The point is to rethink your relationship with alcohol. If someone is drinking a few beers daily and abstains for the whole month, they will probably notice a difference in their quality of life and may not go back to the daily drinking like they were. It's not intended for alcoholics.
If you don't want to participate than post in a different thread. No reason to berate a harmless thing that helps a lot of people.
I have to think recognizing an unhealthy relationship with alcohol and doing this, even if a person isn't a classic alcoholic, can avoid some people going further down the road toward alcoholism. It's not everyone certainly but I have to imagine that it's true for some people.
It was very helpful for me last year to dial things back and become more aware of my own relationship with alcohol.
Yup. Last time I did it it was kind of eye opening being bored around the house and getting a beer to pass the time. I got a guitar stand and would just reach for that when I started thinking about cracking a beer. Used to go sit on the ice and fish with a 12 pack of cheap beer. During dry Jan a few years back I realized it was a lot easier to just drink a few seltzer water and actually land more fish because I was paying better attention.
For me it's about reinforcing good habits. Every fall I'll gradually start slacking as I spend more Saturdays than not boozing to the college football madness, and by the time the holidays have rolled around I'm more than ready to reset back to my normal routine with the push that comes from a motivated and clean January.
I never drink on weekdays. When I’m craving a couple fingers of whiskey my go to is a gummy and water with some mio, a splash of sprite, and some bitters.
First weekend night complete. No cravings for booze or herb so far. Feeling mentally sharp, still sleeping a little rough. Very odd there because I couldn't tell you the last time I was drunk, but I would have a nightly double jim beam and coke zero while watching TV before bed. Must have just gotten so used to it. Oh well. Trekking ahead.
It’s all fun and games until that first Friday night after a shitty week back at work. Today was my first real test. stay strong gents
Was exhausted and went to bed at like 9pm last night so that was easy. Retirement party for a family friend tonight which will be tough.
First month I’ve actively done it ‘completely’ since I started drinking (in college, didn’t in high school). I can already notice a huge difference while working out and I’m sleeping better. To the person who calls it stupid and acts like it’s a slap in the face to alcoholics. I can say YOUR opinion is garbage. I work in the industry. My job is to sell booze everyday. There are bars and restaurants where I can step in and tell you who will be sitting there most times. Some are alcoholics and sometimes there are functioning people of society that ‘need’ 1-2 beers after work. Hell, I’m usually one of those guys because I’m around the stuff so often. It’s a nice reset to the body. For others it might put other things into perspective. For instance, I love to paint, my goal this month is to start doing it 3-4 days a week instead of it coming and going, make it my new habit instead of the 2 drinks to end the day at a bar. I guess that could make me an alcoholic to some? But, I’m trying to reset my schedule. This has helped and I’m only 5 days in.
Went out to dinner last night. Only spots available were at the bar so I’m just staring at beer and alcohol all night. Already wanted to crave after a shitty week. Stuck with water only and glad I did. Feel good this morning and cut the eating out bill by about $20
The cost alone feels like a good reason to make a change. If the wife and I go out to eat alcohol can easily double the bill.
Had a retirement party for a good family friend. Got asked all night why I wasn’t drinking. Ended up drinking a Bud Zero that was terrible. Went to a bar with people afterwards for one and had an Athletic IPA NA. That wasn’t good either, but was happy to be in both situations without too much issue.
Yea last year I gave up the Athletic beers pretty quickly. Far prefer a mocktail if I need something like that, or just a soda water with lime. I became annoyed paying so much for an NA beer
My birthday is the 4th and my girlfriend set up reservations with about 10 friends at a pretty nice restaurant. I failed. But after that I should be good to go for the rest of the month.
Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Matter of fact, it actually makes me feel better when I see someone in the party not drinking because I can figure they're probably driving or at least a voice of reason to make sure their friends don't drive. One less thing to think about while serving drinks. Don't camp out in prime real estate on St Paddy's day or something but for the most part no bartender cares about filling waters for non-drinkers.
Came here to post this. Picked up one of the Athletic beers this weekend to watch NFL games, I think it was a light one, and it tasted like Miller Lite mixed with seltzer.
I’d think one of the benefits of going dry is maybe losing a few pounds because of lower calorie intake. I’d just drink water instead of drinking all those empty calories and not getting the buzz.
You're never going to find an NA beer that tastes remotely close to the real thing. I would try hop waters... I found Surly's to be the best yet. Or just stick with sparkling water and lime
I started on the second and am still dry. Six days without a drink hasn't happened for me in a VERY long time. Hardest part so far was yesterday grilling steaks for dinner. Went to a family party today for my niece's 4 year old and was oddly aware of everyone else's drinking but I didn't really struggle. Tomorrow will be tough during the game. I'll be spending some time in the desert next week for a getaway and will likely succumb but I'll make up those days at the end.
Watched an entire Packers win and in game and didn’t have any alcohol and went out with friends last night and had some athletic NA’s (I don’t find them nearly as shitty as some in here have said, while not amazing, they aren’t bad.) Packers game I had 2 cups of coffee, 4 glasses of water, and 3 things of tea. I’m going to be fucking wired all night.
Yeah I’m a founding member of the TMB Good Beer Thread and I drink The Athletic IPAs no problem. Don’t understand the hate, they are what they are.
I’m a big fan of Athletic Free Wave Hazy IPA. There are a few other IPA NAs I like as well, but I can’t think of another style of beer that tastes decent as an NA.
Dumb question here but I’ve never had a non alcoholic beer, what’s the benefit of those over like a Diet Coke?
I’m trying it this year after a busy holiday season with more drinking than normal. Worked this weekend which made it easier. Dolphins-Chiefs next Saturday night is going to be brutal. Just moved to KC and am married to a Chiefs fan so I’m sure I’ll be watching with her family/friends. Really needed the Dolphins to get that noon Sunday game.
Hopefully peacock stream doesn’t work so you don’t have to watch? But yeah, football games are always the hardest for me since for so long I associated watching football with having a beer (or 6). Then once you have a weekend or two where you don’t feel terrible on Sunday or Monday morning it becomes a lot easier. that’s where the Athletic brews come into play for me. Still drink a beer in a frozen mug without getting drunk watching football.