Who has quit drinking and why?

Gus
Posts
495
Joined
1/15/2017
Location
Halifax, NC US
3/26/2019 1:43pm Edited Date/Time 3/26/2019 1:45pm
The greatest blessing for me was the gift of hangovers. Since I was 15 I’d get a hangover. Every time. After waking up and not being able to get going I knew it was a waste of my time, my wife’s and my very young son. I quit while on a strict diet for a few months. I never felt better. I haven’t been hammered in about 5 years, I’ve had some good buzzes, but not hammered. My wife and I are in graduate school and the pressure mounts. The other night I had a drink because I was stressed out. I don’t like that, because I feel that’s asking for problems. At big social events where drinking is prevalent like concerts I turn to coffee.... it surprised me that a substitute like coffee helped. I’ve been in the medical field for 17 years. I can tell you that nothing tears apart families or wrecks your body like heavy drinking. I’ve seen 30 year olds die from drinking. Watching someone dry out will make you think twice about it. Good luck bud.
1
jeffro503
Posts
27629
Joined
7/22/2007
Location
St Helens, OR US
3/26/2019 2:32pm
I quit completely a little over a month ago. I was having digestive problems due to it , and it was affecting what I could and couldn't eat , terrible sleeping patterns , stiff joints , bloated all the time......I just couldn't take it any more. I always enjoyed having some beers after work , but it just wasn't worth the side affects it was giving me.

Long story short......I only really started drinking beer again about 3 years ago. I went about 20+ years with only having a couple beers a month. In my early 20's I drank and did some crazy / stupid shit that I regret now days. But this last stint was it for me. I enjoy feeling healthy , way more then the buzz I got from having a few beers and then feeling like shit. I may still have a beer or two at some special events , but I'm no longer going to have beer here at my place in the fridge. I haven't felt this good in like 4 years.....And am loving it!
4
ocscottie
Posts
69092
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Redding, CA US
3/26/2019 4:25pm
jeffro503 wrote:
I quit completely a little over a month ago. I was having digestive problems due to it , and it was affecting what I could and...
I quit completely a little over a month ago. I was having digestive problems due to it , and it was affecting what I could and couldn't eat , terrible sleeping patterns , stiff joints , bloated all the time......I just couldn't take it any more. I always enjoyed having some beers after work , but it just wasn't worth the side affects it was giving me.

Long story short......I only really started drinking beer again about 3 years ago. I went about 20+ years with only having a couple beers a month. In my early 20's I drank and did some crazy / stupid shit that I regret now days. But this last stint was it for me. I enjoy feeling healthy , way more then the buzz I got from having a few beers and then feeling like shit. I may still have a beer or two at some special events , but I'm no longer going to have beer here at my place in the fridge. I haven't felt this good in like 4 years.....And am loving it!
Im at the point where im having a couple...sometimes a few cold ones at night, knocks down the pain level so i can sleep...i know thats a shitty excuse, but its true. My Doc would be pissed if he knew, so i feel kinda guilty for doing it.
3/26/2019 5:24pm
I don't have a drinking problem. I drink, get drunk, fall down, get up, drink some more. Pretty damn good at it acually. You might even say I've got that shit wired.
3

The Shop

jeffro503
Posts
27629
Joined
7/22/2007
Location
St Helens, OR US
3/26/2019 5:36pm
jeffro503 wrote:
I quit completely a little over a month ago. I was having digestive problems due to it , and it was affecting what I could and...
I quit completely a little over a month ago. I was having digestive problems due to it , and it was affecting what I could and couldn't eat , terrible sleeping patterns , stiff joints , bloated all the time......I just couldn't take it any more. I always enjoyed having some beers after work , but it just wasn't worth the side affects it was giving me.

