Alcohol free January

You're on mate!

Excellent Anya - feel very secure having you alongside again - I'll definitely go with starting on January 2nd and your birthday weekend is an absolute must for the dispensation ....

Loopylou- I think sloe gin just improves but could be wrong.

In January I shall drink only tap water. I did it last year and was sponsored to raise money for Water Aid. I admit to beginning about half an hour into January 1st, not at midnight but otherwise I found I could keep to it. I found that a cup of tea was what I missed most although I usually drink de-caffeinated or Redbush. It wasn't the caffeine I missed, just the comfort of a nice hot cuppa!
Anyone joining me?

Count me in again JG with two provisos.

I will start on Jan2nd and I will ask for a dispensation for my birthday weekend 23-24 Jan.

Definitely NanKate - my last dry month was September and I felt so much better - I'm signed up!!

Last alcoholic drink will be at midnight on NY's Eve - and I have a very special bottle of wine to celebrate...
This will also give me the opportunity to eat sensibly and get fit .....

Who else is joining ...?

Are you with me on this Joggingirl no alcohol 1to 31 January ?

I will be resuming my usual 10 units approx a week in February.

Have got a lovely bottle of my favourite wine in the fridge chilling to have tomorrow and NYE. Really looking forward to it, before the abstinence on Jan 01.

Anyone else in the Teetotal for a month squad ?

Well said Elegran - 'temperance' swear-off' - no way ....

There are many gransnetters who appreciate a glass (or two or three) of summat. also many who don't but I don't suppose they will do the sharp intake of breath at the thought.

But I assumed that dry January was just a pause in the drinking year, to allow the liver a breathing space after the Christmas/New Year celebrations, not to join the Temperance Movement and swear off the demon drink for ever?

(It is also a kind of statement that it is possible to drink no alcohol for a given time - proving that the bottle is not the master. )

Depends how much you drink. There does seem to be a presumption that everyone drinks too much and needs to cut back.

Over Christmas I have averaged about two drinks a day, a glass of wine or cider with my main meal and a small glass of some liqueur (usually sloe gin) just before I go to bed. This for me is a lot of alcohol. Once I return from a Christmas trip abroad on 8 January I will probably drink little or nothing for the rest of the month, which is much closer to my normal drinking pattern than this week's consumption.

As I know I drink well below any recommended limit, I do not really give my alcohol consumption much thought. If I fancy an alcoholic drink, I drink it, but I refuse more alcoholic drinks than I accept. I am permanently the driver if we go out for a meal. DH usually likes 2 glasses of wine, if he decides to have any, but he too often opts for soft drinks.

No sharp intake of breath here JanT8 - I love a glass of red, a G&T, a glass of white or, indeed, a glass of bubbles - just every now and then I have to say to myself - can you do it...?
I love a challenge ...

A glass of wine and an occasional G&T? Hardly sharp intake of breath stuff!

No, sorry, my January will be definitely WET! I love a glass of wine and , on occasions, a G & T beforehand!
My husband, as he's got older, will have a half a glass of wine with dinner. I will drink his share along with mine!
No doubt many of you will have a sharp intake of breath on reading this but, hey, we're a long time dead!!

I can almost be fooled by a virgin G & T, Cagsy - tonic, ice and a slice, just hold the gin (sob). Or how about a Virgin Mary?

My first 'dry' January was in 2000, and I haven't had a drop since. [ ?]

My DD is 40, my cousin 70 and sister and DSiL also have birthdays so a dry January is not on the cards but I will try and cut down, if just to prove to myself that I can. I love it though, a G&T followed by a few glasses of wine with dinner and a whisky nightcap is a real joy to me, not bothered if I never eat another chocolate though, not a sweet tooth.
Any good suggestions of substitutes? Can't abide Coke or sweet drinks and you can only take so much sparkling water! Any ideas welcome.

I've posted a link to the app a few posts up.

I've posted a link to the app a few posts up.

I've posted a link to the app a few posts up.

I've posted a link to the app a few posts up.

I've posted a link to the app a few posts up.

I've posted a link to the app a few posts up.

Yes, the app is just called Dry January. I found it easier to do the whole month rather than just doing weekdays. Once I was in the swing of it it was ok.

Life's too short to give up something you enjoy - I for one will be having my usual

I'll never be a drinker, I drank half a glass of red wine and a tiny tot of sloe gin in the whole of December
I wonder if sloe gin 'goes off'?

Good idea gillybob we wouldn't want you weaving all over the road on the way to school.

Starting on yucky back to work Monday (it's an official day on my calendar) I am going to try and do dry school nights.

No alcohol Sunday-Thursday should be easy enough

Sales not sakes!

Just checked my diary, no month looks good this year to go dry ( darn it!)?

I said to DH today that I was giving up for January. I expected him to congratulate me and he didn't, perhaps he is waiting to see if I can do it.

Went gosoberoctober!....too many birthdays in Jan, Feb and March but April looks promising....