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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/may/17/what-its-like-to-quit-drinking-alcoholic-drinks
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| What it's like to quit drinking, by those who've done it – or are trying | What it's like to quit drinking, by those who've done it – or are trying |
| (4 months later) | |
| Brits’ relationship with alcohol has come under the spotlight, with experts calling for warnings on all alcohol – and saying that men in particular refuse to believe the risks. This comes as data shows that millions of middle-aged men drink more than is recommended in new government guidelines – the limit was lowered in January for men from 21 units a week to 14, the same as women. | Brits’ relationship with alcohol has come under the spotlight, with experts calling for warnings on all alcohol – and saying that men in particular refuse to believe the risks. This comes as data shows that millions of middle-aged men drink more than is recommended in new government guidelines – the limit was lowered in January for men from 21 units a week to 14, the same as women. |
| For some, their relationship with alcohol is such that they decide to stop drinking completely, either for life or for a few months. This can be for a variety of reasons – to tackle more severe problems such as alcoholism or simply for better health. | For some, their relationship with alcohol is such that they decide to stop drinking completely, either for life or for a few months. This can be for a variety of reasons – to tackle more severe problems such as alcoholism or simply for better health. |
| We spoke to five people about the moment they decided to quit, and how hard it was. Here are their stories. | We spoke to five people about the moment they decided to quit, and how hard it was. Here are their stories. |
| Steve Craftman, south Wales: I never feel more alone than when I’m with a group of partying drunks | Steve Craftman, south Wales: I never feel more alone than when I’m with a group of partying drunks |
| I’ve had a long relationship with alcohol – but learning I was HIV positive in 1987 made my drinking worse. I thought I wouldn’t need my liver much longer because at that time being diagnosed with HIV gave you only a few years to live. | I’ve had a long relationship with alcohol – but learning I was HIV positive in 1987 made my drinking worse. I thought I wouldn’t need my liver much longer because at that time being diagnosed with HIV gave you only a few years to live. |
| But I just kept on living. Then last year I had to get a liver scan after my doctor noticed some problems. I had been through a particularly rough patch and was drinking heavily: I would consume about 20 units a day. It was just before the scan that I stopped drinking. I stupidly thought that giving up then would improve the results. | But I just kept on living. Then last year I had to get a liver scan after my doctor noticed some problems. I had been through a particularly rough patch and was drinking heavily: I would consume about 20 units a day. It was just before the scan that I stopped drinking. I stupidly thought that giving up then would improve the results. |
| It didn’t. The scan confirmed cirrhosis, and I pretended that I could have the occasional drink at an appropriate moment. Despite some fairly major landmarks over the years, there hasn’t been an appropriate moment. On my last drinking day I had the remains of a bottle of Southern Comfort, leftover from Christmas, and then finished it off with a bottle of cider. | It didn’t. The scan confirmed cirrhosis, and I pretended that I could have the occasional drink at an appropriate moment. Despite some fairly major landmarks over the years, there hasn’t been an appropriate moment. On my last drinking day I had the remains of a bottle of Southern Comfort, leftover from Christmas, and then finished it off with a bottle of cider. |
| I would advise anyone else to stop drinking under medical supervision (something I didn’t do) because of the risk of withdrawal symptoms. I didn’t find it too hard, and had no physical symptoms. After I had my last cider I just stopped and bought a load of ginger beer. | I would advise anyone else to stop drinking under medical supervision (something I didn’t do) because of the risk of withdrawal symptoms. I didn’t find it too hard, and had no physical symptoms. After I had my last cider I just stopped and bought a load of ginger beer. |
| Since I stopped, I never feel more alone as when I’m with a group of partying drunks. They talk nonsense, their emotional reactions are out of control, and they’re just very wearing. Thankfully, I stopped just at the right time, as the last scan showed that the cirrhosis had not got any worse. | Since I stopped, I never feel more alone as when I’m with a group of partying drunks. They talk nonsense, their emotional reactions are out of control, and they’re just very wearing. Thankfully, I stopped just at the right time, as the last scan showed that the cirrhosis had not got any worse. |
| Max Dalda Müller, Somerset: I was drinking 15-20 cans of Special Brew a day | Max Dalda Müller, Somerset: I was drinking 15-20 cans of Special Brew a day |
