Can you go without booze for 31 days?

Flickety - That's fine. I think we all have different senses of humour and they don't always come across with the written word.

Great to know that KatyK.

Sadly though, there are 1000s of High Functioning Alcoholics out there in total denial, and at huge risk to permanent damage- with partners and family suffering or at risk due to their behaviour. Lots of info out there. Here is just a start:

Alcoholics have poor attendance at work. Alcoholics drink every day. Alcoholics are mostly old men. Alcoholics are usually homeless. Alcoholics are unable to do well in their careers. Alcoholics always drink in the morning.

These are just a few of the stereotypes about alcoholics which are pervasive throughout society. These stereotypes increase denial and prevent many alcoholics from getting proper diagnosis and treatment. High-functioning alcoholics (HFAs) defy these stereotype and often go undetected because they do not fit the image of the "typical" alcoholic. The term "high-functioning alcoholic" is one that most people seem to understand or identify with, but ironically it has yet to be formally defined or examined. A landmark study in 2007 by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism categorized alcoholics into 5 subtypes: 20% are the "functional" subtype, 32% are the "young adult" subtype, 21% are the "young antisocial" subtype, 19% are intermediate familial subtype (middle-aged with mental illness), and only 9% are of the "chronic severe" subtype, fitting the stereotype of the low-bottom alcoholic. Other addiction experts estimate that between 75% and 90% of alcoholics are high-functioning.
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An HFA is an alcoholic who is able to maintain his or her outside life, such as a job, home, family, and friendships, all while drinking alcoholically. HFAs have the same disease as the stereotypical "skid-row" alcoholic, but it manifests or progresses differently. Many are not viewed by society as being alcoholic, because they have functioned, succeeded and/or over-achieved throughout their lifetimes. These achievements often lead to an increase in personal denial as well as denial from colleagues and loved ones. HFAs are less apt to feel that they need treatment or help for their alcoholism and often slide through the cracks of the health care system, both medically and psychologically, because they are not diagnosed. Sadly, according to the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions only 25% of alcoholics ever receive treatment-indicating a serious problem of denial on a societal level.

Katy , bet you wish you had not opened this can of worms ! xx

Nonu Granjura - My father was an alcoholic so I know how family can be affected. I'm sorry if my 'joke' backfired.

Well, you did say it Katyk. With no sign of a wink. Just a

Well, Katy would hardly make such a post if she thought she might have a problem!

Let's get things in perspective here, I know it's a very serious topic but sometimes a little light relief seems the right thing at the time. I'm sure no one is taking the subject lightly.

Maybe I chose the wrong smiley then. As Ana says, if I had a drink problem would I really be telling the world? It was meant to be a light-hearted comment. I didn't realise it would offend.

It did n't offend.

Katy , lots of warm hugs to you !!

it didn't offend- and was misunderstood. And yes, humour is great.

However, if you read about highly functioning alcoholics (and I am sure it is NOT the case here) - the use of humour is all part of the denial process. Nuff said. But perhaps we should go back to the OP and what it was meant to do.

Lots of this for you Katy.

JING ?????read my pm

I just read it. Haven't got a clue what it means.

Katy I'm pulling your leg.

Really , so you say you are pulling Katys leg . interesting !!

Katy, the campaign organisers would be very happy with you, this is exactly one of their aims, to start a conversation about alcohol.

I also didn't think you were serious for one minute, the give-away that you were joking was the play on the "31".

I'm more concerned that you show the forum to your husband.

Big hug to anyone who has had to deal with the effects of alcoholism.

Only metaphorically.

That was to nonu btw

So- anybody joining the challenge with Grannyknot? Hope she won't be all on her own from GN.

I often go thirty-one days without an alcoholic drink so it's not really a challenge, otherwise I might join in. Strangely, although I didn't drink coffee for nearly thirty years from when I was first pregnant with DD1 (just went off it), I would find it a challenge to go thirty-one days without that now.

Tea - I don't know whether I could manage long without a cup...

New Scientist publishes research that says it gives your liver a well deserved holiday ...

That sounds very encouraging. Perhaps I'll try abstaining - when we finish this opened bottle of Pinot Grigio tonight. Can't waste it - it's far too good!

Last February, during Lent, I met the challenge to abstain from Gransnet for 6 weeks or so.

Thirty-one days without alcohol would be a doddle compared with that achievement.

I haven't drunk alcohol since June 2009 so can't join in the challenge.

Good post (yesterday 18.01) Granjura

I know of one or two people who said they would do it but have already given up which tells me that their consumption of alcohol is such an ingrained habit that it would take a real effort of will to stop. I am loath to label anyone but if a person can't easily live without a mind altering drug for any length of time then they have a problem in my opinion.

As a non drinker I occasionally feel left out socially as our culture is very alcohol driven. I'm not talking about the occasional glass of wine but the constant 'wine o'clock' culture which seems to have developed since it has become so much more acceptable to drink from noon onwards.

If the Dry January campaign makes a few people question their own drinking habits then it is worthwhile.

At the launch event of this campaign which I attended, there was a lovely young man (in his 20s) , just on ordinary bloke, who spoke and said he did it last year in memory of his friend who was killed by a drunk driver, and, he felt so good after one month that he decided to extend it to this coming January, make it a dry year.

His talk was very moving and that was when I was sold on the campaign.