Long story short......I only really started drinking beer again about 3 years ago. I went about 20+ years with only having a couple beers a month. In my early 20's I drank and did some crazy / stupid shit that I regret now days. But this last stint was it for me. I enjoy feeling healthy , way more then the buzz I got from having a few beers and then feeling like shit. I may still have a beer or two at some special events , but I'm no longer going to have beer here at my place in the fridge. I haven't felt this good in like 4 years.....And am loving it!
ocscottie wrote:
Im at the point where im having a couple...sometimes a few cold ones at night, knocks down the pain level so i can sleep...i know thats...
Im at the point where im having a couple...sometimes a few cold ones at night, knocks down the pain level so i can sleep...i know thats a shitty excuse, but its true. My Doc would be pissed if he knew, so i feel kinda guilty for doing it.
I hear ya Scottie. Honestly , I started drinking a few years back as a self medication for my sleep. It worked good the first year or two , but then I started to abuse it a little more and the bad side affects came into play. Beer would always " hype me up " the first hour or two , then I would crash. These past couple years , I enjoyed the buzz more then anything else , and slowly it stopped helping me sleep. In fact there were some nights I would still be awake when the sun was coming up...and it made for a rough day.

On the digestion thing ( which believe it or not was the worst side affect ). Every night ( I mean every single night for the past 6 months ) I had to take a damn laxative before bed , to have any hope of going to the bathroom the next morning. I was feeling tired , from the food not digesting well , and bloated like a son of a bitch. Not from gas or extra food , but swollen inside. I'm a light weight with beer , so I'm talking only 3 - 5 beers.

I can honestly say , coming up on week #5 of no drinking , I don't think I ever want to drink again. I remember feeling this good about 4 years ago before I started drinking. I forgot how good it feels when I " Don't " drink ! And check this out , I've never been fat or heavy , but as much as I was bloated , these past 4 weeks I have lost 4" around my stomach from the swelling going away. I fucking feel awesome right now , and can't wait for the serious riding season to start! Which is hopefully this weekend!
1
mikec265
Posts
1668
Joined
10/19/2015
Location
Edinboro, PA US
3/26/2019 7:13pm Edited Date/Time 3/26/2019 7:18pm
I quit because I wasn't getting where I knew I could go in life. I had a lot of fun doing stupid shit, but I don't miss it. 6.5 years sober. I have a 5 year old,2 year old, and 8 month old who will never have parents who just sit around drinking and bitching all day. Fuck alcohol and every other drug. If I could have stayed sober maybe I could have been a local A class rider, instead I never was good enough to sandbag a C class win.
Mossy
Posts
438
Joined
7/6/2018
Location
Newport News, VA US
3/27/2019 7:47am
After watching alcohol completely destroy family members lives growing up, it makes me feel like a complete loser when I do drink an alcoholic beverage. Nothing good will ever come from alcohol. It won’t bring you success, it won’t positively effect you, it will make you do stupid stuff that you regret. Think of how many hundreds of thousands of lives have been ruined because of alcohol. Think of how many people are doing nothing with their lives because alcohol is holding them back. Such a shame.

I drink a lot from 16 to about the age of 20. Was going through rough times from 18-19 and did a lot of stupid stuff. A little after turning 20, I realized how dumb going out and drinking was. The road that everyone was headed towards, including me. I simply lost interest.

When I hear someone get so hyped up over chugging beer I cringe, it reminds me of a little kid getting excited over the sugar in a soda, except instead of the sugar you are excited about the alcohol. At 22 I definitely feel like the “odd one out” when around people in my age group since it’s strange that I don’t jump at the chance to “get hammered” and “shotgun beers” or take some shots. I enjoy a couple beers when I’m working in the garage, or when I go out to eat I enjoy a cold beer with my food. But I don’t drink liquor because it makes me act like a fucking idiot, as it does a lot of people. I’ve had people BEG ME to “cmon man just take 1 shot with me/us.” Why do you want me to take a shot so badly? Does it make you feel better about yourself because “everyone” is taking one? That’s the most annoying thing in the world.

If you truly enjoy the feeling of being drunk, more than when you are sober, you are extremely broken as a human being. You need to dig deep and find why you feel that way.

There’s nothing wrong with alcohol if you just genuinely enjoy a beer after work, or you look forward to cold beer, some wine, or a little captain n coke on the weekend. As long as it’s not negatively affecting your life and holding you back as a person. Sadly I feel the majority of people who drink, do it as an escape from their real life, which is a life they hate, and complain about, and do nothing to change it. They just keep drinking, making bad decisions, and escaping their problems rather than solving them.

Had to go on a decent rant there lol. After seeing first hand alcohol completely devestate my family growing up and many other people, it makes me feel strongly about the subject. It blows my mind how an ingredient in a drink can rule over so many peoples lives in such a negative way.

