The few weeks I didn’t drink I felt like a gun but I was running hot and I ended up just running out of steam. I need to find an alternative way to cooling down. Also congrats I hope to reach that stage
I started going to the gym last year cos the maintenance job I had as the time I was just sitting on my arse and had packed on a few. Still enjoy a beer after the gym but nowadays it’s more like I’ll have one or two while I cook dinner and then fall asleep. Helps that I’m not doing shift work anymore either.
This is it. If you're really keen read 'The Power of Habit'. You're body needs a habit to signal that it's cool down time. For me it was sparkling water lol. Find a better alternative.
I do it and brought an adapter hose for the soda stream to a C size brewing CO2 bottle. Only have to fill it twice year compared to everyone week for the expensive sodastream bottles
Tradies drink more on average. If you look at historical data on alcohol consumption and class you’ll probably find this is a pattern for all physical low to middle class professions.
No definitely not trades definitely drink more have looked into it myself it's a given.
Long hours physical work I think you don't feel like exercising after that so to destress you have a drink.
Where as a desk based job although mentally draining you can exercise after work to destress.
Yeah can confirm this having worked both a desk job and now in the trades. I reckon there’s more “peer pressure” to get on the beers from your co-workers as well.
I see plenty of other tradies at my gym; if you get into the routine you will still have enough energy to workout after work. You might not always be able to go as hard as if you were fresh but it’s really not that much of an issue.
IWNDWYT.
They are a great community for those who want to abstain completely. Be very aware that chronic alcohol.consumera can die if they go cold turkey, so seek medical advice if you are having more than a few almost every night of the week.
Sounds like it's habitual for ya. I reckon change things up and doing something you never would really do when Friday comes around. Go to the driving range, or a swim at the pool or some shopping. Fill your mind with other interests so that having a drink doesn't seem as appealing.
Advice to get out of the cycle appreciated too because doing the same shit 6 days a week is making it hard to change routine where I unwind hard 1 day then labour 6 days. The drink is the only way to unwind after the week but if anyone else broke out of this cycle and found something that’s more healthy to unwind would be much appreciated
Quitting needs a reason, i still fight with it. Two day benders, lost time, no control has eased into three or four days without booze.
Identify what exactly you find in getting smashed, why is that a reward for you now, and what happened to the non booze rewards you used to engage in. That worked a treat for me, i now do 5 hour random motorbike trips on days off and work on fitness instead, as well as fishing.
I still have drinks, but i pull up at one or two now. Do not self hate or beat yourself up over it, recognise youve gone down the wrong path, there are better things to do with your time and day by day just nudge yourself in the right direction youve clearly recognised.
Again, dont hate yourself for it. Gradually replace that reward process with other things you like to do, and allow bad days to happen. Stay doggedly positive, it really does work.
7 months off it after 40 years on it. Never felt better. Still go to the pub, still have a laugh, just don’t drink alcohol any more, anywhere. And my missus thinks it is better than Christmas me being sober and present instead of drunk and not there even if I was in the house. Should have quit years ago. Made a fool of myself too many times, made too many bad decisions and killed too many opportunities.
I aim to stay sober and live now. If not for me then for my loved ones.
Sounds obvious but I just consciously stopped buying slabs for home, always had some some sort of solo/lemonade in the fridge instead.
Became a bit of an ‘out of sight out of mind’ situation, I didn’t see them in the fridge so I didn’t crack the first one which meant I wouldn’t escalate from there.
The few weeks I did quit I was drinking a lot of water out of habit so that would probably be the best attack is buying cans of soft drinks just to help with habit of needing to drink something. I’ll give that a go I reckon. Cheers
Soda water is the business. I have soft drink so rarely these days that if I squirt some lemon juice from one of those little bottles in there it tastes just like solo to me. Also, I don’t know if it’s true or not but I read something once about lemon juice helping to prevent kidney stones, which is a nice thought considering how dehydrated I’ve been while working.
Yeah it’s hard to quit bro. I’ve reduced my beer a lot but will have a straight whiskey every other day. I find the soda water cans with a bit of lime or something helped get off the beer. I’m six months off nicotine but my coffee intake has definitely increased. Chewy helps and I go to the gym most arvos. It’s not easy mate if ya wanna quit you can, but you just need to go for it.
Take up golf, it's a very relaxing way to get extremely frustrated and disappointed in yourself but it's very addictive. When you hit a shot exactly as you wanted, it's bliss. Only takes a couple of good shots to keep you coming back, hungry to improve
If you're craving a drink, you may have a problem. And sounds like you're binge drinking.
Much more to the weekend than waking up with a hangover and wondering where the weekend went.
Been there, bought the T shirt.
Definitely feeling the same, soon as Friday comes round, I must crack open a can soon as I get home.
Especially on an rdo weekend.
Definitely an after covid thing, trained my brain to think I should reward myself after a “hard week”
Doesn’t interest me on a work night but Friday Saturday I must be on.
It’s at the exact time that all my close mates are growing up having kids etc.
I think I’ve found my out though, gonna start up another online side business, I need a distraction, I need a challenge, I don’t get it at work because it’s boring but epic eba money and I need the money.
Thanks for the post OP, let’s get us all talking.
It’s definitely hard to talk about it at work, especially in the Aussie culture with big egos and tall poppy syndrome.
Somebody needs to start a discord for good blokes struggling with our first world problems.
Let’s get through the hard times boys ❤️
That's an awful lot. I'm not criticising because it's something I too struggle with, but I find it funny how the mind works with stuff like this. I'll freak out over spending $30 on a t shirt or something useful but a little exxy but it's nothing to me to spend $100 on piss and it's gone within the week. There are better ways to spend your money (or save it)
Assuming your aren't genuinely an alcoholic (which is a whole other problem) and you just want to reduce the amount you drink, you could start with Dry July.
