vodka, and with a blunted smell, alcohol can therefore make mixers taste more sweet/sour because the main source of their complex flavours gets blunted.

Interesting on the counteracting result of their smells.

Add me as a data point for your theory. My sense of smell is worse than my sense of taste. I've never understood why people say alcohol, in general, tastes bad. I mean, some of it does for sure - various light beers come to mind easily.

I guess overall, I'm living an ignorant, smell-deprived life, and it allows me to enjoy the taste of certain alcohols and beers.

Tastes vary quite a bit.  I let my son have a sip of my Guinness when he was about 5 or 6 and he loved it.  I remember trying some that my dad was drinking when I was about his age and thought it was awful/bitter/disgusting.

My son was like that-- at age 2, grabbed his dad's beer, took a sip, and seemed to enjoy it and took another sip before we got it away from him. But at that age, he was down to try absolutely any food (and quite a lot of things that aren't food!). He once ate several spoonfuls of chili paste before we could stop him. But he's more selective now.

I think some people are so sensory-seeking that even "bad" tastes are interesting to them.

[sonofsven]

More ammo for all the fellow vain "quitters": I saw a photo of myself from 2006 and I looked terrible, puffy face and 25 pounds heavier than my normal weight. I was 39 yo but looked way older. I was an every day drinker at this point and was really developing a problem with alcohol; namely, that I couldn't regulate (aka STOP).
I quit cold turkey in 2009, had one drink in January 2010 that led to hitting my former every day consumption levels one week later, after being dry for three months. I quit for good after that week.
I will never drink again and life is great.

[Adventine]

More ammo for all the fellow vain "quitters": I saw a photo of myself from 2006 and I looked terrible, puffy face and 25 pounds heavier than my normal weight. I was 39 yo but looked way older. I was an every day drinker at this point and was really developing a problem with alcohol; namely, that I couldn't regulate (aka STOP).
I quit cold turkey in 2009, had one drink in January 2010 that led to hitting my former every day consumption levels one week later, after being dry for three months. I quit for good after that week.
I will never drink again and life is great.

I saw the same effect on my husband, comparing his photos from his drinking days a few years ago to photos from his alcohol-free present. His face and body are much leaner and his skin looks better. He was attractive then, but even more so now.

[Serendip]

I am starting small by committing to 5 days without alcohol. Will assess from there.  We have developed a fairly regular daily drink habit and I've noticed more headaches/fogginess in the morning so would like to quell that (and also help my energy improve)

It's been 4 nights without any alcohol. Not a problem so far. Definitely more inclined to have a drink if I'm around others who are drinking but I've been solo this entire time so hasn't been an issue. Will definitely keep it up over the weekend as my SO doesn't come home until Tuesday so might be a nice chance to reset and then see how I feel moving forward.

[Metalcat]

I am starting small by committing to 5 days without alcohol. Will assess from there.  We have developed a fairly regular daily drink habit and I've noticed more headaches/fogginess in the morning so would like to quell that (and also help my energy improve)

It's been 4 nights without any alcohol. Not a problem so far. Definitely more inclined to have a drink if I'm around others who are drinking but I've been solo this entire time so hasn't been an issue. Will definitely keep it up over the weekend as my SO doesn't come home until Tuesday so might be a nice chance to reset and then see how I feel moving forward.

Well done!

As I've posted many times, for me the big shift happened when I hit 10 days. No idea why, but at 10 days it was like "how did I not realize how doable this was???"

[mspym]

I am starting small by committing to 5 days without alcohol. Will assess from there.  We have developed a fairly regular daily drink habit and I've noticed more headaches/fogginess in the morning so would like to quell that (and also help my energy improve)

It's been 4 nights without any alcohol. Not a problem so far. Definitely more inclined to have a drink if I'm around others who are drinking but I've been solo this entire time so hasn't been an issue. Will definitely keep it up over the weekend as my SO doesn't come home until Tuesday so might be a nice chance to reset and then see how I feel moving forward.

Well done!

As I've posted many times, for me the big shift happened when I hit 10 days. No idea why, but at 10 days it was like "how did I not realize how doable this was???"

If I remember correctly, around 10 days is the last of the alcohol clearing your system, and there’s neuron regrow that bursts at 30 and 180 days, which is when a lot of relapse happen but if you get through them it’s easier to keep on going. After a year, the health risks are basically back to the same as non-drinkers and at two years brain functions are back to baseline too.