Please don’t take this as a “I’m better than you because I didn’t get drunk last weekend and you did” thing or something like that. Everyone has their own issues in life, and everyone makes mistakes, we are only human. We are all going through different things at different stages in life. But let’s deal with and solve our problems, headfirst, rather than use something as a coping mechanism.

For those of you that do like to drink or smoke something for the 5 or so hours every night you are free after work. Ask yourself why you do that. There are hundreds of hobbies and positively impactful things you could be doing with that time instead, that would be much more enjoyable, and even funner to look back on down the road when you are older. When you are 70, do you want to look back on your middle aged years and think of all the beer you drink after work? Or do you want to look back on how proud you were that you discovered a new passion, tried something new, or improved yourself physically and mentally? It’s never to late to start, but it will be too late, when the damage is done and you only have a couple years left.

Sorry for the book! Grinning
8
Motox627!
Posts
747
Joined
5/16/2018
Location
P-ville, TX US
3/27/2019 8:15am
Mossy wrote:
After watching alcohol completely destroy family members lives growing up, it makes me feel like a complete loser when I do drink an alcoholic beverage. Nothing...
After watching alcohol completely destroy family members lives growing up, it makes me feel like a complete loser when I do drink an alcoholic beverage. Nothing good will ever come from alcohol. It won’t bring you success, it won’t positively effect you, it will make you do stupid stuff that you regret. Think of how many hundreds of thousands of lives have been ruined because of alcohol. Think of how many people are doing nothing with their lives because alcohol is holding them back. Such a shame.

I drink a lot from 16 to about the age of 20. Was going through rough times from 18-19 and did a lot of stupid stuff. A little after turning 20, I realized how dumb going out and drinking was. The road that everyone was headed towards, including me. I simply lost interest.

When I hear someone get so hyped up over chugging beer I cringe, it reminds me of a little kid getting excited over the sugar in a soda, except instead of the sugar you are excited about the alcohol. At 22 I definitely feel like the “odd one out” when around people in my age group since it’s strange that I don’t jump at the chance to “get hammered” and “shotgun beers” or take some shots. I enjoy a couple beers when I’m working in the garage, or when I go out to eat I enjoy a cold beer with my food. But I don’t drink liquor because it makes me act like a fucking idiot, as it does a lot of people. I’ve had people BEG ME to “cmon man just take 1 shot with me/us.” Why do you want me to take a shot so badly? Does it make you feel better about yourself because “everyone” is taking one? That’s the most annoying thing in the world.

If you truly enjoy the feeling of being drunk, more than when you are sober, you are extremely broken as a human being. You need to dig deep and find why you feel that way.

There’s nothing wrong with alcohol if you just genuinely enjoy a beer after work, or you look forward to cold beer, some wine, or a little captain n coke on the weekend. As long as it’s not negatively affecting your life and holding you back as a person. Sadly I feel the majority of people who drink, do it as an escape from their real life, which is a life they hate, and complain about, and do nothing to change it. They just keep drinking, making bad decisions, and escaping their problems rather than solving them.

Had to go on a decent rant there lol. After seeing first hand alcohol completely devestate my family growing up and many other people, it makes me feel strongly about the subject. It blows my mind how an ingredient in a drink can rule over so many peoples lives in such a negative way.

Please don’t take this as a “I’m better than you because I didn’t get drunk last weekend and you did” thing or something like that. Everyone has their own issues in life, and everyone makes mistakes, we are only human. We are all going through different things at different stages in life. But let’s deal with and solve our problems, headfirst, rather than use something as a coping mechanism.

For those of you that do like to drink or smoke something for the 5 or so hours every night you are free after work. Ask yourself why you do that. There are hundreds of hobbies and positively impactful things you could be doing with that time instead, that would be much more enjoyable, and even funner to look back on down the road when you are older. When you are 70, do you want to look back on your middle aged years and think of all the beer you drink after work? Or do you want to look back on how proud you were that you discovered a new passion, tried something new, or improved yourself physically and mentally? It’s never to late to start, but it will be too late, when the damage is done and you only have a couple years left.

Sorry for the book! Grinning
There is a lot of younger people that would benefit if they thought the way you did! I know i sure would have!
2
500guy
Posts
12470
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
AZ US
3/27/2019 8:41am
Just look at it this way, Has anyone ever been sorry they didn't drink or do drugs?