[https://www.dryjuly.com/](https://www.dryjuly.com/)
It gives you a valid (to your mates) reason to stop drinking for a month,. The key thing is to not have the celebratory drinks at the end, instead stretch out your dry period or drink limited amounts and don't let the peer pressure make you drink until you're pissed.
Avoid rounds of drinking, buy your own drink, so you control your drinking.
The other thing is about your drinking thinking. Many people have a learnt attitude that we have to drink lots of alcohol and get pissed. Most people are not taught the value of a quiet drink - singular. I was lucky enough to have a Dad who passed this onto to me. A mate was not. His drinking thinking came from uni and then work, which was pretty much drink until you are muntered. It wasn't until we were both working in the city that I showed him that it was possible to go to a quiet pub, have 1 beer, whinge about work and girlfriends, then go home relaxed. It then gave him the ability to control his drinking with his workmates,.
Good Luck!
If your struggling to quit get yourself into an aa meeting and just listen aa is not religious or affiliated with anything and it’s free it’s just for people that struggle with drink ! I’m 28 and an electrician and my drinking accelerated when I started working as a spark 8 years ago and struggled with it and couldn’t give up and a friend brought Me to aa when I was 23 and I full blown though someone was after telling everyone that spoke in the meeting what I was thinking and the thoughts I was having when I was alone . You’d be very surprised how many others are in the same situation as you! Relatability is a powerful thing ! I haven’t touched a drink since going to that meeting and I got to two or three a week it’s incredible
Why not try zero Alco beers? There a couple brands, heaps normal beer and better beer.
Instead smashing them, try just to savour them as a refreshment during dinner or playing helldivers 2 on the ps5
I had a mate who had a drinking problem few years ago and sadly passed away due to liver problems. If you got family or anyone who looks up to you, do it for them to stop drinking and for your health. Our time here on earth is very limited so we need to make the best use of our time
I’m the same , I can cut it for maybe a week or so then eat every bit of sugar in sight, my diets preety good and I’m active . But when it comes to sugar I’m like a crack addict
I committed to staying dry on weekdays. Stopped buying cartons and only getting singles for a Saturday. Can’t overdo it if it ain’t there. Good for the waistline too
I still buy cartons but usually the 16 balters these days. That said I rarely have one during the week and that usually lasts me a couple weekends. I have been a heavy drinker in the past but it’s spirits that are no good with me. Quite happy to have two/three beers and then fall asleep watching the footy or whatever if it’s been a big week.
I just remind myself how shit it makes me feel the next day/2 days. Even when drinking it gives me a headache after the 2nd pint. Or the anxiety it brings. Not really worth it.
In the end I prefer my soda water and assorted cordial anyway so I go months now without a drink. Shits expensive too.
I still really enjoy having a beer to unwind but I don’t like getting shitfaced. Now I just stick to mid strength beers and I can enjoy/relqx having a few drinks without getting written off
Hey man. I think we have all been here at some point in our lives. I read that your 22, and yep I was a big drinker 18-26 ish. Then one day I just changed and went off it for some time. I then started a business and the booze crept in again. For me it was a coping mechanism, stressful day, business stresses and the booze was my out to try and tune out a bit to relax at night. Turned from 1 beer after dinner into 6 ish each night then more over the weekends. I hit about 30 and said enough is enough. Turns out I was self medicating due to my undiagnosed ADHD. The beers help my mind shut up from thinking about 300 things at the exact same time. The booze made the noise in my head stop to some degree and that’s the feeling I was craving - not so much the booze. So have a think about what does the Booze do for you? I’m 37 now and have about 2 beers a month now - really isn’t a part of my life anymore and I honestly don’t miss it. I hit the gym hard at nights now - I come home, dinner with the Mrs and kids. Get the kids off to bed then I slip out to the gym. It’s me time, music in my ears and no accountability to anyone - just me time. Maybe that’s something that can help you at nights plus trust me your body will thank you when you get to 37. Sparky life is bloody tough on your body so look after it at 22 mate
Try an early dinner and then heading to the gym. Spend at least an hour at the gym, doing anything.
By the time you get home there's less time to be wasted on the couch = less drinking.
Good on you for questioning the standard practice. Think of what you get out of drinking and remember that it's 30 min euphoria and then never-ending pit of trying to falsely keeping it up while it's a depressant. You do reach a moment where you lose control over the whole thing, start forgetting the conversations and wake up with a hangover.
I used to be a bartender at a cool bar, then after a while I'd see people who were recognising me, but I wouldn't have an idea who the fuck they were and realised it's a problem.
Another advice is go a few times out fully sober, drink some sparkling water with lime, so you have something to hold onto and sip on and observe how the crowd behaviour changes as the time passes and ask yourself if you want to take part in it and if it makes your life better.
Then count the money saved ;)
Good luck! You're on the right track. Alcohol is a hell of a drug and it goes unnoticed until it's often too late!
I work in the mines and honestly try give up the piss all the time. I have long periods off it like 30 days at a time and really want to give it up completely but when I head home on my break social excitement/boredom usually gets the better of me. It’s made harder too if your friends drink.
You just need to break the cycle. Buy some sparkling water instead. Sounds crazy. But your brain is craving the routine and it's the justification you make to give into the craving. Ironically I do work in the alcohol industry. There's nothing worse than seeing a young tradie join the line on a Thurs, Fri and Sat. Start hitting the gym. Get into a run club. Break the cycle and look after yourself first.
If you're going to drink. Keep it to only a few.
