Becoming tea total!!

Loobs it will be totally tea only for you

I don't know much about giving up alcohol because I don't really drink much, but re your comments about your heart, I was surprised a while ago sitting next to a friend out at dinner, and he showed me on his FitBit (I think it was a FitBit) how his heart rate goes up when he drinks alcohol. I never knew that.

Good luck anyway!

Do you take any regular medication Loobs? If you do it may explain the symptoms that you describe.

I used to love a social drink with only the odd glass of wine indoors after a meal and a cold beer outside in the sun. As the years have gone on and medical problems more pronounced it's now a long time since I had alcohol. Because I have AF a dizzying illness it makes sense not to aggravate the condition and risk falling, it's not worth it.
It's not necessary as you get older and usually all kinds of medication come into the equation so not a good idea.

I have reduced my alcohol intake as well * Loobs* not quite as drastically though. I still enjoy a glass of wine with lunch when I am eating out and the odd G & T. I have one cup of coffee after dog walking each morning then it's water for me for the rest of the day.

As I got older I found the effects became unpleasant (although not on any medication) and so gave it up. I can't say I really miss it. If I am in company I have a non alcoholic beer - I find they are now quite palatable. My older sister was the same but I didn't expect it to happen to me!

I gave up alcohol in my twenties can honestly say I've never missed it but it does seem to bother other people, no clue why.

Became tee-total for 40 yrs it always affected me badly and my then husband became an alcoholic so I stopped . I've never missed it .

Been tee-total

I've had to give up wine too. One glass gives me terrible heartburn. Likewise with onions and tomatoes, but that's another story.
When we go out, I've taken to ordering lime and soda instead.

Must admit, when we both retired we thought we could enjoy a glass of wine or Prosecco with a meal every night, and have G&Ts before a meal too at the weekends.

When working I never had alcohol during the week and only a glass or two of wine at the weekend or for special occasions.

Last summer I realised how much alcohol I was getting through. No binge drinking, but lots of regular drinking. I had started to look forward to wine and with 'home measures' I could have easily had the best part of a bottle every night!

I am glad that was a short-lived phase because I could see alcohol dependency on the cards if we carried on like that! Now we allow ourselves wine on a Friday and Saturday evening and that's our lot! (Unless we are invited out or we are celebrating a special occasion)

I have never really been a big drinker but the freedom retirement gave us changed our drinking patterns and e had to change them back, sharpish!

Always been TT. Never found it a problem although like Flexiblefriend others did for some reason.
I do often find it interesting how people change with just a glass or two. Of course they don’t realise it.
‘

I have always been TT, and yes sometimes it does become a problem at times with some people, why I do not know

Since being retired I got into the habit of drinking brandy, till I realised with horror that I started sipping even before lunch! I quickly got used to it, no problems with it, just felt good on it. After an unrelated health scare, I just stopped suddenly not even wanting it, not knowing that I should have stopped gradually. I did have an unpleasant period of what I guess was cold turkey, the GP told me I could have been really ill through stopping suddenly. Now virtually T total, at most I will have one unit (one single short, one small glass of wine or half a pint of beer). No point in being completely T total as people who have one unit a day live longer!

I don’t think tea comes into this do you?

I suppose it's highly unlikely that anybody will say that they enjoy drinking, their consumption has increased, they think they might have a problem etc.

Alcohol abuse is very common for older people but nobody wants to talk about it.

Lily65 I have admitted being addicted see my post above. Luckily I have been able to stop.

Until I was about 50 I didn't drink at all. Before we lived in Spain I would have the very occasional drink at the weekend.

Living abroad with sun, inexpensive wine and a lot of socialising I started to drink a lot more. Never drunk but drinking every night.

Now we are back here I think I have been drinking too much. Part of the reason is because I have been down in the dumps because of the move. We don't socialise in the same way and my husband hardly drinks, so I am drinking alone.

I have realised that I am becoming (or have become) drink dependent. I want to lose weight and am going to cut it down to Friday, Saturday and Sunday initially and then want to cut it out altogether.

I know I don't need it, after all I had all those years without drinking at all, but the problem is I enjoy it.

Framilode, it's not easy for sure being buoyant in this country and alcohol releases dopamine and a momentary feel good.
Unfortunately, it is followed up with a feel bad.

Loobs - have exactly same symptoms . Suspect we don’t break down alcohol as we used to so now limited to one drink now and again and that will still bring on the fluttering heart, flushes etc and affects my sleep . However feel my body is trying to tell me something and have to listen to it,

Framilode I'm the same as you. I know I drink too much and it makes me feel better at the time. I also realise it is a depressant. I never get hangovers but I am going to try to cut down.

My husband gave up alcohol a month ago. He was drinking at least a bottle of wine a night. His legs and ankles were swollen yet he still drank. Anyway he's done it now and his legs are back to normal which is wonderful as we're going on holiday next week and he can wear shorts again. I used to drink a large glass of wine most days but in this last month I've only had one glass a week.

Find a spirit that suits - keep trying!!!

I have always been T T. No idea why really it just tastes so awful, nasty yukky stuff and the smell of beer is like moldy bread!
I'm sure you will get used to it. A friend drinks the non alco stuff no idea what it tastes like but you could try it.

I stopped drinking alcohol a year or so ago to help with losing weight and overall improving my health (lapsing a bit on holiday at the moment ?) but will resume on return home. My tipple of choice now is Tonic with a splash of Angostura Bitters +/- a slice. Really refreshing and no one knows there’s no Gin in it - wholly recommend a try