Society has made it seem like the normal people can consume a few drinks and stop.

Reality is the majority of the population who do consume alcohol tend to do it in excess maybe not every time but more often than they should.
1
rongi#401
Posts
1635
Joined
6/20/2016
Location
southern, CA US
3/27/2019 9:57am
Some of my best moments have been while twisted on beer/weed, but I don’t know when the party’s over. Now Three months no beer weed or nicotineTongue
3
Mossy
Posts
438
Joined
7/6/2018
Location
Newport News, VA US
3/27/2019 9:59am
Mossy wrote:
After watching alcohol completely destroy family members lives growing up, it makes me feel like a complete loser when I do drink an alcoholic beverage. Nothing...
After watching alcohol completely destroy family members lives growing up, it makes me feel like a complete loser when I do drink an alcoholic beverage. Nothing good will ever come from alcohol. It won’t bring you success, it won’t positively effect you, it will make you do stupid stuff that you regret. Think of how many hundreds of thousands of lives have been ruined because of alcohol. Think of how many people are doing nothing with their lives because alcohol is holding them back. Such a shame.

I drink a lot from 16 to about the age of 20. Was going through rough times from 18-19 and did a lot of stupid stuff. A little after turning 20, I realized how dumb going out and drinking was. The road that everyone was headed towards, including me. I simply lost interest.

When I hear someone get so hyped up over chugging beer I cringe, it reminds me of a little kid getting excited over the sugar in a soda, except instead of the sugar you are excited about the alcohol. At 22 I definitely feel like the “odd one out” when around people in my age group since it’s strange that I don’t jump at the chance to “get hammered” and “shotgun beers” or take some shots. I enjoy a couple beers when I’m working in the garage, or when I go out to eat I enjoy a cold beer with my food. But I don’t drink liquor because it makes me act like a fucking idiot, as it does a lot of people. I’ve had people BEG ME to “cmon man just take 1 shot with me/us.” Why do you want me to take a shot so badly? Does it make you feel better about yourself because “everyone” is taking one? That’s the most annoying thing in the world.

If you truly enjoy the feeling of being drunk, more than when you are sober, you are extremely broken as a human being. You need to dig deep and find why you feel that way.

There’s nothing wrong with alcohol if you just genuinely enjoy a beer after work, or you look forward to cold beer, some wine, or a little captain n coke on the weekend. As long as it’s not negatively affecting your life and holding you back as a person. Sadly I feel the majority of people who drink, do it as an escape from their real life, which is a life they hate, and complain about, and do nothing to change it. They just keep drinking, making bad decisions, and escaping their problems rather than solving them.

Had to go on a decent rant there lol. After seeing first hand alcohol completely devestate my family growing up and many other people, it makes me feel strongly about the subject. It blows my mind how an ingredient in a drink can rule over so many peoples lives in such a negative way.

Please don’t take this as a “I’m better than you because I didn’t get drunk last weekend and you did” thing or something like that. Everyone has their own issues in life, and everyone makes mistakes, we are only human. We are all going through different things at different stages in life. But let’s deal with and solve our problems, headfirst, rather than use something as a coping mechanism.

For those of you that do like to drink or smoke something for the 5 or so hours every night you are free after work. Ask yourself why you do that. There are hundreds of hobbies and positively impactful things you could be doing with that time instead, that would be much more enjoyable, and even funner to look back on down the road when you are older. When you are 70, do you want to look back on your middle aged years and think of all the beer you drink after work? Or do you want to look back on how proud you were that you discovered a new passion, tried something new, or improved yourself physically and mentally? It’s never to late to start, but it will be too late, when the damage is done and you only have a couple years left.

Sorry for the book! Grinning
Motox627! wrote:
There is a lot of younger people that would benefit if they thought the way you did! I know i sure would have!
I wish a lot more did as well. It sucks when you are my age and meet new people that are also in their early 20’s, you like them and have things in common, then find out that their main hobby is getting hammered.
3/27/2019 11:31am
500guy wrote:
Just look at it this way, Has anyone ever been sorry they didn't drink or do drugs? Society has made it seem like the normal people...
Just look at it this way, Has anyone ever been sorry they didn't drink or do drugs?

Society has made it seem like the normal people can consume a few drinks and stop.