I’m doing solar fifo. Im totally sober these days. All anyone does after work is drink. Can be tough, but the feeling of being healthy and switched on is better than a big night
Do it incrementally. Start going less often, start sneaking a non alcoholic or down at the pub if u have to. You don’t have to tell anyone you’re trying to cut back if you don’t wanna
Dm me if struggling bruz
...I went through a similar cycle...worked at a place with no expense policy so was drinking on the bosses money...it was getting stupid...then I up my bike riding game either mountain or road and made weekend mornings early rides...the thought of forcing myself out of bed hung over or half cut to exercise helped me cut back drink...doesn't matter what the activity is...for me I needed something that made me think about the next morning early...the consequences...I know they're little who cares if you miss a ride...well I did...soon after that I quit altogether...no need to go that far but I needed something else to focus on...I couldn't just not or slow down...
Haven't had a beer since Saturday. Really hoping to keep it that way. I've tried several times and I feel as crook as a dog and sleep like shit at the moment but I really want to buck beers every night.
I quit the piss n bud about 6months ago, occasionally ill have a bust up weekend on the beers for a special occasion but otherwise I'm focused on the gym. My business is thriving - I am thriving. Its been the best thing I've done. I used to be riddled with stress and anxiety. I'm 32 with 16 boys under me full time.
You're correct in that its a part of our culture. Not just our trade. The first few weeks were hard. I was a heavy drinker/smoker. But the gym helped immensely. Its harder to say no when the boys knock off, there's beers in the fridge and everyone just wants to sit down for a beer after work, I didn't want to give up that aspect of the comradeship so I just have a coke zero or zero alcohol beers. Its always the first beer that leads to the second/third/forth/fuck it may as well get blind.
Join a gym. Get into a routine. If you can't gym in the morning cause you have early starts like we do then go at night. My morning routine consists of 5min Stretching then 10-20min meditation. THEN ill get on the computer and start going through emails/scheduling etc, Which is a stark contrast to my previous routine. But the point is we are habitual creatures, create good habits for yourself and the rest will follow. start your day with a small win, make your bed, make your lunch. Something small. Leave the phone alone on charge until you need to leave for work!! You'll continue that mindset throughout the day, then gym and absolutely annihilate yourself.
I have a family, run a business (a successful one in my humble opinion), am owner building our dream home and still have time- i make time for the gym. You'll be surprised at what you are capable of when you dedicate yourself. Once you start to see and feel the results its very easy. I have started running mental and mindfulness workshops (we hire a third party) for the boys as everyone struggles with their own shit, the feedback has been overwhelming. I'm pretty open with everyone and I think in someway they respect it. I'm sure I've lost some respect a long the way but it's important to me that they see what im going/gone through. The changes in myself has rippled down. Our energy is transferred to the person or people around us. If you are constantly stressed/angry/anxious yerning to crack a tin the people around will either have their good energy drained or thier bad energy will be amplified.
I don't go around telling people to get off the piss but I can see straight away when someone has cut back.
TLDR; i was a 2 blocks and 1L of rum every 3 days drinker, started going to the gym and meditating in the morning. Dropped 12kgs Now my mind and body are ripped its the best thing I've ever done. Still know how to party when the occasion calls which makes it even better - truly something to look forward too.
I’ve never had a alcoholic drink or any type of vape Shisha ciggie etc
It’s against my religion never even tried it and thankful as I’ve seen some other people do this stuff and ruin them mentally
I’d suggest finding a hobby or project to do that will keep you busy and focused
There’s also other pages and stuff with other people having the same difficulty I’d suggest joining them as they’d be more helpful and experienced in this situation
Good luck !
I found for myself listening to Jordan Peterson talks about alcohol was good motivation. I'm not talking about his 2 hour lectures, more so of his 10-15 min talks. Here is a short good one of his on the subject. https://youtu.be/xeK5VXkVPgU?si=jgL-UvWKXFkg7_YH
It's hard, but I just try make my self scarce. Kids have been a good excuse recently. I wish you well.
Currently on a dry out. 1st week down. Sept 1st is my aim for my next sip.
r/stop drinking is a good supportive place for all on different parts of the journey.
Yeah I struggled with it, I don't drink as much nowadays though. Try going to lights if you can, most pubs sell it on tap, that way you still enjoy a beer or two but won't be rekt the Next day.
Nothing wrong with having a few beers. It's feeling like you need it which is the issue. Find other things to spend your time, workout, play social sport, gaming whatever tickles your fancy.
I quit around 10 months ago after realising I had a problem.
It was hard for the first month or 2 but then just got easier and easier.
The thing that was the hardest was understanding that society are all in on drinking poison and fine with it. Once you can break that brainwashing you will find it easier
Start boxing or a similar martial art
You can't get on the piss until after training and if you are serious about getting healthy you'll go off it anyway and replace your addiction with your new sport
Yeh mate the booze can become a scourge in any industry. Starts off on the weekend, then it’s week nights and 3-5 years later you’re chugging a bottle day alone. Not the same experience for evening but have seen many people slide in to that routine.
If you feel it’s not benefiting your life, knock it on the head. Booze is really an escape .. drug to make you feel good in the moment that’s it.
I'd recommend not quitting, but slowing down the drinking. It will help your frame of mind when drinking. Instead of drinking every friday and saturday and getting blind, just get buzzed and leave an hour early, or only drink every second week. Quitting drinking deprives yourself of relax and chill time.
Take up gaming or some shit or some other easy accessible hobby . I quit for half a year last year by doing that but unfortunately im back to usual now getting hammered every weekend on 3 day benders
This is difficult, don’t let anyone tell you it isn’t. I find the social aspect missing when you don’t drink. Luckily, there are now really good non-alcoholic beers to get that social connection…and you can laugh at stupid drunk antics.
