Ever give up Booze?

[svmariane]

So one month I decided to quit drinking booze.

Not forever, mind you. Just taking a bit of a break. Here's a few thoughts about the experience.

I think that most people only expect someone to quit drinking if they have a serious problem, and it's gotten really bad. But that's simply not always true. Could be something as basic as living on a fixed income and the powers-that-be raise the sin taxes beyond comfort level. Could be that booze would adversely interfere with some prescription medication. Could be that... Hey, you know what - It's actually none of their bleeding business. Why did I feel the need to explain? Silly, that.

But lots of folk reacted by saying something like: "Oh really? I don't recall ever seeing you drunk." They would then look at me funny for a moment and say, "Oh. I get it. I've never seen you sober before this, have I?"

Anyway, I discovered the only thing {besides boats} I had in common with the people I drank with was drinking. And my experience was that people constantly tried to get me to drink. "One beer doesn't count" they'd say. Yeah. Right. Ever hear the expression "One is too many and a thousand isn't enough"?

But continuing on the sober path means you slowly end up not being invited to social occasions. It seems you're not as much fun anymore. It's like going through a divorce... you have to get a new set of friends.

So I started telling folk that I'd switched to weed and that yes, I'm high right now. That, in a country where one little rollie will fetch a year in jail.

My situation eventually returned to normal - give me that "Cold One" when the sun gets beneath the yardarm! And you know what? Next visit to the boatyard I might just move that flipping yardarm a few meters higher up the mast!



Lessons Learned: Much respect and total acceptance of anyone else's decision to quit the booze. They need a friend. The LAST things they need are additional problems from inept acquaintances.

[oldragbaggers]

I totally understand what you are saying, and we have had the experience. My husband and I go through phases and occasionally give up alcohol for periods of time. We used to belong to a yacht club that was the hardest core bunch of drinkers I have ever seen in my life. We used to call it a drinking club with a boating problem. Lots of parties....good times if you're drinking. But we found we had to stay away from the clubhouse entirely when we were not drinking, which was hard to do because you were required to spend a certain amount of money per quarter on food and drink. You couldn't go in the door without someone trying to shove a drink in your hand. We finally left the club.

[jackdale]

I consciously gave up booze for 2 months when I am recovering from surgery and was taking antibiotics and analgesics. That was twice in the past couple of years.

When I am offshore I will have a glass of wine or a Scotch about 2 a week.

When quit smoking over 40 years ago, I also stopped drinking for about a year

My beer is usually associated with playing squash; I have a couple after a match. Several of the guys with whom I play are Muslim, they are not excluded because they do not drink.

I have wine with dinner.

My father was a rip roaring alcoholic who drank his pay cheque.

[Rustic Charm]

Well, I'm an Aussie so you probably know what booze is to us. I've never been a big drinker. I only drink beer at work, usually during lunch break, just a pint. But it's purely to socialise. I'd never drink on my own. And I don't drink beer through winter. At home I'll have a cider.

I've never felt in my circle of work mates any push to drink. Most of them are women and they can certainly drink me under the table. And we have one guy who's a tea totaller, who drinks lemonade. But he's always invited out with the rest of us. He leaves before the silly stuff happens.

Now on my boat, I will usually have a port or a coke and rum each night. Again, just the one. But that's a feeling of it being a silly cultural thing.

I've contemplated not drinking at all, but that's a weight context. Beer is terrible if you want to loose weight and I need to loose some.

[SaltyMonkey]

I'm glad you brought this up.

I gave up drinking around 16-17 years ago, not because i had any issue, but because I've seen too many of my friends and acquaintances destroy their lives or die from it. It is terrifying and painful to watch. Drugs are whole different topic -- how it's destroyed people.

Abstaining from booze is my way of remembering and respecting them.

I don't miss it one bit.

It is very awkward though and I do get pissed off when people drink in a work environment. Honestly, I'd be one for prohibition. People would be a lot happier than they think.

Tough being in a sailing community, because that's all people do

Sail => drink => sail => drink => sail & drink => drink some more....

[Rustic Charm]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

I'm glad you brought this up.

I gave up drinking around 16-17 years ago, not because i had any issue, but because I've seen too many of my friends and acquaintances destroy their lives or die from it. It is terrifying and painful to watch. Drugs are whole different topic -- how it's destroyed people.

Abstaining from booze is my way of remembering and respecting them.

I don't miss it one bit.

It is very awkward though and I do get pissed off when people drink in a work environment. Honestly, I'd be one for prohibition. People would be a lot happier than they think.