Reality is the majority of the population who do consume alcohol tend to do it in excess maybe not every time but more often than they should.
We got un-invited from a family ski trip a couple years back because I suggested everyone be sober during the trip.

There was an issue with one of the girlfriends in the the group. She caused fights with her boyfriend every time they got drunk. Nobody wanted her to go on the trip because she was drama. So her boyfriend (a blood relative of the immediate family organizing the trip) said he wasnt gonna go if his girl couldnt go.

So I suggested to the group that healthy solution would be to do the trip sober. Snowboarding is fun enough. And we could still do all the family board games in the evenings as well as the big dinners. I also pointed out that the one girl wasnt the only person who got dramatic when drunk, she was being singled out tho.

Bad move on my part I guess. My wife & I were uninvited because my 23 year old cousin threw a tantrum & said she wouldn’t go on the trip if she wasnt allowed to drink.

We didnt go on the trip. They ended up bringing the “dramatic” girlfriend. And as predicted, the entire trip was a shitshow series of drunken nights, fights between all the couples, hangovers, and vows afterwards that she had single handily ruined the family vacation.

The value people put on alcohol in their lives is incredible when you step back.
5
Motox627!
Posts
747
Joined
5/16/2018
Location
P-ville, TX US
3/27/2019 11:38am
Mossy wrote:
After watching alcohol completely destroy family members lives growing up, it makes me feel like a complete loser when I do drink an alcoholic beverage. Nothing...
After watching alcohol completely destroy family members lives growing up, it makes me feel like a complete loser when I do drink an alcoholic beverage. Nothing good will ever come from alcohol. It won’t bring you success, it won’t positively effect you, it will make you do stupid stuff that you regret. Think of how many hundreds of thousands of lives have been ruined because of alcohol. Think of how many people are doing nothing with their lives because alcohol is holding them back. Such a shame.

I drink a lot from 16 to about the age of 20. Was going through rough times from 18-19 and did a lot of stupid stuff. A little after turning 20, I realized how dumb going out and drinking was. The road that everyone was headed towards, including me. I simply lost interest.

When I hear someone get so hyped up over chugging beer I cringe, it reminds me of a little kid getting excited over the sugar in a soda, except instead of the sugar you are excited about the alcohol. At 22 I definitely feel like the “odd one out” when around people in my age group since it’s strange that I don’t jump at the chance to “get hammered” and “shotgun beers” or take some shots. I enjoy a couple beers when I’m working in the garage, or when I go out to eat I enjoy a cold beer with my food. But I don’t drink liquor because it makes me act like a fucking idiot, as it does a lot of people. I’ve had people BEG ME to “cmon man just take 1 shot with me/us.” Why do you want me to take a shot so badly? Does it make you feel better about yourself because “everyone” is taking one? That’s the most annoying thing in the world.

If you truly enjoy the feeling of being drunk, more than when you are sober, you are extremely broken as a human being. You need to dig deep and find why you feel that way.

There’s nothing wrong with alcohol if you just genuinely enjoy a beer after work, or you look forward to cold beer, some wine, or a little captain n coke on the weekend. As long as it’s not negatively affecting your life and holding you back as a person. Sadly I feel the majority of people who drink, do it as an escape from their real life, which is a life they hate, and complain about, and do nothing to change it. They just keep drinking, making bad decisions, and escaping their problems rather than solving them.

Had to go on a decent rant there lol. After seeing first hand alcohol completely devestate my family growing up and many other people, it makes me feel strongly about the subject. It blows my mind how an ingredient in a drink can rule over so many peoples lives in such a negative way.

Please don’t take this as a “I’m better than you because I didn’t get drunk last weekend and you did” thing or something like that. Everyone has their own issues in life, and everyone makes mistakes, we are only human. We are all going through different things at different stages in life. But let’s deal with and solve our problems, headfirst, rather than use something as a coping mechanism.

For those of you that do like to drink or smoke something for the 5 or so hours every night you are free after work. Ask yourself why you do that. There are hundreds of hobbies and positively impactful things you could be doing with that time instead, that would be much more enjoyable, and even funner to look back on down the road when you are older. When you are 70, do you want to look back on your middle aged years and think of all the beer you drink after work? Or do you want to look back on how proud you were that you discovered a new passion, tried something new, or improved yourself physically and mentally? It’s never to late to start, but it will be too late, when the damage is done and you only have a couple years left.