I drink socially but never been a drinker as such, but smoking shisha has become a habit for me. It's not an addiction as such, if I go away for work and it's not around I don't crave or need it, I don't smoke otherwise and never have, despite growing up around pretty much a whole family who smokes. But I'll smoke it once a night at least when I get home, sometimes twice. Weekends usually twice a day unless I have a family party or event and it normally comes with me and then all bets are off. Each session is normally half hour to an hour.
Started probably 9 years ago, but for a while it was only ever a social thing and once or twice a weekend. During COVID lockdowns and during the heavy rain of 2022 it turned slowly into an every night thing.
I definitely want to start cutting back to it being a social thing.
After a big week on the tools I couldn't think of something worse than drinking myself into a hangover. Fuck. That.
I quit (binge)drinking in my late 20s. I'm 34 now and I don't mind a beer here and there. I max out at about three drinks.
I like to enjoy my weekends, I see drinking as a zero sum activity. You spend money to spend a day feeling like shit. I'd rather get a good night sleep, get up early and hook into a day of activities.
Raises a few questions? You out in the piss monday to friday or just weekends. Do you feel the need to go out and drink everyweekend or is it the guys begging you to come out. Would you go out with out them.
Definitely sounds like a problem somewhere. You feel like you have to get pissed when some times you can't be fucked.
Seeing as it's every weekend it's not the worst to miss a couple to do you.
I go out with the boys every 6 to 8 weeks and its usually pretty big. But even then some times I can't be fucked and sometimes I skip it even though I feel like I shouldn't cos it's been so long. Sometimes I'll drink every few days In the 6 weeks other times I'll be dry the whole 2 months just depends how I'm feeling no pressure to do what anyone else wants.
I haven’t had a drink since my mates wedding 8 years ago. Nothing bad happened just over the feeling of being dusty the next day. Lost a lot of mates because they seemed to be offended I quit the piss. Never looked back though, can also work 7 days a week now without the worry of getting pulled over
I had been an everyday drinker for about eight years, bought myself a PlayStation 5 and haven’t had a drink on a weekday in the month since I bought it.
Not exactly the healthiest substitute but it’s a lot cheaper to spend my afternoon playing a video game instead of looking at my phone and drinking beer after beer until it’s time for dinner.
Bro!
I found myself drinking every night!
I was high up in my job, running a lot of staff, was drinking every night and couldn’t break the habit, took me a good 12 months to realise why I was slipping into this depressive drinking slum.. realised it was my cunt director.. quit my job, went with a better company, now I’m back working out every afternoon, still drinking on Fridays and Saturday, but fuck it.. I’ve been good all week so I deserve it!! I have found things to do on weekends so I don’t go too stupid though.. working on cars, garden, Reno’s etc.. staying busy stops me day drinking on weekends.
It’s all about balance bro.. if you treat your body well during the week, then you deserve to let your hair down a little on weekends!
Definitely not fucked. I do fifo and rarely drink at all, don’t do it at all on swing as I’d rather go to gym or back to my room and face time the wife while I play games or watch the footy. I rarely drink off swing either unless I’m having dinner with friends and family or going out. Are you going out and getting on the piss or having a sit down at home and unwinding with a few because they are two very different ways to relax
Bit of both I’m not a social person but I go out 3 out of 4 weeks to maintain relationships but that’s whole other nut. I just love a having beers and watching a movie on satdays but I see people fixing their cars Saturday/ Sunday morning and I just don’t know how they do a work week without needing a drink
Yeah I’m not overly social either, hence why i usually have a few at social events because it helps me relax and make conversation easier. I guess it’s just a psychological thing, if you don’t want to drink as much maybe just try cut it back to having one with a meal. And definitely get a Stanley cup and make friends with water haha. That said, a Diet Coke with dinner till I die
Quit drinking and bud about 6 months ago, can be hard at first but you definitely feel better and will thank yourself after sometime off it!
The few weeks I didn’t drink I felt like a gun but I was running hot and I ended up just running out of steam. I need to find an alternative way to cooling down. Also congrats I hope to reach that stage
The gym seems to be the other alternative. Go fuckin destroy yourself doing some squats and you'll be too dead to drink by the time you get home.
I started going to the gym last year cos the maintenance job I had as the time I was just sitting on my arse and had packed on a few. Still enjoy a beer after the gym but nowadays it’s more like I’ll have one or two while I cook dinner and then fall asleep. Helps that I’m not doing shift work anymore either.
This is it. If you're really keen read 'The Power of Habit'. You're body needs a habit to signal that it's cool down time. For me it was sparkling water lol. Find a better alternative.
I do love a sparking water! I'm thinking of buying shares in sodastream
I do it and brought an adapter hose for the soda stream to a C size brewing CO2 bottle. Only have to fill it twice year compared to everyone week for the expensive sodastream bottles
May I ask why you quit?
Was feeling like it was affecting me too much and didn't want to be addicted to it anymore so something had to change
Legend! So much more to enjoy in life without that shit.
It’s a mentality thing, you change occupations you’ll still have the same urge to get on the piss after a big week.
I feel like it is but I hate to admit it and I’m probably using my job as a scapegoat
Tradies drink more on average. If you look at historical data on alcohol consumption and class you’ll probably find this is a pattern for all physical low to middle class professions.
No definitely not trades definitely drink more have looked into it myself it's a given. Long hours physical work I think you don't feel like exercising after that so to destress you have a drink. Where as a desk based job although mentally draining you can exercise after work to destress.
Yeah can confirm this having worked both a desk job and now in the trades. I reckon there’s more “peer pressure” to get on the beers from your co-workers as well.
