Quitting Alcohol

[ChrisD]

Hanging out with drunks can show ya what not to be like. But, being a little more careful and hanging out with people that want the best for you, and that model good behavior could be helpful too. Misery loves company, and I had friends that were “bothered” by me quitting. Not all of them, but a few. Gradually, those friendships faded. The ones that weren’t bothered have remained great friends. I got selective with who I hung out with.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Hanging out with drunks can show ya what not to be like. But, being a little more careful and hanging out with people that want the best for you, and that model good behavior could be helpful too. Misery loves company, and I had friends that were “bothered” by me quitting. Not all of them, but a few. Gradually, those friendships faded. The ones that weren’t bothered have remained great friends. I got selective with who I hung out with.

I haven't had any friends pressure me but at the same time, I haven't inspired any friends to the point that they are changing. One of my good buddies talks about it but there’s always some excuse why he didn’t quit like he said. I don’t want to nag him or act better than him so I just let it rest. He’s a good dude but I can see the booze chipping away at him.

 

[Cantshoot]

Hanging out with drunks can show ya what not to be like. But, being a little more careful and hanging out with people that want the best for you, and that model good behavior could be helpful too. Misery loves company, and I had friends that were “bothered” by me quitting. Not all of them, but a few. Gradually, those friendships faded. The ones that weren’t bothered have remained great friends. I got selective with who I hung out with.

A lot of those guys no matter how good of friends, inside they want to see you fail and not be able to stop. For some people it’s very intimidating and brings pressure on them from their families to look at themselves. I don’t miss any of it or the “friends” I lost.

 

[Snowwolfe]

I sincerely hope that many of you that quit turn your energy back into your family. Alcohol robbed me from having a father and grandfather in my life growing up. He was there, but the most important thing he could do every day was to spend time at a bar getting loaded with his friends.
Your kids will never ever forgot how they were raised or the time you spent with them.

 

[whaack]

Thought I’d add to the thread. Gave up alcohol as part of a fast last year. Turned into a basically permanent fast. I’ll very occasionally have a bourbon, but I now feel better, sleep better and think better. The sleep thing was huge for me. I haven’t slept well in 20 years and I’m now convinced it’s been due to alcohol consumption this whole time.

 

[Kroach]

Posted on this a while ago but thought I'd check back in. Coming up on 14 years sober and couldn't imagine life any other way at this point. Some of the recent posts about friends from drinking reminds me of a lot of friends I used to have. When I quit I completely had to change people, places, and things. Through the early years I would meet up sometimes with my drinking buddies but never at a bar to catch up. As the years progressed there was just less and less that were commonalities between us and communication has faded to nothing pretty much.

Now it seems that I don't have as many "friends" as I did when I was drinking, but the ones I do have share common life goals. Family, career, hobbies, etc. These friends have helped build me up and push me to be better in about every aspect of life. When I happen to see old friends it seems that they are stuck in time. Rocky relationships, dead end jobs, absent families.

I don't push my lifestyle on anyone but sometimes wish it would influence them. I do believe though that my choices had has an affect on other people, some of who have stayed sober for several years.


It just makes me thankful I "sacrificed" at the beginning of sobriety and learned enough to be able to maintain it and grow into it and the man I am today.

 

[Amos Keeto]

Spent a good portion of my young adult (18-28) life at the trough of alcoholic ignorance and poor judgement.
Sad part? I dislike* the taste of alcoholic beverages. I drank because everybody else did.
If I had a nickel back out of every dollar $ I spent on/because of alcohol, I may not be rich, but I'd be a helluva lot better off! LOL!

* - don't "savor"? I "can" drink, it's just a flavor I can easily turn down. Alcohol isn't a desire.

 

[LFC911]

Spent a good portion of my young adult (18-28) life at the trough of alcoholic ignorance and poor judgement.
Sad part? I dislike* the taste of alcoholic beverages. I drank because everybody else did.
If I had a nickel back out of every dollar $ I spent on/because of alcohol, I may not be rich, but I'd be a helluva lot better off! LOL!

* - don't "savor"? I "can" drink, it's just a flavor I can easily turn down. Alcohol isn't a desire.

you realized it sooner than most...try 18-56 lol

 

[Manwitaplan]

Well folks I completely missed my 2 year mark on reporting my alcohol free life. December 27th of 2025 was a complete 2 years no alcohol not even a sip. It has got to the point now where I very seldom even have a NA beer. I have had one friend have to go to a rehab facility to get better for alcohol and he is doing great. He calls me all the time to check in he said his sleep is on another level. I asked my wife the other day if she likes that i don't drink and of course she said yes. I said why, and she said because you are not an idiot like when you drank. My story is a bit different I did not intend to quit just did a dry January and nver looked back. On a positive note, my dove hunting buddies jab at me a bit but this last trip down to south Texas I was designated driver for the group. It woirked out great and I got to drive some dudes brand new Raptor. I am so glad to see this thread still adding folks and hearing the long sobriety times of some members. I wish each and every one of you much suceess and a great 2026!