Sorry for the book! Grinning
Motox627! wrote:
There is a lot of younger people that would benefit if they thought the way you did! I know i sure would have!
Mossy wrote:
I wish a lot more did as well. It sucks when you are my age and meet new people that are also in their early 20’s...
I wish a lot more did as well. It sucks when you are my age and meet new people that are also in their early 20’s, you like them and have things in common, then find out that their main hobby is getting hammered.
Unfortunately, it also seems to come with the territory when it comes to moto..... I honestly would have been one of those fast local kids that people talk about had i not liked partying as much as i liked riding. I didn't train for shit and rode/raced hung over all the time. Learned a lot of lessons the very hard way over the years all thanks to drinking. The last few weeks without have been the best i have felt in a long time and my passion for riding more seems to be growing with that.... Good things to come me thinks.
1
Sierra Ranger
Posts
841
Joined
12/30/2018
Location
Sacramento, CA US
3/27/2019 4:48pm
500guy wrote:
Just look at it this way, Has anyone ever been sorry they didn't drink or do drugs? Society has made it seem like the normal people...
Just look at it this way, Has anyone ever been sorry they didn't drink or do drugs?

Society has made it seem like the normal people can consume a few drinks and stop.

Reality is the majority of the population who do consume alcohol tend to do it in excess maybe not every time but more often than they should.
We got un-invited from a family ski trip a couple years back because I suggested everyone be sober during the trip. There was an issue with...
We got un-invited from a family ski trip a couple years back because I suggested everyone be sober during the trip.

There was an issue with one of the girlfriends in the the group. She caused fights with her boyfriend every time they got drunk. Nobody wanted her to go on the trip because she was drama. So her boyfriend (a blood relative of the immediate family organizing the trip) said he wasnt gonna go if his girl couldnt go.

So I suggested to the group that healthy solution would be to do the trip sober. Snowboarding is fun enough. And we could still do all the family board games in the evenings as well as the big dinners. I also pointed out that the one girl wasnt the only person who got dramatic when drunk, she was being singled out tho.

Bad move on my part I guess. My wife & I were uninvited because my 23 year old cousin threw a tantrum & said she wouldn’t go on the trip if she wasnt allowed to drink.

We didnt go on the trip. They ended up bringing the “dramatic” girlfriend. And as predicted, the entire trip was a shitshow series of drunken nights, fights between all the couples, hangovers, and vows afterwards that she had single handily ruined the family vacation.

The value people put on alcohol in their lives is incredible when you step back.
When you're searching for that daily buzz escape, every other activity becomes an accessory- I know that from experience.

This thread has been awesome and is helping me a lot (not a substitute for treatment, I know). Here I am at the end of day two, and it's about 5 pm and I am having dinner and working instead of popping a beer. I have noticed a big difference already in mental clarity and less angry attitude. Not patting myself on the back yet, though-- one day at a time.
5
motogrady
Posts
3931
Joined
1/27/2008
Location
WV US
3/27/2019 5:55pm

I never really liked alcohol. Never had an issue with it.


But... I ran into an old friend awhile back. Big drinker for a long time. Into his late 30s.
Shocked to hear he stopped with the booze, I asked him why and how.

"It was messing with work, my health wasn't the best, I could go till I passed out."