| I drank excessively from the moment I had my first drink aged 13. Twenty years later, I still didn’t think I had a problem. I thought I drank because I was anxious or depressed, because my girlfriend left me, because my football team lost (or won), any excuse was valid in my mind. I drank because it was a social thing; if I didn’t then I thought I would be ostracised, not invited to parties and events. | I drank excessively from the moment I had my first drink aged 13. Twenty years later, I still didn’t think I had a problem. I thought I drank because I was anxious or depressed, because my girlfriend left me, because my football team lost (or won), any excuse was valid in my mind. I drank because it was a social thing; if I didn’t then I thought I would be ostracised, not invited to parties and events. |
| But my drinking affected my professional and personal life and I was unable to hold down jobs or relationships. At one point I was evicted and ended up sleeping rough on the streets in London. I begged for beer money and would drink between 15 and 20 cans of Special Brew a day. I was physically and emotionally broken, close to suicide. | But my drinking affected my professional and personal life and I was unable to hold down jobs or relationships. At one point I was evicted and ended up sleeping rough on the streets in London. I begged for beer money and would drink between 15 and 20 cans of Special Brew a day. I was physically and emotionally broken, close to suicide. |
| Then a miracle happened: a police community support officer in north London challenged me for begging outside a shop and I broke down and told him my story. He said he could help and put me in touch with a charity called the Pilion Trust. They got me funding to go into detox and eventually I got myself into a rehab centre. This was nine years ago and I haven’t had a drink since. | Then a miracle happened: a police community support officer in north London challenged me for begging outside a shop and I broke down and told him my story. He said he could help and put me in touch with a charity called the Pilion Trust. They got me funding to go into detox and eventually I got myself into a rehab centre. This was nine years ago and I haven’t had a drink since. |
| After treatment, I trained as a counsellor and teacher and now support people who are going through similar experiences. Since I stopped drinking, I haven’t felt the same fear, anxiety and depression as before. I now embrace my emotions rather than fight them. | After treatment, I trained as a counsellor and teacher and now support people who are going through similar experiences. Since I stopped drinking, I haven’t felt the same fear, anxiety and depression as before. I now embrace my emotions rather than fight them. |
| Life in recovery has been amazing: I have a lovely partner and three wonderful children. We do struggle with life’s challenges and at times things get tricky. But I can cope with them now. | Life in recovery has been amazing: I have a lovely partner and three wonderful children. We do struggle with life’s challenges and at times things get tricky. But I can cope with them now. |
| Charlie Doeg-Smith Dundee: I intend to give up for good but I know it won’t be easy | Charlie Doeg-Smith Dundee: I intend to give up for good but I know it won’t be easy |
| I had my last alcoholic drink on 27 December last year. I reckon I’ve saved (or not spent) more than £1,000 in that time. However, my primary reason for stopping wasn’t financial, it was for my health. | I had my last alcoholic drink on 27 December last year. I reckon I’ve saved (or not spent) more than £1,000 in that time. However, my primary reason for stopping wasn’t financial, it was for my health. |
| I don’t think I am an alcoholic, but I might have been heading that way. I used to have a beer and wine most days of the week and not a day went by in 2015 when I didn’t have something alcoholic. | I don’t think I am an alcoholic, but I might have been heading that way. I used to have a beer and wine most days of the week and not a day went by in 2015 when I didn’t have something alcoholic. |
| I don’t have the strength of character or the willpower to moderate my alcoholic intake or to limit the days I drink. Giving up altogether is the only way forward for me, and so far I am not regretting my decision. | I don’t have the strength of character or the willpower to moderate my alcoholic intake or to limit the days I drink. Giving up altogether is the only way forward for me, and so far I am not regretting my decision. |
| What is so obvious now is how big a part alcohol plays in our society. According to the drinks companies and their marketing departments it seems that alcohol must be purchased and consumed if a social event is to be a success. I intend to give up for good but I know that it will not be easy, so only time will tell. | What is so obvious now is how big a part alcohol plays in our society. According to the drinks companies and their marketing departments it seems that alcohol must be purchased and consumed if a social event is to be a success. I intend to give up for good but I know that it will not be easy, so only time will tell. |
