What I’ve Learnt from Six Weeks without Alcohol

What I’ve Learnt from Six Weeks without Alcohol

‘I’ll never drink again!’ A familiar mantra recited by many following a heavy night of drinking – myself included. Whether it’s going for ‘just one more’ or polishing off some flaming Sambucas, there’s nothing like a filthy hangover to motivate you to quit alcohol for good. Yet even the most brutal mornings after eventually fade from memory and you’re quickly reaching for the bottle of red again.

Over the past decade, though, numerous awareness campaigns have sprung up to encourage people to abstain from alcohol for a given amount of time. Dry January, an initiative established by Alcohol Change UK in 2013, is probably the most famous of these. As the name suggests, participants have to make do without booze for the first 31 days of the year.

I first took on Dry January in 2017 as part of a three-month period of abstinence in the lead-up to a half-marathon. At the time, I threw myself into my training with full gusto, consequently attending fewer social events that involved alcohol. Six years on, I decided to give Dry January another try. However, this time, an ankle injury meant I wouldn’t have the welcome distraction of running.

What prompted me to take a break from alcohol?

First, it was important for me to properly frame my drinking. During my university years, I would go out three or four times a week and feel – for the most part – fine the next day. Yet as the hangovers worsened and my priorities shifted, I gradually curtailed my alcohol consumption, restricting booze to the weekends by the time I had hit my thirties.

Even so, much of my social life continued to involve alcohol in some form, be it enjoying a few beers while watching football, having a cocktail with dinner, or going for drinks after playing squash. While I don’t care for most types of alcohol, beer is my favourite drink, and I take pleasure in sampling different types and rating them on Untappd. Recently, though, I had been finding myself cracking open a beer to ‘take the edge off’ on midweek evenings too.

Second, I needed a challenge. With my ankle putting me out of action, sport was no longer an option for satisfying my competitive nature. Despite being a lousy sportsman, I get a kick out of improving my personal best times – whatever the activity may be. I figured tackling a day-by-day challenge such as Dry January would be a good way to keep my mind focused.

Third, I had been frequently experiencing sleep issues. Whether it was trouble drifting off or waking up with the jitters at 4 a.m., I was rarely getting a full eight hours of undisturbed sleep. The tiredness was affecting other areas of my life, making me grouchy and stifling my productivity.

Yet could one or two evening beers be having such a significant impact on my life?

?

Fitter, healthier, more productive

The first week of Dry January was certainly the toughest. Managing a heavy workload and shaking off a nasty bout of festive flu, I felt lethargic and irritable – sleep had completely deserted me. By the time Friday evening rolled around, the lure of that ice-cold six pack in the fridge was chipping away at my will power. It took some firm resistance, but I managed to tick off another day in the abstinence calendar.

Another challenge was fighting the urge to drink when going out. On the first weekend of January, I went to an Indian restaurant with a friend. Usually, I would opt for a pint of Kingfisher or Cobra to accompany my meal. Yet their non-alcoholic counterparts were worthy substitutes, and I was able to make it through another evening with my record intact.

Non-alcoholic beers have been a great help throughout Dry January and beyond. Since my previous foray into abstinence in 2017, the range of alcohol-free drinks has grown substantially; the quality of the selection on offer has also improved. With the percentage of younger people drinking alcohol decreasing, breweries and drinks companies have been busy ramping up investment into 0% alcohol alternatives.

My quality of sleep soon took a positive turn, as evidenced by improvements in the REM and deep-sleep cycles recorded by my smartwatch. My dreams have become more vivid, and I have been waking up feeling well rested and ready to go. This has had a positive effect on my creativity and productivity both at work and in my private life.

After a tricky first week, the rest of Dry January was largely plain sailing. Whenever I felt like a drink, a non-alcoholic beer acted as an effective placebo. Over time, cravings gradually subsided – even when dealing with difficult personal issues. While unable to do any sport beyond yoga and stretching, I haven’t felt noticeably less fit, nor have I put on any weight.

What about socialising without alcohol?

As drinking is a common theme in my interactions with friends, socialising could have proven to be a stumbling block. In 2017, people would often ask why I wasn’t drinking – a question that quickly grew tiresome. In some cases, there would be a certain edge to the questioning, fuelled by the social peer pressure that frequently accompanies drinking. On one particular stag night, the husband-to-be was even downright offended by me sticking to soft drinks, exclaiming that this was ‘his special day’ and everyone needed to get loaded.

This time, I gravitated towards friends who aren’t heavy drinkers or who were also taking part in Dry January. I have enjoyed going out as much as I usually do, even when doing activities that have always involved a couple of drinks for me, such as playing pool. Compared to six years ago, I have noticed a more receptive attitude towards people who choose not to drink, as sober curiosity has continued to gain in popularity.

On one particular stag night, the husband-to-be was even downright offended by me sticking to soft drinks, exclaiming that this was ‘his special day’ and everyone needed to get loaded.

So, no more alcohol for good?

From the outset, I never intended to give up booze for life. As with many people who participate in Dry January, I felt it was an opportune time to reset my relationship with alcohol, especially after drinking had started creeping back into my midweek routine again. It has been great waking up with a clear head every single day, and I would recommend these sorts of alcohol breaks to anyone.

When Dry January drew to a close, I decided to continue my abstinence. A further injury setback has confined me to the couch, meaning I can’t go out and enjoy a cold one anyway; the thought of drinking at home alone is also a depressing one. So far, I’ve made it to six weeks without alcohol but don’t have a target date in mind. That first drink will come when the time is right.