Anybody around here actually quit drinking alcohol?

[Solon]

I'm not necessarily talking about those who had to go to AA meetings, or have a religious/moral aversion to alcohol, but those who, like me, just sort of fell out of the habit, so to speak?

I mean, I'm 26 and I haven't touched a drink since I was 21, yeah, I drank alot when I was "underage". I will say I was only a social drinker, and I never really needed it or anything, just something fun to do with friends. Also another thing, even now when I go to parties, I can't stand the stuff, I use to drink, almost exclusively, hard liquor, and now I can hardly stand the smell of it. Just makes me feel sick.

ON EDIT: Just so nobody thinks I'm raining on anyones parade, friends love me, I'm the designated driver, and believe me, I get entertained enough by their antics when their drunk. ;)

[Alisa]

1. Well, I have been sober 30 years - AA type

you said "not necessarily" so I thought I still could write in. :-)

[Phillycat]

2. Me too--not 30 years, but the "AA type" part. :)

[motely36]

3. I stopped drinking about 5 years ago

just don't see the point anymore.

I used to go out and drink a couple times a month. I was never a huge drinker. Now, I figure if I did have a drink, I'd be under the table, so I just don;t bother. I can have enough fun without it.

[Solon]

7. That is exactly it...

also when you go out with friends, you get to make fun of them afterwards. That's always fun.

[motely36]

That's always good for a laugh

Plus I can drive if need be

[IronLionZion]

4. nope, I'm 21

I quit smoking weed though

[flakey_foont]

5. I stopped drinking 19 years ago

cold turkey...have never been to AA...
it can be done

[Solon]

12. I don't really view it as a accomplishment...

I think some people are vulnerable to this type of addiction and others are not, I'm simply can't get addicted to alcohol. Never was a big deal when I was drinking, never was a big deal afterwards either. So when I say I quit, its kind of like saying I quit drinking tea or something, and not the "special" type of tea either. ;)

[kittycat1164]

6. I don't drink

and not for any reason 'cept I don't like anything much. I think we all (as humans) have a certain limit that we can drink in a lifetime. I just reached my quota in college. :beer:

[supernova]

8. I've cut way down

I never drank that much to start with. Although, due to intense shyness, I'd go to parties and get very drunk when I was in my 20s.

Now, although I still enjoy a glass or two of wine occasionally, I don't enjoy the hangover and fatigue the next day.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

9. I've never had a drink in my life...except for church wine.

I've got alcoholics on all sides though, so I have a different motivation than just falling out of the habit.

[rainy]

10. I stopped drinking because of hypoglycemia......

a sugar imbalance. I had nightmare's when I drank and I had 3 day hangovers. I stopped drinking and the nightmares went away and of course no more hangovers.

[Solon]

13. That's another thing...

I have never suffered a hangover, I mean I would binge an all nighter, drink several types of liquor, from Tequila and Jim Bean to Everclear, and would wake the next afternoon a little chilled, which was weird, and that was it.

[Ron Green]

11. I quit last night about 10, but I'll have me some more tonight.

[On the Road]

14. Actually,

No.

Although I do drink less in an evening than I used to, given the chance. A couple of beers and I don't really care for another one most of the time.

[Magrittes Pipe]

15. I quit drinking every day.

I don't start again until the next day.

[tridim]

16. I average about 10 drinks a year..

I got my heavy drinking out of the way in college (heavy being a relative term, I probably drank 1/100th of the average frat boy).. I continue to prefer herbal intoxicants because there's no hangover.

[China_cat]

17. Not AA but not 'fell out of the habit' either

Quit when I started barfing blood every time I drank anything with alcohol in it.

[Tikki]

18. In honor of my son who has been...

clean and sober 1 year and three months, I decided to drink no more alcohol, ever. Never did drink much, anyway. It's symbolic, but it is another way I can support him.


Tikki

[Left Is Write]

19. I never drank during my pregnancies, and had only an

occasional glass of wine when my babies were nursing (and then only when they had started solids too).

I don't drink hard liquor much. A Grey Goose martini once in a while as a treat, or an occasional margarita in the summer, but even then I have to stick to one or I get a headache. Had a couple White Russians last weekend - and that reminded me why I hadn't had any White Russians in a few years! :D

I really like good beers and good wines. I drink them for the enjoyment of the beverage, rather than as a vehicle for getting buzzed. I hate getting drunk, so that's a state of being that I actively avoid.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

20. Hi.

March 27th 1998, 3:30am. Last drink.

