Teetotal update 1

Quick update further to my attempt to give up alcohol for 3 weeks and test the responses of everyone around me. I went to a house party last night to celebrate my friend Gail's 21st birthday. It was easy to stay off the drink because I had the car and because Gail's mum Joyce had made the most amazing alcohol free punch. I had a chat with some folk about what I was doing and someone pointed out to me that the biggest social change he has noticed is that no-one questions you drinking soft drinks if you say you have the car with you. Only 15 years ago it was often seen as socially acceptable to drink and drive. So we CAN change our attitudes if we try hard enough.

It made me realise though that I need to not use the car as an excuse seeing as nobody would dream of persuading someone to drink and drive these days. I also need to stop telling people I'm testing their responses - as soon as I said that last night we had a long talk about alcohol but of course, given the warning, nobody is going to then try to get me to drink.

So what I need to do is turn up and say I don't actually want to drink.

One last thing. I rarely get drunk but I frequently drink SOME alcohol - even if it's just a glass of wine with my dinner. Now I thought it was getting drunk that lead to hangovers but I'm beginning to think it doesn't take much at all to affect your health and wellbeing. I realise it's far too soon to judge but I often wake up feeling tired, fuzzy and like I need far more sleep than I've had. This morning however, I woke up full of beans with a clear head and loads of energy. If all I have to do to get this is NOT drink alcohol, I may last a whole lot longer than the 3 weeks.

I've also had some interesting emails from people after my posting yesterday and with their permission I'll share some of those with you over the next few weeks.