CivFantatics Drink Off AKA Ask someone who quits drinking.

Today, after a week of not-drinking, I decided to make it a permanent decision and quit alcohol all together.

Some unimportant self-centered background in the spoiler:


Log for last week:
Day one was a family party, I volunteered to drive back. Good excuse. Felt weird but I owned the BBQ, I must have eaten a farm.
First 2 days I felt like I didn't sleep at all, turning me into an un-dead that day.
First 3 days have been detoxing. It doesn't smell pretty. It stinks.
Days 4 till now, the sweats are gone and the urge to go to the fridge or supermarket for a drink slowly is less and less.
Friday (day 6) I went night out with 2 friends. Not drinking felt weird, but it also felt good not to give in to it.
Now, after a week, I feel great but still have weird moments. The sleep is getting better every day.
It's also time to share it with others, so feel free ask/comment/read.

At a minimum of 10 beers every single day, I think it's probably a good decision to quit drinking.

Though as for a question: Do you think you'll be able to give up alcohol completely, and do you think giving it up completely is easier than to reduce your alcohol consumption to more "normal" levels?

Cheetah said:

At a minimum of 10 beers every single day, I think it's probably a good decision to quit drinking.

Though as for a question: Do you think you'll be able to give up alcohol completely, and do you think giving it up completely is easier than to reduce your alcohol consumption to more "normal" levels?

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I've tried that before and it doesn't work that way for me.
1 beer is 2, 2 is 3 and 3 is 12.

have you read http://www.cracked.com/article_18824_5-things-nobody-tells-you-about-quitting-drinking.html

First of all, congratulations on making it a week. At that level of alcohol consumption, quitting is a very good decision. I hope you manage to stay on the wagon. Here are some questions:

Has your heavy drinking caused you any significant health problems so far?

On a typical day, when would you start drinking? And how much of your time was spent under the influence?

Do your friends drink, and if so what was their reaction?

What do you do to keep yourself occupied now that you're not drinking?

How much money would you spend on alcohol in a typical week?

You got this. Post here every day - Yui beat me to the punch with the Cracked thread, which is full of wonders.

All of CFC is rooting for you, you can do it!

At OP:

I'd say 1-2 servings over 1-2 days is healthy and ok if you don't mix it with the usual bad things: driving, unprotected sex, etc....
I think it's a good idea to have a period of sobriety to reflect on what it's like, and what you miss out on by staying drunk. It's cool that your log says you got under control.


10-12 drinks in one day is probably "binge drinking" and I commend you for choosing not maintain that habit, as binge drinking leads to alcoholism. Keeping a log is also a good idea for staying focused on the issue.

Keep up the good work. It's a good thing to stop drinking if you drink that much.

With tolerance it may not seem drinking that much is harmful. My dad could drink a 12 pack of beer a night without any really bad effects (other than him getting angry and smashing the table). But he eventually died of his alcoholism. I knew guys in the navy who could drink 10 to 12 beers a night and still be able to function. But that doesn't mean it's a good thing to do.

I worry about becoming an alcoholic, especially since my father was one. I do drink very infrequently. But I've been drinking more lately because of women troubles. What scares me is when I get the urge to drink. Mostly I don't worry about it, because usually after a couple beers I get tired and go to sleep. Every now and then I get the urge to drink 4, 5, or 6. That doesn't get me drunk, as I drink slow. but it does give me a good buzz. Those urges to get that deep buzz scare me.

Good, keep it up.

GoodGame said:

At OP:

I'd say 1-2 servings over 1-2 days is healthy and ok if you don't mix it with the usual bad things: driving, unprotected sex, etc....
I think it's a good idea to have a period of sobriety to reflect on what it's like, and what you miss out on by staying drunk. It's cool that your log says you got under control.


10-12 drinks in one day is probably "binge drinking" and I commend you for choosing not maintain that habit, as binge drinking leads to alcoholism. Keeping a log is also a good idea for staying focused on the issue.

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5 drinks is "binge drinking". The OP is not a "probably binge drinker on the road to alcoholism", the OP is a full blown (now recovering) alcoholic.

Props to you, Theov, for making this happen. Unfortunately everything I've read suggests that to go from where you are to where you are trying to be, you need to maintain complete abstinence. As someone who takes sporadic vacations from alcohol, being totally sober even in party situations is totally fine. And most everything in life that makes you long-term happy runs better without booze. Good luck to ya.

Yui108 said:

have you read http://www.cracked.com/article_18824_5-things-nobody-tells-you-about-quitting-drinking.html

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Yes. He's the push in the back that got this ball rolling.

Good decision you made there. The stepmom of a friend of mine drank herself to death within half a year. Most people who die from alcoholism last for many years but belief me or not it's just a matter of dose.
I sometimes wonder how absurdly important alcohol has become in our western society and how some societies completely abstain it.

I am not an expert on that level but my advice would be not just to forbid yourself something (the alcohol) but to allow yourself something. I would advice to choose some fun-sport activities like climbing or sailing or to reactivate some hobbies you had earlier in your life.
There is also the question whether you consult a therapist or not (it's not the best way for everyone but for many)
Whatever you do, if you want to stay dry you have to find a way to deal with the things/problems which lead you to the drinking habit in the beginning.