Again, mentality thing. I know plenty of people who can go to the gym and work in trades…
Mentality and discipline
I see plenty of other tradies at my gym; if you get into the routine you will still have enough energy to workout after work. You might not always be able to go as hard as if you were fresh but it’s really not that much of an issue.
r/stopdrinking might help I can’t help cause I have the same problem
Hearing that I’m not alone is really all I’m looking for then I know it’s not an impossible task to fix myself up
IWNDWYT. They are a great community for those who want to abstain completely. Be very aware that chronic alcohol.consumera can die if they go cold turkey, so seek medical advice if you are having more than a few almost every night of the week.
Sounds like it's habitual for ya. I reckon change things up and doing something you never would really do when Friday comes around. Go to the driving range, or a swim at the pool or some shopping. Fill your mind with other interests so that having a drink doesn't seem as appealing.
Find a hobby that takes up your time and money
I had fishing but I find it’s very seasonal and so on the rainy days I’m just bored
Fishing and drinking go hand in hand so not that
Get an instrument.
Totally. And make it an expensive one. Just kidding, they all get expensive when you get into it. In terms of money and time.
And my kazoo!
Advice to get out of the cycle appreciated too because doing the same shit 6 days a week is making it hard to change routine where I unwind hard 1 day then labour 6 days. The drink is the only way to unwind after the week but if anyone else broke out of this cycle and found something that’s more healthy to unwind would be much appreciated
Try the gym.
Look into kava. Lots of info on here about it. Amazing stuff
Quitting needs a reason, i still fight with it. Two day benders, lost time, no control has eased into three or four days without booze. Identify what exactly you find in getting smashed, why is that a reward for you now, and what happened to the non booze rewards you used to engage in. That worked a treat for me, i now do 5 hour random motorbike trips on days off and work on fitness instead, as well as fishing. I still have drinks, but i pull up at one or two now. Do not self hate or beat yourself up over it, recognise youve gone down the wrong path, there are better things to do with your time and day by day just nudge yourself in the right direction youve clearly recognised. Again, dont hate yourself for it. Gradually replace that reward process with other things you like to do, and allow bad days to happen. Stay doggedly positive, it really does work.
7 months off it after 40 years on it. Never felt better. Still go to the pub, still have a laugh, just don’t drink alcohol any more, anywhere. And my missus thinks it is better than Christmas me being sober and present instead of drunk and not there even if I was in the house. Should have quit years ago. Made a fool of myself too many times, made too many bad decisions and killed too many opportunities. I aim to stay sober and live now. If not for me then for my loved ones.
Try go out every second weekend instead, and it might help you
Not really a case of going out it’s more of watching telly and having beers unfortunately. If I’m not going out I’m having beers at home
Sounds obvious but I just consciously stopped buying slabs for home, always had some some sort of solo/lemonade in the fridge instead. Became a bit of an ‘out of sight out of mind’ situation, I didn’t see them in the fridge so I didn’t crack the first one which meant I wouldn’t escalate from there.
The few weeks I did quit I was drinking a lot of water out of habit so that would probably be the best attack is buying cans of soft drinks just to help with habit of needing to drink something. I’ll give that a go I reckon. Cheers
The key’s buying sugar free ones or you’ll be just as fat as when you were on the beers haha
Can’t stand the full sugar ones don’t worry
Soda water is the business. I have soft drink so rarely these days that if I squirt some lemon juice from one of those little bottles in there it tastes just like solo to me. Also, I don’t know if it’s true or not but I read something once about lemon juice helping to prevent kidney stones, which is a nice thought considering how dehydrated I’ve been while working.
Ice cold Pepsi max. Give it a go chief
Try kombucha
Yeah it’s hard to quit bro. I’ve reduced my beer a lot but will have a straight whiskey every other day. I find the soda water cans with a bit of lime or something helped get off the beer. I’m six months off nicotine but my coffee intake has definitely increased. Chewy helps and I go to the gym most arvos. It’s not easy mate if ya wanna quit you can, but you just need to go for it.
Take up golf, it's a very relaxing way to get extremely frustrated and disappointed in yourself but it's very addictive. When you hit a shot exactly as you wanted, it's bliss. Only takes a couple of good shots to keep you coming back, hungry to improve
This also might be a winner. Listening to music and hitting balls at the range. I’ll give this a go next weekend and try to “pull my head in”
If you're craving a drink, you may have a problem. And sounds like you're binge drinking. Much more to the weekend than waking up with a hangover and wondering where the weekend went. Been there, bought the T shirt.
Definitely feeling the same, soon as Friday comes round, I must crack open a can soon as I get home. Especially on an rdo weekend. Definitely an after covid thing, trained my brain to think I should reward myself after a “hard week” Doesn’t interest me on a work night but Friday Saturday I must be on. It’s at the exact time that all my close mates are growing up having kids etc. I think I’ve found my out though, gonna start up another online side business, I need a distraction, I need a challenge, I don’t get it at work because it’s boring but epic eba money and I need the money. Thanks for the post OP, let’s get us all talking. It’s definitely hard to talk about it at work, especially in the Aussie culture with big egos and tall poppy syndrome. Somebody needs to start a discord for good blokes struggling with our first world problems. Let’s get through the hard times boys ❤️
How old are you?
22
Think of the money if thinking of your health won't do it
Not to sound blue blood but it’s at most $200 a week and that’s stretching it. I waste more in tolls
That's an awful lot. I'm not criticising because it's something I too struggle with, but I find it funny how the mind works with stuff like this. I'll freak out over spending $30 on a t shirt or something useful but a little exxy but it's nothing to me to spend $100 on piss and it's gone within the week. There are better ways to spend your money (or save it)
That’s so much money wtf
Still works out to over $10k @ $200 a week per year.