Todd elaborated a bit when he said,

" And I woke up in a pitch black bedroom. It was Sunday morning. I was in a basement, I could smell the cement. I fell down 4 times before I found the door by feeling around. I did not know where I was. I did not know the house. I fell again when I started for the big patio glass door leading outside.
I then realized my pants and underwear were around my ankles. Nobody was around. I pulled my pants up, made it outside, and found I was in some strange neighborhood 8 miles from where the party was. Had to walk home. My pockets were empty. Didn't know how I got there or what happened. That was it. Haven't had a drink since."
Harry_Gray
Posts
950
Joined
10/6/2011
Location
Texoma region, OK US
3/27/2019 6:02pm
I would love to hear some stories from moto dudes (who usually have a similar mentality for me) as to how to kick it. My wife...
I would love to hear some stories from moto dudes (who usually have a similar mentality for me) as to how to kick it. My wife has laid down the law- no more nightly beers. I am not a raging drunk, but she simply won't tolerate it around anymore since my daughter is getting older. It's either beer or my family, which of course is really not a choice at all. I married in my 40s but had already established the habit.
I want to train as a substitute and improve at moto instead of showing up at the track hungover and expecting to do well. So instead of sitting down to a nightly beer session, it will be stretching working out (I hope). Easier said than done, I know.
I quit drinking heavily about four years ago; got too damn old to engage in power drinking (booze and brew). Had a tear in my aorta about two months ago; the doctor put in a mechanical aorta and prescribed me warfarin. So...no more beer/booze for me. Some days I miss beer; but I prefer being above ground.
1
BobPA
Posts
8326
Joined
10/31/2013
Location
PA US
3/27/2019 6:51pm
I drink once every month or two. Was a pretty regular drinker on the weekends...hit it hard during the week for a time too. The hangovers nearly kill me now, and I hate wasting a weekend day feeling like shit. I do not have enough time off to waste it belly up on my couch all day. Plus I had a few run ins with the law, and they will take your money as fast as any MX bike will.
2
tobias56
Posts
67
Joined
12/14/2017
Location
Hinesville, GA US
3/27/2019 8:01pm
Since I experienced painful acid flux due to alcohol intake, I've lessen and lessen my drinking. Now I'm only what is good for the heart.
lukemoto
Posts
256
Joined
8/8/2018
Location
Mukwonago, WI US
3/28/2019 3:56am
So (glad) to see I'm not the only person dealing with this. Its become a lifestyle for me as in, my friends and coworkers relationships all revolve around beer. It's tough it's so much fun going to bottle shares and going to the bars after work. My problem though is that I have a sober wife and two young boys, I know I'm not being the role model that they all deserve to have. Its expensive too!! I could have afforded soooooo many more race days/track days if this wasn't a thing in my life.
3/28/2019 9:45am Edited Date/Time 3/28/2019 9:48am
Alcohol is probably the most dangerous thing out there. It’s like the acceptable opiate without a prescription.


Not sure how to quit. Probably an individual approach for everyone. Root of the problem. Accept it. Change it. But not always that easy
2
avidchimp
Posts
5728
Joined
7/9/2008
Location
EGL, MN US
3/28/2019 10:53am
The new Heineken 0.0 "beer" is an awesome alternative. All the taste, no alcohol, and the bottle is almost identical to a regular one.
1
Mr. G
Posts
4225
Joined
12/23/2009
Location
Riverside, CA US
3/28/2019 12:01pm
Just quit. After 24 hours it gets less and less. Beer sure does taste good though
1
3/28/2019 1:43pm
In the last year I’ve had some issues of depression/etc nothing real serious i don’t think. But going back to church helped for sure. Helps give you the weekly dose of staying on a righteous course. And not to be swayed by wants and materialistic things. It’s helped me for sure.
3
Sierra Ranger
Posts
841
Joined
12/30/2018
Location
Sacramento, CA US
3/28/2019 1:48pm
lukemoto wrote:
So (glad) to see I'm not the only person dealing with this. Its become a lifestyle for me as in, my friends and coworkers relationships all...
So (glad) to see I'm not the only person dealing with this. Its become a lifestyle for me as in, my friends and coworkers relationships all revolve around beer. It's tough it's so much fun going to bottle shares and going to the bars after work. My problem though is that I have a sober wife and two young boys, I know I'm not being the role model that they all deserve to have. Its expensive too!! I could have afforded soooooo many more race days/track days if this wasn't a thing in my life.
I'm with you- a very similar situation. Remember when you take all those cool labels off, it's just a plain brown liquid. Most of the culture around drinking is illusory. I was in rock bands for many years and all my friends drank. You might try some people that don't drink so much- in 20 years your drinking buddies will likely just be doing the same thing.
We had a big drinking crew in college (I worked in restaurants, another hardcore drinking crowd). When I got a DWI in 1996 (didn't learn my lesson), I walked into the first day of my mandatory AA and there was my big drinking buddy from college. The irony was a smack in the face, but after my court-enforced AA, I was back at it. In fact, I saw hardcore alcoholics in AA that convinced me that I wasn't as bad as them.
I told my wife the same thing- I do it because it's fun and I enjoy it. She said "it's not fun. Hangovers aren't fun." Trust me, her patience will likely run out.
My Dad drank around me every day of my life (a very civilized Bourbon drinker) but still it was a huge factor in my drinking. I'm determined not to pass it along. My Dad was born in 1931, times have changed. Everybody pretty much used to get sauced in our society.
1
hillbilly
Posts
9079
Joined
8/16/2006
Location
Afton, TN US
3/28/2019 3:11pm
I quit drinking for the same reason I started drinking ,