| Kristy, Colombia: I hated not being able to remember what had happened | Kristy, Colombia: I hated not being able to remember what had happened |
| I stopped drinking alcohol on 19 December, 2015, so I am coming up to six months of sobriety. | I stopped drinking alcohol on 19 December, 2015, so I am coming up to six months of sobriety. |
| To give you some background, I love alcohol: talking about it with people who know their stuff, whether it’s a well-crafted cocktail or a straight tequila. I love a Sunday morning bloody mary. I work as a tour guide and so am always being invited to drinks. Also, at least 60% of my friends are bartenders or work in hospitality. | To give you some background, I love alcohol: talking about it with people who know their stuff, whether it’s a well-crafted cocktail or a straight tequila. I love a Sunday morning bloody mary. I work as a tour guide and so am always being invited to drinks. Also, at least 60% of my friends are bartenders or work in hospitality. |
| And I have a modern-day super power: I ’ve never got hangovers. So I’ve never really had much motivation to not drink. | And I have a modern-day super power: I ’ve never got hangovers. So I’ve never really had much motivation to not drink. |
| So why did I quit? The reason came on 19 December. The night before I had been at a wedding. I arrived late to the wedding after working on a tour for a demanding family all day. By the time I got there, all the other guests were happily merry, and I was forced to play catch-up on an empty stomach. | So why did I quit? The reason came on 19 December. The night before I had been at a wedding. I arrived late to the wedding after working on a tour for a demanding family all day. By the time I got there, all the other guests were happily merry, and I was forced to play catch-up on an empty stomach. |
| I had a really fun time, danced my brains out, met a bunch of new people, and somehow made it home. Nothing really bad happened. I wasn’t the drunkest person at the wedding by any means, and no one would have made any comment on my behaviour. But the following day, I kept running into people I had apparently met at the wedding. They made references to conversations we had had, and I couldn’t remember any of them. I hated that feeling. What is the point of drinking to have a fun time if you don’t remember it? | I had a really fun time, danced my brains out, met a bunch of new people, and somehow made it home. Nothing really bad happened. I wasn’t the drunkest person at the wedding by any means, and no one would have made any comment on my behaviour. But the following day, I kept running into people I had apparently met at the wedding. They made references to conversations we had had, and I couldn’t remember any of them. I hated that feeling. What is the point of drinking to have a fun time if you don’t remember it? |
| I have made a personal commitment to at least a year of sobriety. It’s nice to make connections while I’m out and be able to remember them and the conversations you’ve had the next day. | I have made a personal commitment to at least a year of sobriety. It’s nice to make connections while I’m out and be able to remember them and the conversations you’ve had the next day. |
| Anonymous, London: I managed to pull myself back from the brink | Anonymous, London: I managed to pull myself back from the brink |
| I reached the end of my tether in 2012 and decided to get sober. I nearly died as a result of alcoholism and drug addiction. I wasn’t taking care of myself, not eating or sleeping properly. | I reached the end of my tether in 2012 and decided to get sober. I nearly died as a result of alcoholism and drug addiction. I wasn’t taking care of myself, not eating or sleeping properly. |
| After staring at the abyss for a while, I managed to pull myself back and, with the appropriate help and support, I turned my life around. I had tried loads of different approaches until I came across one what worked for me: Alcohol Anonymous’ 12-step recovery. And I’ve never looked back. | After staring at the abyss for a while, I managed to pull myself back and, with the appropriate help and support, I turned my life around. I had tried loads of different approaches until I came across one what worked for me: Alcohol Anonymous’ 12-step recovery. And I’ve never looked back. |
| I feel blessed today for taking that decision almost four years ago now. Stopping drinking was the catalyst that allowed me to successfully transition my gender. When I was drinking excessively and taking lots of drugs, transitioning felt like a fantasy rather than reality. I was on a journey of self-discovery, but drugs were a hindrance to that. And while alcohol initially gave me much-needed confidence, it eventually stopped me from fully being myself. | I feel blessed today for taking that decision almost four years ago now. Stopping drinking was the catalyst that allowed me to successfully transition my gender. When I was drinking excessively and taking lots of drugs, transitioning felt like a fantasy rather than reality. I was on a journey of self-discovery, but drugs were a hindrance to that. And while alcohol initially gave me much-needed confidence, it eventually stopped me from fully being myself. |
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