Ok, I’ll follow so many good examples and will start a dry month tomorrow. I’m not a ‘drinker’, but I quitted smoking overnight 43 years ago and I can’t see why I cannot do the same now with alcohol.
Cheers!
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No alcool for me since December 26th 2016…
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The tax bill being only quarterly with all its potential associated tax benefits is surely a benefit of not being on PAYE I assume ?
I’m enjoying not drinking too.
It seems very easy not to drink and I’m tempted to give up for longer, perhaps forever.
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Apparently the ‘addiction’ effect of alcohol differs with people; some becoming addicted very easily and others not so. I’m lucky in that i can take it or leave it. Often in a summer heat-wave i prefer not to drink alcohol due to need to re-hydrate after cycling, and this no-alcohol zone can last for a few weeks with no difficulty.
Meanwhile my alcohol consumption maintains one bottle of red per week, and this one bottle enjoyed over a period of 3 or 4 days, and the remaining 3 (or 4) days of the week alcohol free.
I believe this weekly few days of no alcohol is perhaps a good fire-wall that prevents addiction creep.
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I can take it or leave it easily. What I struggle with is moderation, that bottle would likely be finished the same evening it was opened.
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This is what i hear from many folk, no self control some people 
Two weeks in, the only difficult bit was deciding to do it in the first place. Not missed it so far but we have not been out in the evening yet. Have not drunk alcohol on Mons to Wed for years but probably a bit much on some of the other days and when on holidays etc.
After the month I will cut out Thursdays as well and mix in some zero beers.
Observations so far:
- Dreaming at night more and/or remembering them more.
- Hopefully not too much information but my enlarged prostate is much happier and well behaved. It doesn’t like alcohol or caffeine to be honest. (I quite like both).
- Waist belt one notch better, so far.
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My January 2026 AF or less than 0.5% favourites:
Guiness zero
Leffe blonde 0.0
Jever Fun (also sugar free!)
Beavertown Lazer Crush (cans)
Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects (cans)
Brewdog mixed AF (8 cans/4 varieties)
Lucky Saint
Thatchers cider (cans)
Hogan’s High Sobriety cider (bottles)
Inch’s cider (cans)
And for a GnT alternative, just the tonic, with a dash of good quality citrus or elderflower cordial.
Apart from Jever and Hogan’s, the above are all from supermarkets.
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Thanks, I shall try the Leffe. So far I have been drinking Guinness 0.0 and Estrella Damm 0.0.
Pretty good.
Better late than never. Started last Monday, early week 2 and haven’t really missed it at all so far.
Avoiding 0%/low alcohol beers currently too and substituting for plain or flavoured sparkling mineral water.
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What is it? Looks 
interesting…
It’s a Blueberry and Lemon flavoured Schnapps. I’m guessing that Snaps is the Danish spelling.
My daughter, who doesn’t imbibe, volunteered to help clear up after her works Christmas do. Seems the Danes have a very different approach to management furnished alcohol than my compatriots here in NI and there was a significant remainder at the end of the night which was divvied up among the volunteers. Back home we all got a bottle of Snaps for Christmas, and very nice it was too.
Willy.
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Ha ha, that’s exactly the same for me 
However, I’ve managed to stay on track since 2nd of January so I’m quite pleased with myself.
The main reason for me was to give my liver a rest. I had a great Christmas celebrating with family and friends so just wanted a rest.
Hope it’s going well for all of you participating.
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I’m not missing it at the moment. I find a zero beer when I would normally have a drink makes it easier and I am quite enjoying them.
Prior to January we both normally have a drink Thursday to Sunday. Yesterday, Monday, I had a zero beer and got a ticking off from Mrs CW. Lol.
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The wife and I did a dry January for the full month a couple of years ago and we became very grumpy, so never again. Having a drink is a pleasure and healthy but if anyone gets past the cloudy head phase then they are a bloody idiot.
We make a bottle of wine last for two meals over two days with the occasional drink late evening or at a social gathering.
I have an annual MOT every December and my liver health is good, so no worries from me at 77 years of age and a life long social drinker.
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How depressing is dry Jan 
…
I’ve been good not touched a drop…….. But, F me Jan is a rubbish month! Weathers awful, All the bills for the year seem to roll in… it’s dark at 4 o’clock, my golf course now makes me carry my bag. Can’t see when I’m driving cos the Suns so low. And I have to watch my boys team play football in arctic conditions every Saturday.
roll on the spring
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Thirty days hath September,
April, June, and November,
All the rest have thirty-one,
Save January which has two thousand, nine hundred, and eighty seven.
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What happened to February? 
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Nearly a fortnight in but must admit I’m getting bored with sparkling flavoured mineral water despite the fact it’s quite refreshing and tasty.
I’ve started withdrawing some cash each week and planning to treat myself to something at the end of the month.
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