Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 19:11     Subject: Surprising effects of stopping drinking

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Anyone who does a dry January gets a side eye from me for probably having a drinking problem. I think needing to make not drinking for a whole month your personality is a red flag.


What a stupid comment. I went to an event last week and almost everyone there was doing dry January. I guess lots of people have a drinking problem.


Was it an AA meeting?


It's probably true. I am a lobbyist and went to an industry event late last week and a surprising number of people were doing dry january. And enjoying asking the bartenders for mocktails.


People dumb enough to pay high prices for mocktails have a screw loose. Drink seltzer water.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 17:59     Subject: Surprising effects of stopping drinking

Anonymous wrote:I stopped drinking 5 months ago and an effect I wasn't totally expecting is that my SSRI is much more effective at reducing my anxiety when I am not drinking.


Same. And my PPI prescription is reduced now.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 17:20     Subject: Surprising effects of stopping drinking

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:How many drinks a week were you drinking?
Are you a woman?


OP here. I typically would drink Thursday-Sunday and have nothing M, T. W. Maybe 1-2 drinks Thursday and Sunday and 3-4 drinks Friday and Saturday. I'm a 46 year old woman.


Oink
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 16:58     Subject: Re:Surprising effects of stopping drinking

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I've recently stopped drinking as well. Not because of Dry January, but because I am almost 50 and have noticed that my body just cannot handle alcohol well. At all. Even one beer will cause me to wake up with a headache. So its just not worth it to me. I haven't had a drink since mid-December and I don't miss it all. I was never a big drinker in the past--I would maybe have one drink with dinner twice a week. When I have gone out, I've gotten a mocktail or a soda or a non-alcoholic beer and it's fine.

I will say, I haven't noticed much of a positive benefit though. I haven't lost weight, I sleep worse than I did before, I don't necessarily have more energy. I think that's perimenopause setting in though. But it's cheaper, so there's that!



I'm confused why you would think going from 2 drinks a week to zero would have any impact on your life ?

You mention not losing weight, sleeping worse, not having more energy. What?!

Removing 2 drinks a week literally would have no impact on these things. At all. It's just a big nothing relative to what you eat/drink over the course of 7 days.


People are being duped by the engagement bait and clean living, looks-maxxing babble they see on social media. All of the pretty middle aged influencers are lying and hopped up on exotic "supplements" and going under the knife. It's not simply giving up a few glasses of wine a week and drinking a kale smoothie in the morning.


Keep guzzling that booze. That'll show 'em.


I don't drink. I just think it's harmful to lie to people and act like quitting drinking is going to dramatically change their life, their appearance, their health, and their sleep. It's frankly unlikely to do any of those things.


Harmful how exactly?
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 16:58     Subject: Re:Surprising effects of stopping drinking

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I've recently stopped drinking as well. Not because of Dry January, but because I am almost 50 and have noticed that my body just cannot handle alcohol well. At all. Even one beer will cause me to wake up with a headache. So its just not worth it to me. I haven't had a drink since mid-December and I don't miss it all. I was never a big drinker in the past--I would maybe have one drink with dinner twice a week. When I have gone out, I've gotten a mocktail or a soda or a non-alcoholic beer and it's fine.

I will say, I haven't noticed much of a positive benefit though. I haven't lost weight, I sleep worse than I did before, I don't necessarily have more energy. I think that's perimenopause setting in though. But it's cheaper, so there's that!



I'm confused why you would think going from 2 drinks a week to zero would have any impact on your life ?

You mention not losing weight, sleeping worse, not having more energy. What?!

Removing 2 drinks a week literally would have no impact on these things. At all. It's just a big nothing relative to what you eat/drink over the course of 7 days.


People are being duped by the engagement bait and clean living, looks-maxxing babble they see on social media. All of the pretty middle aged influencers are lying and hopped up on exotic "supplements" and going under the knife. It's not simply giving up a few glasses of wine a week and drinking a kale smoothie in the morning.


Keep guzzling that booze. That'll show 'em.


I don't drink. I just think it's harmful to lie to people and act like quitting drinking is going to dramatically change their life, their appearance, their health, and their sleep. It's frankly unlikely to do any of those things.