Cause it made me feel better than I already do.
4
XXVoid MainXX
Posts
8105
Joined
5/25/2012
Location
Schenectady, NY US
3/28/2019 3:14pm
I'm not a quitter.
oldman59
Posts
249
Joined
3/25/2019
Location
Kingwood, TX US
3/28/2019 4:01pm
I would like to offer a different side for your drinking. Your wife's side. I have been married for 18yrs. Unknown to me, my wife was a closet alchoholic. The signs were probably there, but I was very naive and never experienced with it. She would drink to calm down her anxiety. I would never see her drink. She would do it out of sight and would hide the bottles of vodka or wine. Over the years, it got worse. She drank more and more. A lot of embarrasing moments of discovering that she was wasted. When I started to confront her, she would deny everything, lie and after a while, become defiant and even threaten me. She ended up in a hospital twice and rehab several times. A lot of broken promises also. One time, she left with the kids and their friends to get fireworks for July 4th. After a few minutes, they were turning back into the driveway. When I walked out to see why, my daughter was in tears. My wife was drunk and weaving all over the road, and the kids were yelling at her to go back home. I confronted her and said you’re drunk and need help. She became angry at me and as I turned to walk away, she swung and hit me on the back of the head. I just kept walking back into the house. Finally, one day, she left the house and I could tell that she had a few drinks. As the day went on, she had not returned. Then about 7pm I get a phone call with the sheriff department on my caller id. It was her. She was so drunk that she ended up out of gas in a parking lot. Some employess called the sheriff and she was arrested for public intoxication. She has now been sober for almost a year and a half. Of course, she is on probation and has to blow into a breathalyzer three times a day. Now, how your wife could end up feeling. As a spouse of an alcoholic, I can't begin to tell you how much anger has built up in me over the years. How her alcoholism has ruined years of our lives. Your wife's anger and worry is a warning that your drinking is causing problems. It's not worth it.
4
3/28/2019 5:11pm
Every Wednesday night I have a few friends over to the house for what we call shop night,My wife makes a big meal for us and after dinner,out to the shop we go.We work on bikes bench race and drink a few beers,well one friend started drinking to excess and I was having drive him home on occasion.. All the other guys and myself had enough of this guy getting drunk,So I told him he is welcome over if he doesn't drink,well he didn't like that. So he stopped coming over.
I called him a few months later and asked if he would like to come by and I would not imbibe either. He told me asking him to not come by has made his life much better and his wife thanked me for getting her husband to stop drinking. He comes by on occasion but he still feels uncomfortable around the other who still tip a few beers.
I have nearly stopped drinking,but have a beer or two over the weekend after a day of chores,seems like they taste better after getting the work done.

There is no problem that alcohol won't worse.
1
tobias56
Posts
67
Joined
12/14/2017
Location
Hinesville, GA US
3/28/2019 5:12pm
In the last year I’ve had some issues of depression/etc nothing real serious i don’t think. But going back to church helped for sure. Helps give...
In the last year I’ve had some issues of depression/etc nothing real serious i don’t think. But going back to church helped for sure. Helps give you the weekly dose of staying on a righteous course. And not to be swayed by wants and materialistic things. It’s helped me for sure.
Getting and advice from right people really helps.
1
Sierra Ranger
Posts
841
Joined
12/30/2018
Location
Sacramento, CA US
4/1/2019 8:51am
Seven days clear today- I don't plan on a bunch of updates. But I wanted people to know it's possible to just put it down.
Wife is thrilled- things aren't perfect. But there is a lot more harmony and I feel a world better physically. I don't miss it- my biggest piece of advice is get a substitute and drink that. For me it's hibiscus tea, as unmanly as that sounds. The negatives so far outweighed the positives from drinking, it's ridiculous. Thanks to those who chimed in with their experiences, I read every response, and it helped a lot.
12

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