The socially acceptable ritual of drinking is NO JOKE. Whether it’s brunch with grandma or a 1-year-old’s birthday, you can bet there will be alcoholic beverages to be found; it’s ubiquitous. Even more apparent is its cool factor: a topic worthy of the highest forms of boasting. Seriously, how many stories have you heard that begin with “last night/weekend I got so drunk that I….”. Most people I know drink regularly and usually heavily. What can I say? I used to be the same way. I get it. I always found it hard to stick to the one drink/two drink rule – especially at parties. Nevertheless, certain events in my life (and in those closest to me) led me to give up alcohol for an entire year. Here are the top 5 things I learned:
1. Contrary to popular belief, your social life doesn't have to go down the drain.
There are a few ways people react when you tell them you don’t drink:
- Polite acknowledgment followed by an immediate change of subject.
- Complete disgust or shock followed by “I would NEVER!”.
- Admiration/mutual understanding
Responses 1 and 2 usually stem from insecurity. Your decision to not drink makes them question their choices to drink, therefore threatening their way of life (even if this is not your intention and all you’re doing is simply existing near them). This can be awkward in group settings, so I find a graceful exit to be best. If this person is someone you care about, I would advise scheduling a one-on-one with them to discuss later. The third reaction stems from a place of mutual understanding (usually because they’ve personally weighed the health benefits of not drinking or are already practicing this way of life themselves). This third reaction is more common than you’d think and foreshadowing of new friendships.
Overall, the truth is most people are too self-involved to care whether you’re drinking or not. I still went out, enjoyed parties (even threw a few of my own), soaked in a music festival, and went to Vegas for the first time in my life. Turns out, you CAN have fun without a drop of alcohol. Who would’ve thought?
2. Your social life may not change, but your friendships might.
After a few months dry, I was less inclined to participate in certain activities. Mainly, barhopping and staying out super late. Some of my friends and family members were less than enthused by my change in behavior, and I noticed a distancing in the relationship as a result. While this was difficult at first, it is only natural. I ultimately stayed true to my commitment and had to let the drift happen. Over time, I was able to shift my focus to others who got me; consequently, developing and deepening healthier friendships and support systems.
3. Health risks will decrease
Everyone knows drinking excessive amounts of alcohol is bad news. It’s linked to serious health risks such as high blood pressure, heart disease, breast cancer, weakening of the immune system, dementia, mental health problems, and social problems just to name a few. On the other hand, we’ve also been told that moderate consumption of alcohol poses no probable health risks and could even be healthy (red wine anyone?). I believe this is wishful thinking. Because relevant studies are beginning to parse their data for impactful factors such as socioeconomic status, exercise, and diet, we’re starting to understand the effects of drinking more clearly. The current Dietary Guidelines sum it up nicely:
“Emerging evidence suggests that even drinking within the recommended limits may increase the overall risk of death from various causes, such as from several types of cancer and some forms of cardiovascular disease. Alcohol has been found to increase the risk for cancer, and for some types of cancer, the risk increases even at low levels of alcohol consumption (less than 1 drink in a day)”.
Therefore, it can be inferred, like smoking, drinking alcohol, at any amount, comes with health risks. Like everything else in life, only you can determine if these risks are worth it to you.
4. Side effects may include less pain and embarrassment and more productivity and self-confidence.
After I made the switch, the misery that one calls a “hangover” completely disappeared from my life. Because my Saturdays and Sundays were no longer plagued with excessive amounts of sleep, nausea, or massive headaches, I got my weekends back and was able to be more productive with my time off. This gave me a greater sense of achievement. Alcohol is also high in calories and low in nutritional value. Therefore, cutting out the excessive and unnecessary calories also contributed to my weight loss and helped me keep it off long-term. As a result, I felt more confident in my skin and my clothes. Lastly, alcohol is a depressant affecting your central nervous system which may cause an impedance in the ability to think, reason, and move properly. My trips with alcohol usually started with extreme happiness (life of the party) and ended with emotional blabbering. I can say with complete confidence that I do not miss the terrible feelings of remorse and embarrassment that would overflow me the next day.
5. A relationship forever changed.
As I write this, it’s been 15 months since I’ve consumed any alcohol. Now well past my goal, my curious husband asked if I would ever drink again. Like most, I’ve always had trepidations around the word “never”. And why not? It’s like death; it’s so final. You never know what life will throw at you. So, while I’m hesitant to say I’ll never drink again, I think it’s unlikely that I ever will. After learning so much about myself and alcohol’s effects on the body, I know that drinking isn’t conducive to my health and wellbeing goals. Therefore, I don’t have any need for it. I also don’t miss it, so there is no desire to incorporate it back in. Besides, there are tons of delicious, zero alcohol options out on the market now, so I don’t ever feel deprived. While my path in life may be very different from most, it’s the route that I know will suit me best.
In summary,
- It’s an absolute fallacy that you can’t enjoy parties/social events and just have a good time in general without alcohol.
- Some people in your life might find you unrelatable and vice versa. It’s only natural to lean more on people who get you than the ones who don’t. Don’t let this discourage you. You will make new friends, and the old friends who matter will still be there for you.
- The risks far outweigh any causal benefits found, so labeling alcohol as “healthy” for any reason is just incorrect.
- Without the massive hangovers, excessive calories, and brain fog you may feel better, lose weight, reduce your embarrassing moments, and even be more productive.
- It’s impossible not to grow and experience a change of perspective once you decide to give up alcohol. Like any great challenge, it’s a great opportunity to learn more about yourself
Background on going dry:
For my 27th birthday, I decided to give up alcohol for a year. The reason was fourfold:
- I wanted to reset to have a healthier relationship with it. I tend to get emotional when drinking, and I was tired of having regretful mornings after a night out. Not to mention the massive hangovers!
- I noticed how some of my close family members and friends struggled with alcohol dependency, so I wanted to be a lighthouse for them.
- I had recently listened to a couple of podcasts and read a few texts on the subject and felt giving it up would only be beneficial for my health goals.
- I had just been informed of this thing called “Dry January”, so I decided to extend it to a full year. You know, just typical overachiever things.
Tip for success:
Put it out there! I vocalized my commitment every chance I could and to anyone within earshot. This gave me accountability and proved to be very effective. If I gave in, my failure would be on a pedestal for everyone to see.
2 thoughts on “I Gave Up Alcohol for a Year”
Ubiquitous. I love this word. I’ll be honest, I had to look it up though lol. Goodness, this was a great read. I got goosebumps when I read it, and I think that’s because I see the truth behind the words. You are a motivating force in my life.
Thank you for sharing this! I relate to these points so much – and I’d like to think number 1 and 2 brought us together as friends 🙂 I’ve really enjoyed having a friend that understands (and values) that you can have a great time without alcohol (but still doesn’t judge others if they choose to drink for a good time). Can’t wait to read more!!