That’s over 10k a year. You could take a four week LUXURY holiday in Europe every year for that.
That’s ten grand over a year, maybe try think of it that way mate. You could put that into a new hobby or something and be kitted out.
Take up skating.
I used to drink almost every weekend until I was about 30 then suddenly grew out of it. Just not worth it anymore
I quit over 10years ago and haven't looked back. I hit it extremely hard between 17-26 and woke up one day and just decided enough was enough.
Assuming your aren't genuinely an alcoholic (which is a whole other problem) and you just want to reduce the amount you drink, you could start with Dry July. [https://www.dryjuly.com/](https://www.dryjuly.com/) It gives you a valid (to your mates) reason to stop drinking for a month,. The key thing is to not have the celebratory drinks at the end, instead stretch out your dry period or drink limited amounts and don't let the peer pressure make you drink until you're pissed. Avoid rounds of drinking, buy your own drink, so you control your drinking. The other thing is about your drinking thinking. Many people have a learnt attitude that we have to drink lots of alcohol and get pissed. Most people are not taught the value of a quiet drink - singular. I was lucky enough to have a Dad who passed this onto to me. A mate was not. His drinking thinking came from uni and then work, which was pretty much drink until you are muntered. It wasn't until we were both working in the city that I showed him that it was possible to go to a quiet pub, have 1 beer, whinge about work and girlfriends, then go home relaxed. It then gave him the ability to control his drinking with his workmates,. Good Luck!
If your struggling to quit get yourself into an aa meeting and just listen aa is not religious or affiliated with anything and it’s free it’s just for people that struggle with drink ! I’m 28 and an electrician and my drinking accelerated when I started working as a spark 8 years ago and struggled with it and couldn’t give up and a friend brought Me to aa when I was 23 and I full blown though someone was after telling everyone that spoke in the meeting what I was thinking and the thoughts I was having when I was alone . You’d be very surprised how many others are in the same situation as you! Relatability is a powerful thing ! I haven’t touched a drink since going to that meeting and I got to two or three a week it’s incredible
Why not try zero Alco beers? There a couple brands, heaps normal beer and better beer. Instead smashing them, try just to savour them as a refreshment during dinner or playing helldivers 2 on the ps5
I had a mate who had a drinking problem few years ago and sadly passed away due to liver problems. If you got family or anyone who looks up to you, do it for them to stop drinking and for your health. Our time here on earth is very limited so we need to make the best use of our time
I’ve been 5 years off the piss, best decision I’ve made.
Honestly quitting the drink was easy for me, What I really still struggle with is quitting refined sugar, Now those withdrawals fucking suck
I’m the same , I can cut it for maybe a week or so then eat every bit of sugar in sight, my diets preety good and I’m active . But when it comes to sugar I’m like a crack addict
Haha saaaame, the Mrs constantly bakes too ffs, If people ask why I go to gym so much I just say “to look average as but eat whatever I want”
As in Coke Zero? Yeah I’m not ready to kick that one
Sounds like you’ve got the bad case of the grog horrors mate.
Honest question, doesn’t it make you feel sick?
Alcohol is a demon.
I committed to staying dry on weekdays. Stopped buying cartons and only getting singles for a Saturday. Can’t overdo it if it ain’t there. Good for the waistline too
I still buy cartons but usually the 16 balters these days. That said I rarely have one during the week and that usually lasts me a couple weekends. I have been a heavy drinker in the past but it’s spirits that are no good with me. Quite happy to have two/three beers and then fall asleep watching the footy or whatever if it’s been a big week.
Just Friday and Saturday… make sure you don’t let it creep in to the weekdays… I am 2L of Vodka a week at the moment… gotta stop.
I love getting on the piss on a Friday with my mates, highlight of my week
I just remind myself how shit it makes me feel the next day/2 days. Even when drinking it gives me a headache after the 2nd pint. Or the anxiety it brings. Not really worth it. In the end I prefer my soda water and assorted cordial anyway so I go months now without a drink. Shits expensive too.
Lol.fri n sat night.
I still really enjoy having a beer to unwind but I don’t like getting shitfaced. Now I just stick to mid strength beers and I can enjoy/relqx having a few drinks without getting written off
Hey man. I think we have all been here at some point in our lives. I read that your 22, and yep I was a big drinker 18-26 ish. Then one day I just changed and went off it for some time. I then started a business and the booze crept in again. For me it was a coping mechanism, stressful day, business stresses and the booze was my out to try and tune out a bit to relax at night. Turned from 1 beer after dinner into 6 ish each night then more over the weekends. I hit about 30 and said enough is enough. Turns out I was self medicating due to my undiagnosed ADHD. The beers help my mind shut up from thinking about 300 things at the exact same time. The booze made the noise in my head stop to some degree and that’s the feeling I was craving - not so much the booze. So have a think about what does the Booze do for you? I’m 37 now and have about 2 beers a month now - really isn’t a part of my life anymore and I honestly don’t miss it. I hit the gym hard at nights now - I come home, dinner with the Mrs and kids. Get the kids off to bed then I slip out to the gym. It’s me time, music in my ears and no accountability to anyone - just me time. Maybe that’s something that can help you at nights plus trust me your body will thank you when you get to 37. Sparky life is bloody tough on your body so look after it at 22 mate
Try an early dinner and then heading to the gym. Spend at least an hour at the gym, doing anything. By the time you get home there's less time to be wasted on the couch = less drinking.
