Getting and Staying Sober. (1 Viewer)

[Squiggle]

You must tell the AA about the powers of skateboarding! It would all be so easy to give up drinking! And these people would have a record collection! Fuck's sake, my mother DIED from drinking and she certainly wasn't doing it to 'fit in'. It might be a simple decision to stop when your fifteen because, well, your simple when your that age. Problem drinking is a much more complex issue.

That is terrible about your mother. I have also watched helplessly as friends and family drank themselves to death - alcoholism is a terrible thing and a very complicated problem.

However, I don't think that The Scientician is speaking as an alcoholic... one of the main things I noticed is that alcoholics tend not to think that they have a problem and rarely want to stop drinking. Even when she knew that it was killing her one of my family friends refused to stop. She actually told my Mum and I that she'd rather die than live without her whiskey.

The issue here is binge drinking and the fact that there is very little to do that doesn't involve or revolve in so way around drinking... and also the social tendancy to fit drinking into almost every activity. Bar's in cinemas and pints after sports practice are just a few examples.

When we go out at the weekend the music is frequently so loud that there is little or no hope of conversation, even in pubs, which results in people talking less and drinking more (whether the beverage of choice is alcoholic or not) well, you have to do something! Add to that the excessive pricing of non-alcoholic drinks in pubs and clubs and the general reluctance to provide water and you have a system of socialising that is geared towards encouraging people to consume alcohol, at least in some measure.

Changing your interests to something that doesn't involve drinking, or makes drinking impossible, is a pretty good way of cutting back or cutting it out altogether (unless you are going to then switch to drinking secretly or at home).

I had found that I was tending to come home from work, make dinner, have a glass or two of wine (which would empty a bottle) while watching a movie or reading. Now I am studying again and when I come home from work I don't find myself wanting a drink... instead I have to focus on my coursework.

I was the designated driver for a group of my friends for about 2 years and I didn't mind not drinking as long as we were either in pubs where we could talk easily or somewhere we could dance. In loud or overcrowded pubs I really missed drinking.

To answer the original question, finding other options than the pub for socialising and, if going to the pub or club, keeping occupied (playing pool, dancing, being entertained in some way) definitely help to slow down the rate of consumption.

 

[RSJ]

just in relation to this:

Add to that the excessive pricing of non-alcoholic drinks in pubs and clubs and the general reluctance to provide water and you have a system of socialising that is geared towards encouraging people to consume alcohol, at least in some measure.

Coke are sponsoring a program that the designated driver of a group of two or more people gets three drinks from their range (coke, sprite, fanta, fruice, river rock). Never taken it up myself but it's a step in the right direction.

ETA: Actually, just looking at it again, it was only for the summer. Still though, not a bad idea.

 

[Squiggle]

just in relation to this:

Coke are sponsoring a program that the designated driver of a group of two or more people gets three drinks from their range (coke, sprite, fanta, fruice, river rock). Never taken it up myself but it's a step in the right direction.

ETA: Actually, just looking at it again, it was only for the summer. Still though, not a bad idea.

In Australia, or at least parts of, designated drivers are entitled to a number of free soft drinks. It would be very sensible, particuarly in rural areas, but even in Dublin city now that so many people are commuting, for a long-term system to be adopted.

 

[nlgbbbblth]

The publicans' attitude to non-drinking customers is cynical in the extreme with proportionately extortionate prices levied on soft drinks. The Coke programme referenced by RSJ is good but surely needs to be implemented on a much wider scale.

Having experienced alcoholism at pretty close quarters with in my own family - which literally killed two relatives - I would agree with Squiggle that constant denial is a far worse sign than actually admitting to binge drinking.

For many people in this country their social lives are based around a bloody depressant.

 

[RSJ]

The publicans' attitude to non-drinking customers is cynical in the extreme with proportionately extortionate prices levied on soft drinks. The Coke programme referenced by RSJ is good but surely needs to be implemented on a much wider scale.

I agree with both points here, was off the booze for a while lately and couldn't believe the price of coke, lucozade etc. It's as if publicans need to "up the rent" on non-alcoholic drinks to make up for the lost space in the pub taken up by sober people. Also, the coke program was very well supported in galway, about twenty pubs took the offer up, including the roisin and many other popular bars. If the government made the same effort i think it'd make a huge difference.