And yes, it does. And even if it doesn't, there is zero negative effect from not consuming alcohol and a shit ton from drinking.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 16:56     Subject: Re:Surprising effects of stopping drinking

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I've recently stopped drinking as well. Not because of Dry January, but because I am almost 50 and have noticed that my body just cannot handle alcohol well. At all. Even one beer will cause me to wake up with a headache. So its just not worth it to me. I haven't had a drink since mid-December and I don't miss it all. I was never a big drinker in the past--I would maybe have one drink with dinner twice a week. When I have gone out, I've gotten a mocktail or a soda or a non-alcoholic beer and it's fine.

I will say, I haven't noticed much of a positive benefit though. I haven't lost weight, I sleep worse than I did before, I don't necessarily have more energy. I think that's perimenopause setting in though. But it's cheaper, so there's that!



I'm confused why you would think going from 2 drinks a week to zero would have any impact on your life ?

You mention not losing weight, sleeping worse, not having more energy. What?!

Removing 2 drinks a week literally would have no impact on these things. At all. It's just a big nothing relative to what you eat/drink over the course of 7 days.


People are being duped by the engagement bait and clean living, looks-maxxing babble they see on social media. All of the pretty middle aged influencers are lying and hopped up on exotic "supplements" and going under the knife. It's not simply giving up a few glasses of wine a week and drinking a kale smoothie in the morning.


Keep guzzling that booze. That'll show 'em.


I don't drink. I just think it's harmful to lie to people and act like quitting drinking is going to dramatically change their life, their appearance, their health, and their sleep. It's frankly unlikely to do any of those things.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 16:19     Subject: Surprising effects of stopping drinking

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m confused. It’s almost like people are saying alcohol isn’t good for you.


No one in the history of time said that alcohol is good for you. People drink because it's fun.


That's not true at all. As recently as the 1990s, red wine was "good" for you.

People have been drinking alcohol for thousands of years, rarely with serious effects. It's the overindulgence that has become a problem.


No shit! And also, what a way to ruin a positive thread.


What are you talking about? PP made the absurd statement that "no one in the history of time said that alcohol is good for you." That is not correct. Sorry you're so touchy about this topic.


Sure at one point some likely French study said a small glass of red wine is good for your heart (still true BTW) but no one claimed that "drinking" was good. EVER.


Still not correct.


Sure is. But please do continue to play dumb.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 16:18     Subject: Surprising effects of stopping drinking

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m confused. It’s almost like people are saying alcohol isn’t good for you.


No one in the history of time said that alcohol is good for you. People drink because it's fun.


That's not true at all. As recently as the 1990s, red wine was "good" for you.

People have been drinking alcohol for thousands of years, rarely with serious effects. It's the overindulgence that has become a problem.


No shit! And also, what a way to ruin a positive thread.


What are you talking about? PP made the absurd statement that "no one in the history of time said that alcohol is good for you." That is not correct. Sorry you're so touchy about this topic.


Sure at one point some likely French study said a small glass of red wine is good for your heart (still true BTW) but no one claimed that "drinking" was good. EVER.


Still not correct.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 16:11     Subject: Surprising effects of stopping drinking

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m confused. It’s almost like people are saying alcohol isn’t good for you.


+1 Hellooo


That certainly went over your head, didn't it. PP was being facetious.


Did you not notice the smiling face?! The "Hellooo" was meant for those who don't get or want to believe that it's not healthy to drink a lot.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 16:10     Subject: Re:Surprising effects of stopping drinking

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I've recently stopped drinking as well. Not because of Dry January, but because I am almost 50 and have noticed that my body just cannot handle alcohol well. At all. Even one beer will cause me to wake up with a headache. So its just not worth it to me. I haven't had a drink since mid-December and I don't miss it all. I was never a big drinker in the past--I would maybe have one drink with dinner twice a week. When I have gone out, I've gotten a mocktail or a soda or a non-alcoholic beer and it's fine.

I will say, I haven't noticed much of a positive benefit though. I haven't lost weight, I sleep worse than I did before, I don't necessarily have more energy. I think that's perimenopause setting in though. But it's cheaper, so there's that!



I'm confused why you would think going from 2 drinks a week to zero would have any impact on your life ?

You mention not losing weight, sleeping worse, not having more energy. What?!

Removing 2 drinks a week literally would have no impact on these things. At all. It's just a big nothing relative to what you eat/drink over the course of 7 days.


People are being duped by the engagement bait and clean living, looks-maxxing babble they see on social media. All of the pretty middle aged influencers are lying and hopped up on exotic "supplements" and going under the knife. It's not simply giving up a few glasses of wine a week and drinking a kale smoothie in the morning.


Keep guzzling that booze. That'll show 'em.


+1 People looking for excuses to drink.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 16:07     Subject: Surprising effects of stopping drinking

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I’m confused. It’s almost like people are saying alcohol isn’t good for you.


+1 Hellooo


That certainly went over your head, didn't it. PP was being facetious.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 16:01     Subject: Re:Surprising effects of stopping drinking

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I've recently stopped drinking as well. Not because of Dry January, but because I am almost 50 and have noticed that my body just cannot handle alcohol well. At all. Even one beer will cause me to wake up with a headache. So its just not worth it to me. I haven't had a drink since mid-December and I don't miss it all. I was never a big drinker in the past--I would maybe have one drink with dinner twice a week. When I have gone out, I've gotten a mocktail or a soda or a non-alcoholic beer and it's fine.

I will say, I haven't noticed much of a positive benefit though. I haven't lost weight, I sleep worse than I did before, I don't necessarily have more energy. I think that's perimenopause setting in though. But it's cheaper, so there's that!



I'm confused why you would think going from 2 drinks a week to zero would have any impact on your life ?

You mention not losing weight, sleeping worse, not having more energy. What?!

Removing 2 drinks a week literally would have no impact on these things. At all. It's just a big nothing relative to what you eat/drink over the course of 7 days.


People are being duped by the engagement bait and clean living, looks-maxxing babble they see on social media. All of the pretty middle aged influencers are lying and hopped up on exotic "supplements" and going under the knife. It's not simply giving up a few glasses of wine a week and drinking a kale smoothie in the morning.


Keep guzzling that booze. That'll show 'em.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 15:59     Subject: Re:Surprising effects of stopping drinking

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I've recently stopped drinking as well. Not because of Dry January, but because I am almost 50 and have noticed that my body just cannot handle alcohol well. At all. Even one beer will cause me to wake up with a headache. So its just not worth it to me. I haven't had a drink since mid-December and I don't miss it all. I was never a big drinker in the past--I would maybe have one drink with dinner twice a week. When I have gone out, I've gotten a mocktail or a soda or a non-alcoholic beer and it's fine.

I will say, I haven't noticed much of a positive benefit though. I haven't lost weight, I sleep worse than I did before, I don't necessarily have more energy. I think that's perimenopause setting in though. But it's cheaper, so there's that!



I'm confused why you would think going from 2 drinks a week to zero would have any impact on your life ?

You mention not losing weight, sleeping worse, not having more energy. What?!

Removing 2 drinks a week literally would have no impact on these things. At all. It's just a big nothing relative to what you eat/drink over the course of 7 days.


People are being duped by the engagement bait and clean living, looks-maxxing babble they see on social media. All of the pretty middle aged influencers are lying and hopped up on exotic "supplements" and going under the knife. It's not simply giving up a few glasses of wine a week and drinking a kale smoothie in the morning.
Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 15:24     Subject: Re:Surprising effects of stopping drinking

Anonymous wrote:I've recently stopped drinking as well. Not because of Dry January, but because I am almost 50 and have noticed that my body just cannot handle alcohol well. At all. Even one beer will cause me to wake up with a headache. So its just not worth it to me. I haven't had a drink since mid-December and I don't miss it all. I was never a big drinker in the past--I would maybe have one drink with dinner twice a week. When I have gone out, I've gotten a mocktail or a soda or a non-alcoholic beer and it's fine.

I will say, I haven't noticed much of a positive benefit though. I haven't lost weight, I sleep worse than I did before, I don't necessarily have more energy. I think that's perimenopause setting in though. But it's cheaper, so there's that!



I'm confused why you would think going from 2 drinks a week to zero would have any impact on your life ?

You mention not losing weight, sleeping worse, not having more energy. What?!

Removing 2 drinks a week literally would have no impact on these things. At all. It's just a big nothing relative to what you eat/drink over the course of 7 days.




Anonymous
Post 01/14/2026 14:42     Subject: Surprising effects of stopping drinking

Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Anyone who does a dry January gets a side eye from me for probably having a drinking problem. I think needing to make not drinking for a whole month your personality is a red flag.


What a stupid comment. I went to an event last week and almost everyone there was doing dry January. I guess lots of people have a drinking problem.


Was it an AA meeting?


It's probably true. I am a lobbyist and went to an industry event late last week and a surprising number of people were doing dry january. And enjoying asking the bartenders for mocktails.