Have you tried replacing alcoholic drinks with non alcoholic drinks? I switched to non alcoholic cocktails and non alcoholic beer which has become very common and quite good where I’m from. So this allows me to continue to hang out and socialize with friends as usual. I don’t have to turn down going to a bar with them and I can bring my own beverages to parties. It won’t help loosen you up, but you can still socialize like you always do without making a big thing of the fact that you’re off alcohol.
Comment on Alcohol is "amazing" - Kurzgesagt
MisterNeon@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I gave up drinking in December. I’m so fucking lonely now. The episode is accurate.
BlueLineBae@midwest.social 3 weeks ago
MisterNeon@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
I’m not gonna lie, being around drunks while sober is obnoxious. Also Trump took my job so it’s not like I got the money to spare to buy virgin drinks.
JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
One nice thing I’ve found with quitting is that it’s a lot cheaper… Club soda with a lime wedge is about the cheapest thing (other than tap water) you can get at a bar/restaurant, and a lot of places give refills for free. At first I didn’t love the taste, but beer was an acquired taste too! And if I do get non-alcoholic beer or cocktails, I tend to not want as many, so I naturally save money there too (on top of them usually being a buck or two cheaper.)
recklessengagement@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Do not fear the solace that comes with raising your standards.
blarghly@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Why are you lonely? Why not do things that don’t involve alcohol?
Aarrodri@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Why give up all? Can’t control only a few?
Tujio@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Not OP, but that’s an incredibly common situation.
bollybing@lemmynsfw.com 3 weeks ago
When you don’t drink often, drinking just a little might not be worth the downsides. You lose tolerance for alcohol fast, and you realise that getting a buzz doesn’t actually feel that great, and isn’t worth feeling worse the next day which can happen after just a couple of beers.
rocketpoweredredneck@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
Yeah, I used to drink 7 or 8 beers every night, but now I only drink at special occasions or if I’m stuck working out of town for more than a couple of days. When I drink now it only takes a couple of beers to get the same level of drunk that 7 got me before, and I can drink four and I’m all wobbly. I don’t get hungover anymore though.
MisterNeon@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Cholesterol, weight, and high blood pressure. I’m getting older.
JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
I wasn’t the first, but slowly my friends are all starting to quit drinking and we still hangout regularly. I still go out with friends that drink and make sure I have a non-alcoholic beverage at hand at all times. Any “friends” that make a big deal about it (which isn’t very many tbh) are cut out of my life now…
Conversations are definitely different than they used to be and our get togethers tend to be shorter, but we’ve slowly been adjusting and we do things a little differently now. More games, destinations other than a bar, etc.
I’m not belittling how you feel, it’s different for everyone. Just letting you know that it can be different.
pineapplelover@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 weeks ago
If the only way for your friends to hangout is to do drugs and alcohol, they’re not that great of friends because they need to be under the influence at all times to vibe together.