Manwitaplan

 

[Telford29]

Every time I see that bourbon thread come up on recent posts, I think of this thread. Hope you all are doing well. Going good here. Almost a month in and no urge to stop by the liquor store for a bottle. It’s been a roller coaster ride with this journey. Have been trying to go completely alcohol free for a few years now. Will go six months, then three, then six again, back to one on and on. Time to put the fire out for good!! Have a great week ahead everyone.

 

[voltage]

Every time I see that bourbon thread come up on recent posts, I think of this thread. Hope you all are doing well. Going good here. Almost a month in and no urge to stop by the liquor store for a bottle. It’s been a roller coaster ride with this journey. Have been trying to go completely alcohol free for a few years now. Will go six months, then three, then six again, back to one on and on. Time to put the fire out for good!! Have a great week ahead everyone.

Good for you, and keep it up, from a bourbon thread poster.

 

[Upstatepe]

I did it, I feel better and glad I did it. Doc said if I wanted to prevent Afib to start by quitting drinking. It was an easy choice for me.

 

[OregonSteeler]

I keep seeing articles about the younger generation not interested in drinking and consumption overall in the US is going down. America as a society has a horrible tendency/reputation for binge drinking, whereas most other countries alcohol is ingrained in their culture but handle it much better (wine at dinner, whiskey for a celebration, etc..).

I don't believe that alcohol is the devil but I'm sure happier without it in my life.

Congratulations to everyone on here for 1 day of sobriety - years. Look in the mirror, you're in the minority, in a good way!!

 

[ODB]

I did it, I feel better and glad I did it. Doc said if I wanted to prevent Afib to start by quitting drinking. It was an easy choice for me.

YUp. As a dude who has had afib episodes - alcohol can definitely kick it off.

 

[B Harrison]

16 years here.
Have a smoke every once in a while, but drinking never did me any favors.
Saves money to go towards guns too


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[eamyrick]

I had a relapse. Was dry for over a year. Then the "What if" monster started whispering in my ear..... I started dabbling again. Went the same way as last time tho. Complete waste of time and money. Felt like crap. Everything went downhill in a hurry. I've been dry now for almost a month and don't even think about it. Already feeling better! For those of you on Facebook i highly recommend giving Ian Callahan a follow. He has a great ZERO BS approach to quitting that just makes sense. Anyways.... Wishing everyone health and happiness!! Thanks Fellas!

Man we believe in you. April will be 12 years for me and on of the main drivers for me was a call from my Dad who has been a lifelong alcoholic. He pointed me towards a mantra based system that centered on “I’ll never drink again and I’ll never change my mind.” For me it worked. When the beast in my brain starts making deals with how it will be different this time I always remind myself of that mantra.

I have the best friends you could have and my hunting crew are all sober. My boys have b never seen my take a drink.

Last week my Dad called and is 400 days sober.

 

[Archerichards]

Recently came to the conclusion I want/need to stop drinking. I've seen a few guys on here say they've been sober for years.

I've been pretty strong willed when it comes to kicking habits, but this one has been a one step forward three steps back one. Haha

Those of you who have stopped did you notice many benefits on your hunts, mindset, or physical shape?
Any tips on the process?

Similar story.

I did not have a drinking problem. Was a one to two IPA a night drinker.

But, like lots of my mid-sixties friends I started 1/1/26 with a DRY JANUARY. Now I sleep all night and wake up well rested and feeling great. Have a lot more energy for my morning workout and my wife confirms my morning mood is a lot better.

All that, and I lost ten pounds immediately.

When I am out with friends I just order a Diet Coke. Nobody teases me, or encourages me to do otherwise. Just looking around the table at my buddies, I can see they respect and admire it.

I am now almost at Easter and nearly ninety days into total sobriety. I have no plans to drink again.

 

[Bendpause]

I just made a conscious choice to not drink, and it's worked out for me. Seeing how alcohol affected people close to you, like your family, probably solidified that decision. You're right, it's all about weighing the benefits - for you, it doesn't seem worth it. Now, being in situations where drinking's tempting.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I did it, I feel better and glad I did it. Doc said if I wanted to prevent Afib to start by quitting drinking. It was an easy choice for me.

that's why I stopped, I was getting Afib and quitting alcohol was low hanging fruit for lifestyle changes. I wasn't making bad life choices or doing dangerous stuff when I was drinking, in reality, Id just drink heavily at home on weekends, especially if I was working on something. Painting a house, working on a vehicle, chopping wood, cutting up a moose or something, the booze would flow. I just walked away from the booze in February of 2025.

Im not sure why I ever started drinking, I think id spent most of my younger years so involved in different athletic things that I just avoided alcohol, then sort of discovered the wonders of alcohol when I was in my mid 30s and it just became a bad habit. Im glad I kicked it but when I walk by the liquor section of a grocery store I still like to look at all the different stuff.