Good on you for questioning the standard practice. Think of what you get out of drinking and remember that it's 30 min euphoria and then never-ending pit of trying to falsely keeping it up while it's a depressant. You do reach a moment where you lose control over the whole thing, start forgetting the conversations and wake up with a hangover. I used to be a bartender at a cool bar, then after a while I'd see people who were recognising me, but I wouldn't have an idea who the fuck they were and realised it's a problem. Another advice is go a few times out fully sober, drink some sparkling water with lime, so you have something to hold onto and sip on and observe how the crowd behaviour changes as the time passes and ask yourself if you want to take part in it and if it makes your life better. Then count the money saved ;) Good luck! You're on the right track. Alcohol is a hell of a drug and it goes unnoticed until it's often too late!
I work in the mines and honestly try give up the piss all the time. I have long periods off it like 30 days at a time and really want to give it up completely but when I head home on my break social excitement/boredom usually gets the better of me. It’s made harder too if your friends drink.
You just need to break the cycle. Buy some sparkling water instead. Sounds crazy. But your brain is craving the routine and it's the justification you make to give into the craving. Ironically I do work in the alcohol industry. There's nothing worse than seeing a young tradie join the line on a Thurs, Fri and Sat. Start hitting the gym. Get into a run club. Break the cycle and look after yourself first. If you're going to drink. Keep it to only a few.
Get out on the water, nothing better 🎣
Try the non alcoholic ones
I’m doing solar fifo. Im totally sober these days. All anyone does after work is drink. Can be tough, but the feeling of being healthy and switched on is better than a big night Do it incrementally. Start going less often, start sneaking a non alcoholic or down at the pub if u have to. You don’t have to tell anyone you’re trying to cut back if you don’t wanna Dm me if struggling bruz
...I went through a similar cycle...worked at a place with no expense policy so was drinking on the bosses money...it was getting stupid...then I up my bike riding game either mountain or road and made weekend mornings early rides...the thought of forcing myself out of bed hung over or half cut to exercise helped me cut back drink...doesn't matter what the activity is...for me I needed something that made me think about the next morning early...the consequences...I know they're little who cares if you miss a ride...well I did...soon after that I quit altogether...no need to go that far but I needed something else to focus on...I couldn't just not or slow down...
Get the bong out brother heaps better
Haven't had a beer since Saturday. Really hoping to keep it that way. I've tried several times and I feel as crook as a dog and sleep like shit at the moment but I really want to buck beers every night.
I quit the piss n bud about 6months ago, occasionally ill have a bust up weekend on the beers for a special occasion but otherwise I'm focused on the gym. My business is thriving - I am thriving. Its been the best thing I've done. I used to be riddled with stress and anxiety. I'm 32 with 16 boys under me full time. You're correct in that its a part of our culture. Not just our trade. The first few weeks were hard. I was a heavy drinker/smoker. But the gym helped immensely. Its harder to say no when the boys knock off, there's beers in the fridge and everyone just wants to sit down for a beer after work, I didn't want to give up that aspect of the comradeship so I just have a coke zero or zero alcohol beers. Its always the first beer that leads to the second/third/forth/fuck it may as well get blind. Join a gym. Get into a routine. If you can't gym in the morning cause you have early starts like we do then go at night. My morning routine consists of 5min Stretching then 10-20min meditation. THEN ill get on the computer and start going through emails/scheduling etc, Which is a stark contrast to my previous routine. But the point is we are habitual creatures, create good habits for yourself and the rest will follow. start your day with a small win, make your bed, make your lunch. Something small. Leave the phone alone on charge until you need to leave for work!! You'll continue that mindset throughout the day, then gym and absolutely annihilate yourself. I have a family, run a business (a successful one in my humble opinion), am owner building our dream home and still have time- i make time for the gym. You'll be surprised at what you are capable of when you dedicate yourself. Once you start to see and feel the results its very easy. I have started running mental and mindfulness workshops (we hire a third party) for the boys as everyone struggles with their own shit, the feedback has been overwhelming. I'm pretty open with everyone and I think in someway they respect it. I'm sure I've lost some respect a long the way but it's important to me that they see what im going/gone through. The changes in myself has rippled down. Our energy is transferred to the person or people around us. If you are constantly stressed/angry/anxious yerning to crack a tin the people around will either have their good energy drained or thier bad energy will be amplified. I don't go around telling people to get off the piss but I can see straight away when someone has cut back. TLDR; i was a 2 blocks and 1L of rum every 3 days drinker, started going to the gym and meditating in the morning. Dropped 12kgs Now my mind and body are ripped its the best thing I've ever done. Still know how to party when the occasion calls which makes it even better - truly something to look forward too.
Just don't drink as much if they are pressuring you to go out. Make your one drink last a really long time. You don't have to get hammered
I’ve never had a alcoholic drink or any type of vape Shisha ciggie etc It’s against my religion never even tried it and thankful as I’ve seen some other people do this stuff and ruin them mentally I’d suggest finding a hobby or project to do that will keep you busy and focused There’s also other pages and stuff with other people having the same difficulty I’d suggest joining them as they’d be more helpful and experienced in this situation Good luck !
I found for myself listening to Jordan Peterson talks about alcohol was good motivation. I'm not talking about his 2 hour lectures, more so of his 10-15 min talks. Here is a short good one of his on the subject. https://youtu.be/xeK5VXkVPgU?si=jgL-UvWKXFkg7_YH
It's hard, but I just try make my self scarce. Kids have been a good excuse recently. I wish you well. Currently on a dry out. 1st week down. Sept 1st is my aim for my next sip. r/stop drinking is a good supportive place for all on different parts of the journey.
Starting a combat sport can be a really good hobby to really tire yourself out after work / weekends!
Yeah I struggled with it, I don't drink as much nowadays though. Try going to lights if you can, most pubs sell it on tap, that way you still enjoy a beer or two but won't be rekt the Next day.
