Question for those who quit drinking, permanently or even temporarily:

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I more noticed how often some of my friends drink. It had become normal to me since I was a heavy drinker. Now I see them drinking 20-30 drinks a week and WOW.

I don’t believe this unless you're spending every evening with them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh good, we haven't had a judgemental, holier than thou alcohol is evil post in day or two. Are are you really bothered by ads for alcohol, OP, or is this work you're paid to do by the cannabis industry? If the former, you must have a lot of extra time on your hands for such an unimportant post.

Why are you so defensive?

Studies show that more than a third of Americans are trying to cut back on the amount of alcohol they drink. Questioning advertising is legitimate and important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh good, we haven't had a judgemental, holier than thou alcohol is evil post in day or two. Are are you really bothered by ads for alcohol, OP, or is this work you're paid to do by the cannabis industry? If the former, you must have a lot of extra time on your hands for such a unimportant post.

I am the 16:08 and 17:30 PP who doesn't drink, but can be found holding what looks like a "drink."

To this other PP, seriously I think no one is casting judgment. OP started a post aimed at people who aren't drinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Husband and I are currently temp abstaining from alcohol. We will certainly drink again at some point, so we are not looking at this as some alcohol is evil or we'll never touch it again or judge those who drink it. Anyways, is it just us or once you're sober for a few weeks you start to truly realize how booze and beer are thrown in your face CONSTANTLY by media, restaurants, and sporting events? Every show, every movie, every other song on the radio, every podcast, every other commercial, magazine and online ads. Even influencer moms on social media seem to be constantly boozing or pushing some "cute" cocktail. Celebrity and athlete endorsements. Alcohol is pushed on the masses from EVERY direction. It feels like a full on propaganda to coerce you to drink. It makes alcohol seem so... gross and sleazy?

I very rarely drink, but I actually don't notice this at all. It may be happening, but I don't notice. I wonder if this is part of your alcohol withdrawal experience, that it's on your mind as your brain tries to convince you to have a drink.

[Anonymous]

10% of drinkers drink 50% of the alcohol sold in the US

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh good, we haven't had a judgemental, holier than thou alcohol is evil post in day or two. Are are you really bothered by ads for alcohol, OP, or is this work you're paid to do by the cannabis industry? If the former, you must have a lot of extra time on your hands for such an unimportant post.

Why are you so defensive?

Studies show that more than a third of Americans are trying to cut back on the amount of alcohol they drink. Questioning advertising is legitimate and important.

Well, if a third of Americans are reportedly trying to cut back on drinking, then I guess we'll see even more ads. So what? We all have free will. It's like saying you never noticed how many Coca Cola ads that are. Who cares?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Its been a while now for me.

Personally, the biggest issue is avoiding people knowing that I'm not drinking. It can lead to people assuming judgment, when that is not at all the case.

If I go to a bar event, I will go up to another bar myself in advance, to get a club soda with lime.

If I am at an event involving a wristband, I will buy the wristband even though I don't intend to drink.

Sometimes though, its unavoidable. One of my MIL knows and its somewhat uncomfortable for the topic to keep coming up..

At the same time, I am more and more happy as time goes on with not drinking. Better all around.

Why are you ashamed of it? I don’t drink and it’s a nonissue, not something to hide.

I am this PP and am definitely in no way ashamed of not drinking, whatsoever.

At the same time, I like to avoid being grilled on it... avoid having assumptions made... avoid having to filter my responses to questions about my personal reasons for not drinking...etc.

I am the alcoholic a few posts above. No one wants to hear your deep thoughts, no matter what your reasons are. I recommend having some one-liner responses you are comfortable with and can roll out that are both true and surface-level, then ask the person an unrelated question. There are many:

“On a health kick”
“I feel so much better without it”
“Allergic”
“Busy day at work tomorrow”
“I’m driving”
“Doesn’t mix with one of my medications”
“Watching my waistline”
“Dry January” “sober October”
“I’m taking a break from alcohol”
“Keto/carbs/whatever”

People won’t make a big deal if you don’t. I don’t advertise my issues with alcohol to acquaintances IRL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh good, we haven't had a judgemental, holier than thou alcohol is evil post in day or two. Are are you really bothered by ads for alcohol, OP, or is this work you're paid to do by the cannabis industry? If the former, you must have a lot of extra time on your hands for such an unimportant post.

Why are you so defensive?

Studies show that more than a third of Americans are trying to cut back on the amount of alcohol they drink. Questioning advertising is legitimate and important.

Well, if a third of Americans are reportedly trying to cut back on drinking, then I guess we'll see even more ads. So what? We all have free will. It's like saying you never noticed how many Coca Cola ads that are. Who cares?

Alcohol is an addictive substance that is very damaging. It kills hundreds of thousands of people annually. It kills innocent people through accidents. Lots of people care.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh good, we haven't had a judgemental, holier than thou alcohol is evil post in day or two. Are are you really bothered by ads for alcohol, OP, or is this work you're paid to do by the cannabis industry? If the former, you must have a lot of extra time on your hands for such a unimportant post.

Oh good, we haven't had a defensive addict trying to derail an otherwise functional, informative thread with their projections and attacks in a day or two.

Go sink back into your cups, pp. The rest of us are having a conversation you can't handle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Husband and I are currently temp abstaining from alcohol. We will certainly drink again at some point, so we are not looking at this as some alcohol is evil or we'll never touch it again or judge those who drink it. Anyways, is it just us or once you're sober for a few weeks you start to truly realize how booze and beer are thrown in your face CONSTANTLY by media, restaurants, and sporting events? Every show, every movie, every other song on the radio, every podcast, every other commercial, magazine and online ads. Even influencer moms on social media seem to be constantly boozing or pushing some "cute" cocktail. Celebrity and athlete endorsements. Alcohol is pushed on the masses from EVERY direction. It feels like a full on propaganda to coerce you to drink. It makes alcohol seem so... gross and sleazy?

You're right that it's everywhere.

And it is gross, and sleazy. Now ask yourself why, and why you are only "temp abstaining" and "will certainly drink again at some point".

It doesn't have to be "evil" to be useless, and acknowledging that isn't inherently judging those who use.

And you're not "sober", btw. You're dry. Barely.

[Anonymous]

The "I am on an antibiotic" and "doesn't mix with a medication I am on" lines are true for us. DH stopped maybe 3 years ago, sigh. I stopped a month or two ago because my statin really does make me feel icky after even one drink. Sigh. I did love those Premiere Cru Burgundies and Champagne.

Anyway those are perfectly fine lines to use

[Anonymous]

The thing that bugs me the most is when people feel the need to talk about the fact that I no longer drink. Like seriously, everyone needs to find a better topic of conversation. I don't mind if someone notices or whatever, but I cannot tell you how many drunk people have spent the whole evening wanting to talk to me about the fact that I no longer drink (it's not something I miss or crave, but it gets really old being reminded that people consider it strange).

[Anonymous]

What if you just say it doesn't agree with me. It doesn't agree with with my meds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel the same way about junk food. Why as a society do we encourage people to eat large amounts of shitty food from birth? It’s so self-defeating.

Yes, sugar for the kids and alcohol for the grownups. Every holiday is a sugar bonanza for the kids and a reason to drink for adults. The entire football season is beer drinking season. Alcohol is everywhere. It’s really crazy.

[Anonymous]

Well... They closed schools for COVID. However, the ABC stores started doing drive up.