 

[Gambra]

I agree with both points here, was off the booze for a while lately and couldn't believe the price of coke, lucozade etc. It's as if publicans need to "up the rent" on non-alcoholic drinks to make up for the lost space in the pub taken up by sober people. Also, the coke program was very well supported in galway, about twenty pubs took the offer up, including the roisin and many other popular bars. If the government made the same effort i think it'd make a huge difference.

It's a pity the damn thing was so hard to avail of.. I was told at the bar to all the registering thing and bring in this print out plus have a drivers licence etc etc.. Bit too much work for a night out

 

[The Schnapper]

Some pubs even charge two euro for a pint of blackcurrant.

 

[RSJ]

It's a pity the damn thing was so hard to avail of.. I was told at the bar to all the registering thing and bring in this print out plus have a drivers licence etc etc.. Bit too much work for a night out

I never tried it, but i imagine it was something you could sort out once and use repeatedly, no?

 

[Gambra]

I never tried it, but i imagine it was something you could sort out once and use repeatedly, no?

No idea. never got it in the first place to see if i could use it again

 

[Squiggle]

The publicans' attitude to non-drinking customers is cynical in the extreme with proportionately extortionate prices levied on soft drinks. The Coke programme referenced by RSJ is good but surely needs to be implemented on a much wider scale.

I agree with both points here, was off the booze for a while lately and couldn't believe the price of coke, lucozade etc. It's as if publicans need to "up the rent" on non-alcoholic drinks to make up for the lost space in the pub taken up by sober people. Also, the coke program was very well supported in galway, about twenty pubs took the offer up, including the roisin and many other popular bars. If the government made the same effort i think it'd make a huge difference.

Although the "coke" program and the one I mentioned in Australia are good ideas they are limited to designated drivers... and so do nothing to aid or encourage those who simply want to abstain from alcohol on a night out. Like RSJ I was recently shocked by the cost of a bottle of 7up! A long term program like that would certainly help to reduce the levels of drink driving though.

 

[classic seanc]

How much do they charge for coke in the Voodoo Lounge? They pour it out of 2L bottle's instead of glass bottles.

And can someone explain to me why more pubs don't use 2l bottles? They could charge €1, and still make around 1300% profit on it.

 

[george mcfly]

instead of focusing on quitting, try and change the way you drink. it's about knowing your limits and being able to enjoy two or three. you will know yourself you dont need the next five.

arrrrrrr unless it be a bad day on high seas!

 

[nlgbbbblth]

How much do they charge for coke in the Voodoo Lounge? They pour it out of 2L bottle's instead of glass bottles.

And can someone explain to me why more pubs don't use 2l bottles? They could charge €1, and still make around 1300% profit on it.

Two litre bottles aren't as nice - particularly if they've been opened a couple of times, if I'm paying for a coke I want a fresh bottle. Or preferably a can.

 

[jimmybreeze]

Most Bar profit comes from soft drinks,and at 2.50/2.75 + for one of those pub size bottles less than 300 mls,it generally works out more expensive than beer

 

[RSJ]

Was in michigan last week, a coke from one of those guns was $1 (or free if you were getting beers in also). In a shop, a bottle or can of coke was about $1.75. No reason it should be the other way around here. Also, a beer (PBR) was $1, or $4 for a pitcher (about four pints). What a country.

 

[nofriendo]

i could've started this thread with the exact same story.

trying to do November but got rail roaded out Friday AND Saturday. Did manage to stay relatively sobre both nights but when i say relatively i still spent 50euro just at the bar each night.

I will try again next weekend, weekdays aren't a problem, don't do work hungover, that i've grown out of.

I seen you drink and there is no way you could survive let alone be relatively sober!

 

[nlgbbbblth]

Was in michigan last week, a coke from one of those guns was $1 (or free if you were getting beers in also). In a shop, a bottle or can of coke was about $1.75. No reason it should be the other way around here. Also, a beer (PBR) was $1, or $4 for a pitcher (about four pints). What a country.

restaurants offering free refills too - on all non-alcoholic drinks no matter where you are.

 

[nlgbbbblth]

imagine asking for a free refill here?

 

[Gambra]

imagine asking for a free refill here?

Subway?

 

[classic seanc]

Two litre bottles aren't as nice - particularly if they've been opened a couple of times, if I'm paying for a coke I want a fresh bottle. Or preferably a can.

A thought occurs: They could do both. If I didn't know better I'd swear it was a cartel.