Question for EX-Drinkers.

[Sparks007]

My doctor says I have to get on certain medicines.
I have always been a social drinker and liked my Beer on the weekends.
But now, the doc says I need to cut it off alcohol completely because of the meds.
I know things will be different with certain social gatherings.
Who out there has had to deal with being completely sober for the rest of their lives or have just chosen too to be healthier? How has this changed your life? -Thanks.

[Samf]

I'm 21 and the last time I had alcohol was when I was 13. Never looked back.

[dreydin]

lol

[Maddcat1]

After I stopped, I began to have all this extra $$$. I started to support a new addicti.... er hobby by collecting firearms. As far as social gatherings, it was more fun to watch everyone else. Also I feel better in the mornings hehe

[Bill in San Jose]

Similar situation, stopped drinking alcohol in August 1999.

Honestly, it's not been a major social issue, when with drinkers I'm the designated driver.

The only time it was awkward was when I worked for a Boston-based company, but I realized as time when on they were collectively the biggest bunch of liers and a-holes I'd worked with, so it didn't matter.

If somebody does not respect you right NOT to drink, the hell with them.

There's always no alcohol beer, or talk to the bartender and say you want 7 Up, etc. but served in a liquor glass not to look like you're drinking sodas.

I missed drinking socially for about 6 weeks, then the craving stopped.

[Bucc5207]

The hard part is learning politely but firmly to decline offers. It depends on who you hang out with, and how pushy they are about encouraging you to backslide. You don't need to make excuses for not partaking. If you choose to explain, 'Meds' should be enough. Don't go to bars if going makes it too hard to abstain. If you do go, get used to being everybody's designated driver.

Good luck!

[JeffXD]

Your liver will like you better. Apparantly in my recent reading, its a fairly important organ to keep.

[Ride the Lightning]

I drank more alcohol when I was 18-20 than I have in all the years since then combined. I'm 32 now. Once in a great while I will have a drink, but we're talking one every 2 or 3 years. It's not a big deal unless you make it one. When I did drink, I never did it on my own dime, so I didn't feel the financial affects, but most of my friends did. It's your choice and if your associates won't respect that it's time to trade them in on people who will respect your decision.

[Joeywhat]

I'm a firm believer that drinking GOOD beer and wine is good for you in moderation. I try to have a good micro brew at least once or twice a week. Parties are few and far between for me, since I work full time, something most my friends do not.

I also homebrew (or at least I used to). I'm going to get back into once I get going into a house. I love doing it. I love drinking beer, and I find the process to be fascinating. My love for drinking beer usually stops me from getting drunk, though...I can go through 3-4 good beers in a night if a bunch of friends are over, but I can't go through an entire case of beer like I could in high school. I just don't like the taste of the cheap beers, and I don't like vomiting into some strange toilet...not a good experience.

I'll also, VERY occasionally, drink wine. Sometimes at a party I'll drink white since it's good on it's own. I tend not to drink it as often as I have a "refined" pallet for red wine. I'm not a wine snob or anything, but I can't handle to poorly made crap. The stuff I usually like is either far too expensive, or needs to be aged for a number of years...or both.

[jmichna]

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