[jonnyblitz]

21. I stopped awhile back. I drink on rare occasions though.

The last time I drank was the DU gathering in Boston for the DEM convention last summer. It threw my system off for about a week. My body doesn't process alcohol well. I stick to smokin weed if I want to alter my state.

[Dzimbowicz]

22. I stopped drinking alcohol about seven years ago

because I finally realized how crappy it made me feel, especially the day after. I will have a glass of wine (or beer) with a meal if I am served one as a guest in someone's home.

[billyskank]

23. Drinking gave me up

Slowly petered out, until I was hardly drinking anything. Then I got religion and dried out completely. Sobriety isn't so bad though!

[Debi]

24. Quit because my spouse needed to quit

W/help of treatment and AA he's sober
Really didn't think I needed to be drinking if he wasn't.

Don't miss it - don't miss hangovers - don't miss empty wallet at end of evening - don't miss :puke:

Hmmmm why the hell did I drink?

[Champ]

27. oh year another reason why I hated getting wasted

I ALWAYS lost stuff, that is why if I do drink it will only be until a little after I start to feel the effects. I have to be able to focus on the surroundings around me and be able to walk, if I'm not able too, I'm not enjoying myself. But man did I hate loosing stuff that I have no memory of what I might've done with it.

[Debi]

31. Yeah...like my virginity...

Joking....I'm JOKING

[Champ]

25. I was never really addicted to it

Every now and then I may drink if alcohol is available and I have no important things to attend to the following morning. I could care less if I have a drink(70% of alcohol beverages are :puke:) or not, I have never attempted to get alcohol when it wasn't available. Most of the time I just drink til I hit that stage of euphoria or "buzzed" and just relax off that. I don't drink to the point where(I have though in my lifetime) I can barely walk, I no longer make perfect sense when I speak, I'm on the verge of passing out at any moment. I hate drinking to that stage, it completely wastes the intoxicating effect when you're unable to focus on anything, vision is blury, and you're completely unaware of the words that are coming out of your mouth. Once you do get to stage all you can really do is go to sleep and wake up with a splitting hangover. My point, I have never felt like I NEEDED to get intoxicated by alcohol and only did it when it was available and it was something to do. I haven't had a drink in 1-2 months and quit drinking hard liquor, most of it tastes sick and I feel like I have to puke after a shot, plus it can really f* up your liver.

When it comes to :smoke: however, you'll have to keep me locked up in a room with no windows or doors to keep me away from that stuff :P

[Nicole]

26. I quit 7 years ago

when I quit smoking. Everytime I drank I wanted a cigarette. So it had to be quit both or neither.

I have saved a ton of money by quitting both.

[Champ]

29. Especially on cigarettes

The average smoker I know smokes about a pack or less a day, either way they likely have to buy a new pack everyday. The most recognizable brands such as Marlboro, Camel, GPC, etc cost around $4.00 more or less depending on what store you go too. That is about $30 including a week, $120 over a month, and $1440 over a year. It is incredible to imagine how much $$ of smoke entered into your lungs if you continue this habit for a long period in your life.

[Nicole]

32. it adds up to a lot

I smoked at least a pack a day for 20 years.

[Nikia]

28. I drink maybe a couple times per year now

I never drank more than a couple times per month to begin with though. Unless I am in the right mood with the right amount, it isn't all that fun anyway. I'll drink if other people are drinking for a special occaision, but I am better off without it.

[bearfan454]

30. I quit in July

It was felony related because I was so fucked up. I kind of like being able to go to sleep on my own.

[Carson]

33. Like you, I drank a lot from the ages of 18-21

but now, at age 30, I honestly cannot remember the last drink I had. I think it may have been Halloween 2003.

It wasn't really a conscious choice, but rather I'm not into the party and/or bar scene any longer, and I've never been one to keep alcohol in my house. I have also never been one to use it to "unwind."

I guess, basically, what I'm saying is drinking has never really been part of my life, so I don't miss it or even think about it.

[forgethell]

34. No, but

on the other hand, I didn't ever take a drink until I was over 30.

Bushmill's is my tipple. And a beer with supper, for my heart.

Oh, and eggnog, this time of year!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS:toast: