Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Sober till September

Inspired by the decision of one of my friends to give up booze, I've decided to go without for the duration of August. It's a kind of experiment - testing the water, if you like. My main reasons are:

  • I think I'll save a fortune

  • I think I'll lose weight

  • I think I'll feel healthier

  • I think I'll be more efficient at work

  • I'm more likely to significantly chip away at my massive 'to-do' list (which includes buying a flat)


Of course, like many such abstentions, the idea occurred to me in the depths of a hangover - the one that arrived two mornings after this night out with mywork mates, in fact. Day One, however, was Sunday because I had a glass of wine and two pints on Saturday night.

I don't have what most Europeans would call a drinking problem, though I do probably consume over the average for a London-living, works-in-the-media-type. So still some.

Obvious hurdles will be: company meetings (there's always a crate of cold Beck's), company nights out (two celebratory dinners lined up), and seeing friends at the weekend (we always go to the pub).

But zero alcohol is the plan. I don't think it will be difficult. I hope not anyway. As I said to someone today, the worst possible outcome would be for me to secretly fail and pretend that I still did it. So if I crumble under peer pressure I'll be sure to let you know about it.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just dont booze. Should be fine. Maybe get some crack in?

Zeno Cosini said...

Good luck Ade! And welcome to my world. I've found there are plenty of ways to have fun that don't involve alcohol: examining engineering blue-prints, for instance, or skipping stones across small bodies of water. For an added frisson, try skipping a 50p piece - w-will it reach the other side? Or be lost forever in the pond's cool reedy depths?There's only one way to find out! Etc.

I've also discovered that my intake of other forms of sugar has increased dramatically since kicking booze. I found myself eating a fistful of bon-bons in the office kitchen at breakfast yesterday, and Dime Bars have become part of my life again for the first time in about a decade.

Anonymous said...

A friend of mine doesn't drink during the week but still has a good pissup at the weekends. I kinda like this approach but have been hopeless at putting it into action.

Best of luck staying sober - hope you get what you want out of it.

Unknown said...

Thanks nic0. I just sat through my first beer-infused company meeting without having one. By the end I was surprised how drunk some people seemed, after just one or two bottles!

I also went to the pub with some workmates afterwards and had three soft drinks. It was still perfectly enjoyable. And even better to come home and be able to do more than just fall asleep on the sofa.

I did feel a little bit high off the sugar in those soft drinks though. I might have to go for a diet drink option next time, but diet coke has loads of caffeine in it. Do they do sugar-free lemonade? Maybe it'll have to be water.

Hmm... Anyway it's Day 5 and all is well.