Tough being in a sailing community, because that's all people do

Sail => drink => sex => sail => drink => sex => sail & drink => drink some more....

Do you think people were happier during the prohibition years?

[wayne.b]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

Do you think people were happier during the prohibition years?

===

It gave a lot of people a common cause, and created a number of entrprenurial opportunities for those with boats.

[svmariane]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

Well, I'm an Aussie so you probably know what booze is to us. I've never been a big drinker. I only drink beer at work.....

This is SOOoooooo tempting! Might have to switch it to the joke thread.

[Siberianhusky]

I gave it up about a year and a half ago. Was never much of a drinker. Didn't really enjoy it much, would only drink vodka because it has no taste.
Pretty expensive hobby in Canada anyway! Can buy a barrel oil oil for less than 24 beers.

[svmariane]

Originally Posted by SaltyMonkey

I'm glad you brought this up.

I gave up drinking around 16-17 years ago, not because i had any issue, but because I've seen too many of my friends and acquaintances destroy their lives or die from it. It is terrifying and painful to watch. Drugs are whole different topic -- how it's destroyed people.

Abstaining from booze is my way of remembering and respecting them.

I don't miss it one bit.

It is very awkward though and I do get pissed off when people drink in a work environment. Honestly, I'd be one for prohibition. People would be a lot happier than they think.

Tough being in a sailing community, because that's all people do

Sail => drink => sail => drink => sail & drink => drink some more....

Yeah.... This I know. A husband and wife in Ensenada, Mexico.... she literally drank a fifth of booze a night - and died. He didn't have anyone nagging about taking his heart medicine - and he died. Left behind a beautiful sailboat that slowly fell to pieces because nobody was taking care of her. I count that as three deaths.

Here in Pago Pago we've had three single-handers - all guys, mid-sixties, say - die from the booze during roughly the last 18 months. Well.... Pretty rough on them, anyway. The family flew in and took over one boat. Another sank at the dock - and stayed underwater for months for a total loss. Third boat just disappeared & I haven't a clue where/why/whatever.

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

Well, I'm an Aussie so you probably know what booze is to us.

Apparently the younger generations tend towards being ratbag binge drinkers rather than the old time ten middy a day drinkers so we have fallen well down the list re average annual consumption. Sad days for the brewers.

[SaltyMonkey]

Originally Posted by Rustic Charm

Do you think people were happier during the prohibition years?

That's not the question. The question is whether they had the potential to be happier and I'd have to say yes. Drugs and alcohol never leads to permanent happiness. It's a lie

[SaltyMonkey]

Originally Posted by svmariane

Yeah.... This I know. A husband and wife in Ensenada, Mexico.... she literally drank a fifth of booze a night - and died. He didn't have anyone nagging about taking his heart medicine - and he died. Left behind a beautiful sailboat that slowly fell to pieces because nobody was taking care of her. I count that as three deaths.

Here in Pago Pago we've had three single-handers - all guys, mid-sixties, say - die from the booze during roughly the last 18 months. Well.... Pretty rough on them, anyway. The family flew in and took over one boat. Another sank at the dock - and stayed underwater for months for a total loss. Third boat just disappeared & I haven't a clue where/why/whatever.

Wow. Terrifying. Thanks for this reality. I wonder how many of these hidden stories are out there on the road.

[carstenb]

I don't have a drinking problem. I drink, get drunk, fall down - no problem

[nhschneider]

I'm not sure what this has to do with cruising and sailing except that a lot of cruisers and sailors drink - many beyond recommended amounts - but drinking is very common, especially when people congregate in like-minded groups.

Years ago, I read that if you had four or more drinks per day you were considered an alcoholic (among other 'tests' like do you drink alone? Do you lie about your drinking? Do you spend more money on booze than food? Has your drinking ever caused a problem?). Even though I 'failed' the other tests, at the time, I would often have a beer after work, perhaps a glass of wine with dinner, maybe 2 and sometimes a glass of cognac afterwards. I was never drunk but approaching the 4 drinks per day so I decided I needed to see if I was, in fact, an alcoholic. One of the other tests is 'Can you quit?' So I quit - for seven years - didn't have a drop.

Now I drink about the same amount as I did before but I make certain that I never have more than four drinks in a 24-hour period. My wife and I never drink when we're underway - even for extended passages. It doesn't appeal to us when we're sailing. And you all wondered if there was something wrong with me! There it is! I don't drink while sailing!

Fair winds and calm seas.