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Can you go without booze for 31 days?

(204 Posts)
Grannyknot Tue 17-Dec-13 13:18:06

I'm doing Alcohol Concern's Dry January campaign, for the heck of it, and with colleagues at work.

I've been practicing this month (want to lose a bit of weight) and already I realise, that even though I'm not a daily drinker, it's actually not that easy, because when I feel like having my occasional glass of wine, I want one dammit! And in these winter months I also like a tiny tot of whisky in a medicine glass with a shot of lemon juice and honey of a night tchsmile.

Anyway, the campaign is to raise awareness of people's drinking habits, so I thought I'd give them a little plug, because that's not a bad thing.

jinglbellrocks Tue 17-Dec-13 18:55:34

I wouldn't want to tbh. We don't drink much at home, but a meal out in a pub or a curry house just calls out for a nice glass of wine.

Flowerofthewest Tue 17-Dec-13 19:06:03

I can go without alcohol for 365 days. It doesn't figure much in my life if at all.

granjura Tue 17-Dec-13 19:12:37

I could never understand the curry and wine, I have to say. OH will have an Indian beer and I water.

Rosannie Tue 17-Dec-13 21:02:58

Oh dear, just returned to gransnet tonight after a long absence, think I dipped in to the wrong forum here as I sip my regular glass of sherry! smile

Grannyknot Tue 17-Dec-13 21:13:54

I came back having just about forgotten about this thread to see it's gone to page 2, thought yippee, but sadly no takers!

Perhaps the people who don't drink at all could sign up anyway to boost the numbers tchwink, they were hoping to have 10,000 people signed up to take part and they're only on about 3000.

Thanks everyone for responding anyway tchsmile

Gally Tue 17-Dec-13 21:45:06

It can be done. I started a dry January 2 years ago and lasted until the 27th when I had a few wines for medicinal purposes as DH died unexpectedly. I had a dry month during this year and found it very easy to do but won't bother this January as I am staying with DD2, it's very hot and a glass or two definitely seems a good idea by late afternoon wink wine

Ana Tue 17-Dec-13 22:06:07

I don't think it's likely that anyone's going to come on here and say they couldn't possibly give up booze for 31 days.

Those who don't drink, or drink very little, aren't going to be interested in signing up anyway.

Granny23 Tue 17-Dec-13 22:18:02

To answer the original question - YES, I often do.

Is there a prize?

Ana Tue 17-Dec-13 22:27:55

Now, if you replaced the 'booze' with 'chocolate' I bet there'd be a more ambivalent response! tchgrin

absent Tue 17-Dec-13 22:45:46

I can and I have – in one instance for 18 months – but I don't want to. As far as chocolate is concerned, I could go without it for the rest of my life.

Ana Tue 17-Dec-13 22:49:07

Cheese, then?

Ana Tue 17-Dec-13 22:49:48

I expect most of us could give up something for 31 days, unless we were seriously addicted.

absent Tue 17-Dec-13 22:55:46

I don't want to go without anything that I like and that includes cheese.

Sel Tue 17-Dec-13 23:10:37

www.newstatesman.com/science/2013/12/do-smart-people-drink-more-heres-some-science-ease-your-hangover

Just saying...

kittylester Wed 18-Dec-13 05:22:34

Soutra tchgrin

I've just had a liver function test done which came back fine, so I'm not going to upset it now by changing the routine tchgrin

Riverwalk Wed 18-Dec-13 08:31:48

I agree Kitty ... why risk it? tchgrin

Brendawymms Wed 18-Dec-13 08:41:41

Alcoholics in rehabilitation often drink Blackcurrent juice. It seems to help them for some reason. The high juice own store brands are quite high in Blackcurrent and less sugar than more known brand.

Nelliemoser Wed 18-Dec-13 08:50:49

I could give up alcohol and chocolates! Cheese would be a problem.

FlicketyB Wed 18-Dec-13 16:01:52

Nellymoser, there you have it, all of us have a weak point, cheese is mine as well.

NfkDumpling Wed 18-Dec-13 16:46:28

No way! I have a small alcoholic something most evenings, and January? No way! It's the most miserable of months.
I may give it a go in February though - we're away on holiday then and out if a routine and spring will be springing when we get back with crocuses and so on. Yes, I'll give it a go in February when I stand a chance of success.

dustyangel Wed 18-Dec-13 17:01:10

And there are only 28 days in February. tchgrin

JJay Wed 18-Dec-13 22:49:46

When I was a single parent I had to go withougt alocohol for much longer than that - now that I'm retired and a grandmother, I can't think of a good reason why I would want to !

JJay Wed 18-Dec-13 22:53:41

Merlotgran - love the name , but I prefer shiraz !

ginny Fri 20-Dec-13 08:51:33

No problem for me. I don't drink anyway. Never found anything I like. It all tastes like sour dishwater to me.

Lona Fri 20-Dec-13 08:59:27

I can only have two small glasses of red wine a week. Any more and I get a migraine, and this is after having to abstain for a few years.
So, I don't feel inclined to give it up now.
Not many pleasures left!