Dry January

I seldom drink, in fact I can’t actually remember the last time. As we’re not able to eat out it’s even less frequent. Tonight, however, I’m seeing out the old year with a bottle of Jarl carried home from Loch Fyne in 2019.

Good luck with your resolutions everyone but it’s not really a problem I have. Perhaps I’m lucky that I can’t hold more than 1 glass...

Thank you, BlueSapphire, I'll try it.

I haven’t had a drink for almost 18 months, I changed to the Ketogenic way of eating. Very low carb and sugar free. It was strange at first as I enjoyed a glass or two of wine but it had become a habit, one I didn’t want! I must say that I don’t miss it, I feel healthier and much better these days.

I agree with you tanith. If you have to try not to have alcohol, I would think more than a dry January is needed.

I’m a non drinker have been many years having been married to an alcoholic, but I do wonder why it doesn’t seem to worry people who say they’ll ‘try’ to have a dry January but probably won’t succeed or the thought of a dry month bothers them a lot. I would find that worrying. Of course the odd glass is perfectly ok I’m not disputing that.
Puts my hard hat on and ducks behind the sofa ?

I have a glass of wine in the evening so I haven’t had the experience you personally describe Monica.

The taste of a good quality wine is very different from a cheap plonk. Enjoying a glass of wine isn’t something I am obsessed with, just something to enjoy in moderation.

Monica I just do not understand why people seem so obsessed with it.
I have wine every evening with my meal. I’m not obsessed with it, though I’m quite interested in different types of wine.
I have porridge every morning for breakfast with fruit and Greek yoghurt, but I’m not obsessed with that either!

I have a glass of wine every evening and think that’s fine.
Am I alone in finding older people drinking too much really distasteful? Well anyone really but more to be expected in young people.

I know a couple who do dry January then overdo it the rest of the time which seems weird. They’re both overweight because of the booze.

No, but I am doing REDJanuary, though in my case it will be more like walking everyday rathrr than running

I opened a good bottle of red on Christmas day and drank a glass, I had another glass with lunch on Boxing day, didn't bother Sunday and Monday and used it up in the ragu I cooked at lunch time.

Once Christmas and New Year are over, I may well not drink at all in January, DH is in hospital and when he comes home, he will be off alcohol. Nothing to do with Dry January.

I can never understand all this excitement about drinking alcohol. Most of it doesn't taste very good, the taste has to be acquired, it has a mind fuzzing affect on you when you drink more than about one glass and often leaves you feeling rotten the following day. I just do not understand why people seem so obsessed with it.

I rarely drink more than 2 or 3 glasses of wine a week (I don’t drink on my own), but over Christmas I drank a good deal more as my family were with me (support bubble). I have now decided to at least try dry January, but doubt I will succeed.

I’m just polishing off the champers we opened for Buck’s Fizz on Christmas morning and probably won’t have another drink until dinner on New Year’s Day.

I’ve had a few dry quarantines, lockdowns etc this year of weeks at a time but I rarely drink more than twice a week anyway, so dry January mightn’t happen but it won’t be sodden!

Someone mentioned sleeping better without alcohol up thread and I agree - I need my sleep more than I want a drink!

I’m not giving up my occasional rum and coke for January or any other month!

Grandmama, I haven't yet found a still alcohol-free wine I like, but if you like fizz, may I suggest Freixenet 0% pink sparkling? It's very acceptable.

I don’t drink or smoke and am a vegetarian. My daughter says I could live forever .... or it may just seem like that !

I have a dry December so haven't had a dry January until now. DH hasn't had alcohol for several years but I like a small glass of white wine with my main meal (mid-day). However he has been feeling deprived and because of all his medication (and other reasons) I said I'd give up alcohol - and so has one DD in solidarity. We've had non-alcohol 'wine' but I find them too sweet. Can anyone recommend a dry non-alcohol wine?

I didnt have a drink at all for about 7 weeks when I had my hip op..
I drank little after that until Christmas week when I upped my intake.
Will not be doing dry January, I don't know how much time I have left!!

Having isolated and not having physical contact with any of my family and friends apart from FaceTime since mid September I have got used to doing what I want when I want. I will not be be joining in with dry January in fact I may even step up on my drinking and have a bottle of champagne once a week.
It’s a bit decadent l know but , lm finding that l enjoy it and gives me a sense of freedom
(probably three sheet’s to the wind).
Anything that gives me a little happiness and makes me feel good then I will have to carry on and do it.
What’s the point in depriving myself of little pleasure’s ? We have all given up so much this year so lm looking around for other things to take up !

Not giving up here. Most years I feel quite guilty at this point having been to Christmas parties, social events, and had multiple family visits all accompanied by drinks. As none of that has happened in 2020, my consumption has been pretty much as normal, nothing for five days running and then a couple of glasses of wine on each of the other two days. The only day I went a bit mad was Christmas day itself when the excitement of having DD and partner actually in our house for a meal (!) led me to consume pre-lunch sherry, two glasses of red with the meal, one of dessert wine and a port with the cheese. I was tipsy and happy. Not sure how good it was for my physical health, but it did wonders for my mental health.

I will but not starting til Monday as somehow I always like to start things like that at the beginning of the week. I’d did sober October earlier in the year and donated the money I saved to a breast cancer charity. I’ll do the same for dry January but maybe a different charity this time - I think they are all struggling right now.

I prefer a DRYER January. I will cut back, not totally stop drinking....

First drink since Feb was on Xmas day and it was only Bucks Fizz. Had bought a bottle of Bailey's but its still sitting in the garage. Only have a couple if out with friends to a show or something so had none of those lovely nights out so no drinks.

I drink very little, and rarely wine, unless it's fizzy. I prefer whisky or vodka. I had a couple of glasses of Cava on Christmas Day, and I'll have a whisky on Hogmanay, but with not having visitors or going out, I might not have another drink throughout January. To be honest, I'd rather have chocolate - not a healthy option, of course!

I do dry January every year. Energy levels are better and flatter tum. I also didnt drink from End of Sept to Christmas Eve. Its definitely easier to do now I am not socialising.

I enjoy my evening tipple and I used to do dry January. In 2020 I opted for what was considered to be a healthier option. I have one alcohol free week every month. It was a good discipline especially during lockdown.