Can you go without booze for 31 days?

I hadn't seen my SIL for ages and was shocked by how much weight he'd put on. I usually keep quiet about most things, family wise, but I did mention it to my daughter [who agreed]. Next time I saw him he looked 10 years younger [and stones lighter]. He'd given up alcohol completely and was exercising again. People just get into the habit of opening a can of beer etc when they get in from work and [like with smoking] you need to break the habit.

jane I don't take it personally. As I said, colleagues are doing it and I'm in on a whim.

I do see the value of it as an awareness raising exercise, simply a pause for thought about how much alcohol we consume as a nation.

I'm absolutely not having a go at you personally Grannyknot as I hope you realise, simply putting another point of view.
I doubt the value of this exercise, challenge or whatever you want to call it.
Targets should be achievable, realistic and capable of being maintained.
There is evidence to suggest that moderate alcohol consumption is actually beneficial to health.
It seems to me that it would be better to aim for a permanent, sensible limit of no more than 2 units a day with possibly an alcohol-free day each week.
Just off for a nice healthy hike in the Tyne Valley

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!

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

Merlotgran - love the name , but I prefer shiraz !

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 !

And there are only 28 days in February.

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.

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

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

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.

I agree Kitty ... why risk it?

Soutra

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

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

Just saying...

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

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

Cheese, then?

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.

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

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

Is there a prize?

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.

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

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 , 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

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!