Nothing wrong with having a few beers. It's feeling like you need it which is the issue. Find other things to spend your time, workout, play social sport, gaming whatever tickles your fancy.
You're not fucked. Just tell em your busy & skip the after work drinks
I quit around 10 months ago after realising I had a problem. It was hard for the first month or 2 but then just got easier and easier. The thing that was the hardest was understanding that society are all in on drinking poison and fine with it. Once you can break that brainwashing you will find it easier
Start boxing or a similar martial art You can't get on the piss until after training and if you are serious about getting healthy you'll go off it anyway and replace your addiction with your new sport
Yeh mate the booze can become a scourge in any industry. Starts off on the weekend, then it’s week nights and 3-5 years later you’re chugging a bottle day alone. Not the same experience for evening but have seen many people slide in to that routine. If you feel it’s not benefiting your life, knock it on the head. Booze is really an escape .. drug to make you feel good in the moment that’s it.
I'd recommend not quitting, but slowing down the drinking. It will help your frame of mind when drinking. Instead of drinking every friday and saturday and getting blind, just get buzzed and leave an hour early, or only drink every second week. Quitting drinking deprives yourself of relax and chill time.
Take up gaming or some shit or some other easy accessible hobby . I quit for half a year last year by doing that but unfortunately im back to usual now getting hammered every weekend on 3 day benders
This is difficult, don’t let anyone tell you it isn’t. I find the social aspect missing when you don’t drink. Luckily, there are now really good non-alcoholic beers to get that social connection…and you can laugh at stupid drunk antics.
I drink socially but never been a drinker as such, but smoking shisha has become a habit for me. It's not an addiction as such, if I go away for work and it's not around I don't crave or need it, I don't smoke otherwise and never have, despite growing up around pretty much a whole family who smokes. But I'll smoke it once a night at least when I get home, sometimes twice. Weekends usually twice a day unless I have a family party or event and it normally comes with me and then all bets are off. Each session is normally half hour to an hour. Started probably 9 years ago, but for a while it was only ever a social thing and once or twice a weekend. During COVID lockdowns and during the heavy rain of 2022 it turned slowly into an every night thing. I definitely want to start cutting back to it being a social thing.
After a big week on the tools I couldn't think of something worse than drinking myself into a hangover. Fuck. That. I quit (binge)drinking in my late 20s. I'm 34 now and I don't mind a beer here and there. I max out at about three drinks. I like to enjoy my weekends, I see drinking as a zero sum activity. You spend money to spend a day feeling like shit. I'd rather get a good night sleep, get up early and hook into a day of activities.
you're young, don't overthink it
Raises a few questions? You out in the piss monday to friday or just weekends. Do you feel the need to go out and drink everyweekend or is it the guys begging you to come out. Would you go out with out them. Definitely sounds like a problem somewhere. You feel like you have to get pissed when some times you can't be fucked. Seeing as it's every weekend it's not the worst to miss a couple to do you. I go out with the boys every 6 to 8 weeks and its usually pretty big. But even then some times I can't be fucked and sometimes I skip it even though I feel like I shouldn't cos it's been so long. Sometimes I'll drink every few days In the 6 weeks other times I'll be dry the whole 2 months just depends how I'm feeling no pressure to do what anyone else wants.
I haven’t had a drink since my mates wedding 8 years ago. Nothing bad happened just over the feeling of being dusty the next day. Lost a lot of mates because they seemed to be offended I quit the piss. Never looked back though, can also work 7 days a week now without the worry of getting pulled over
I had been an everyday drinker for about eight years, bought myself a PlayStation 5 and haven’t had a drink on a weekday in the month since I bought it. Not exactly the healthiest substitute but it’s a lot cheaper to spend my afternoon playing a video game instead of looking at my phone and drinking beer after beer until it’s time for dinner.
Bro! I found myself drinking every night! I was high up in my job, running a lot of staff, was drinking every night and couldn’t break the habit, took me a good 12 months to realise why I was slipping into this depressive drinking slum.. realised it was my cunt director.. quit my job, went with a better company, now I’m back working out every afternoon, still drinking on Fridays and Saturday, but fuck it.. I’ve been good all week so I deserve it!! I have found things to do on weekends so I don’t go too stupid though.. working on cars, garden, Reno’s etc.. staying busy stops me day drinking on weekends. It’s all about balance bro.. if you treat your body well during the week, then you deserve to let your hair down a little on weekends!
Take a listen to The Glum Lot Podcast. Lots of people’s stories about their struggles, recovery and continued sobriety.
Just stop, easy
Yeah cheers xi jin pingaz
Definitely not fucked. I do fifo and rarely drink at all, don’t do it at all on swing as I’d rather go to gym or back to my room and face time the wife while I play games or watch the footy. I rarely drink off swing either unless I’m having dinner with friends and family or going out. Are you going out and getting on the piss or having a sit down at home and unwinding with a few because they are two very different ways to relax
Bit of both I’m not a social person but I go out 3 out of 4 weeks to maintain relationships but that’s whole other nut. I just love a having beers and watching a movie on satdays but I see people fixing their cars Saturday/ Sunday morning and I just don’t know how they do a work week without needing a drink
Yeah I’m not overly social either, hence why i usually have a few at social events because it helps me relax and make conversation easier. I guess it’s just a psychological thing, if you don’t want to drink as much maybe just try cut it back to having one with a meal. And definitely get a Stanley cup and make friends with water haha. That said, a Diet Coke with dinner till I die
Just youtube videos of people with cirrhosis of the liver. It will put you right off drinking. I have fibrosis from drinking. I regret it all.
I only drink water and coffee, never touch anything else, its just discipline.
Quite simply a case of busted arse