Day 9:
Just got home from work, I worked extra hours at my new job - it's crazy busy and I'm picking up extra work. I feel like I have new levels of energy I haven't had since my early 20s. Coincidence? Think not.
Today is easy drink-wise (not-drink-wise) because I have groceries, and there's the Falcons - Eagles rerun on TV. Play some Civ and I'm off to bed. Got to be at work at 7:30.

Hey. Mailbag!

Bootstoots said:

First of all, congratulations on making it a week. At that level of alcohol consumption, quitting is a very good decision. I hope you manage to stay on the wagon.

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Me too. Thanks for the support, it helps.

Here are some questions:

Has your heavy drinking caused you any significant health problems so far?

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I gained weight after an injury, I haven't been able to shed those extra pounds. Yet.
But no, not yet. I've always been active in the gym or on a field. This also saved me. After practice and days before game day, I'd drink less. Drinking was a way to kill time I think. Football and working out was a time killer. So do the math.

On a typical day, when would you start drinking? And how much of your time was spent under the influence?

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I worked most of the time, so I'd start when I got home at 6:30pm.

Do your friends drink, and if so what was their reaction?

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Yes. 2 of them say 'respect', the one that also drinks heavily supports but I haven't seen him yet, he's been on vacation.

What do you do to keep yourself occupied now that you're not drinking?

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Same as I did before, but now sober. So I expect to beat Sid somewhere this week.

How much money would you spend on alcohol in a typical week?

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Whoah! Good question, haven't thought about it I bet it's a lot.
Eh. A six pack is about 3 euros. That's 6 euros a day. Times 7 is 42 a week. Times 4.3333333333333 is 182 a month. Add some specials and wine and it's 200 easy.
But now I drink liters of bubbled water and iced tea and ginger ale...
But all in all I think I save 200 euros a month.
Considering I'm filthy rich already, the energy I have to work extra hours and soon I'll be buying our real CivFanatics Island in the pacific.

RE EVERYONE.
Thanks for the support.
I'll answer questions, I'll leave any discussions up to you.

Good that you stopped drinking, but out of curiosity, what do you work as?

ArneHD said:

Good that you stopped drinking, but out of curiosity, what do you work as?

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Something to complicated to explain... in pharmaceutics.

Alcoholism is a terrible sickness. I've lost an uncle to it, and it's affected much of my good family and friends. Congrats on deciding to do something about it before it's too late.

Is there alcoholism in your family?

What was the single biggest reason for starting to drink?

Dawgphood001 said:

Alcoholism is a terrible sickness. I've lost an uncle to it, and it's affected much of my good family and friends. Congrats on deciding to do something about it before it's too late.

Is there alcoholism in your family?

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I had the awareness that said:
"Dude? What the hell are you doing? How long are you planning to keep this up? You could get away with it for a long time, but you're running out of luck."
A bit late, but better now than never.

I know one uncle who stopped drinking, I guess because of the same reason. Never asked, so that will be a fun conversation next birthday.
Alcoholism/proneness to addictions is partly a genetic thing, but to use that as an excuse to keep drinking (or smoking or eating) is the stupidest thing ever.
Every thing you put in your mouth - or body for that matter - is a choice.

What was the single biggest reason for starting to drink?

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It grows on you. You don't 'start'. But I liked the buzz. It gives the feeling that 'all is well'. It still does, but it's a lie. On that moment everything feels fine, but slowly it started to take over my life. I always functioned fine. Never ran into the cops, never got violent. Except for that one time, but he deserved it.

The worst thing was where I didn't need a reason. "It's Friday" was a reason. "Home from work" was a reason.
"Weekend" was a reason. "Damn that was good sex" was a reason. "I have a hangover" was a reason. "I'm in an airplane" was a reason. "I'm tired" was a reason. "I'm not tired" was a reason.

Alcohol acts strangely on me. Usually I mince or lose words when I talk or even drop off entire sentences. When I have a drink or two (there seems to be a sweet spot as too much will result in usual symptoms of drunkenness) I suddenly become the most eloquent orator everyone has ever seen. Also my hands, they usually tremble a bit, always have unless I hold a gun or a pen or something. If I hit that sweet spot they are as still as a watchmakers.

I can get how that can be addictive. To be the better, more capable, more charming, more social version of you and hitting that sweet spot is not that hard for me. So I'm concerned sometimes as you don't have to get plastered to be an alcoholic.

Worked a lot today, some extra hours. Tired because I slept late yesterday and got out at 6:30. Unthinkable 3 weeks ago, I'd be a zombie before lunch. Now coffee and energy got me through it quite easily. Owwwwyeah. Read that nightmares are a symptom, don't have them.

Went to the supermarket, I'd normally pick up nine beers, now I bought bubbled water and cereal. No... I don't eat my cereal with bubbled water.
Slight urge to a beer, but nothing much. The Rams - Giants rerun and Football Manager will keep me occupied.
Sept the 30th I'm going to a beer-festival with a girlfriend. It's a tradition we're doing for years. It is what it sounds like. In a big hall there's 80 kinds of beer and music.
Not planning to cancel that. I'm not changing my life, I'm changing my habit. I'll just drink whatever they have that doesn't include alcohol. See how that goes.

Being a beer festival, it might be wise to bring your own beverages.