Dry for March 10 days in
Hi again. It’s been 10 days since I gave up alcohol and greatly reduced my caffeine intake for the month of March. How’s it coming along?
Well, I haven’t had any real cravings for coffee, tea or wine at all so far. I have to confess that I was pretty worried about getting a migraine or withdrawal headache from cutting back the caffeine, but so far everything is OK – my guestimate for the amount to cut down to must have been about right.
As I’m not a massive drinker in the first place, I suspected that giving up booze would be pretty easy, and for the most part it has been. Definitely no physical symptoms at all, or wanting to reach for some after a tough day. The only time it has felt awkward was when I visited my favourite bar/restaurant, a place where they greet me as “Hello Miss Small Glass of House Red?” Their house wine tastes mighty fine, and I was a bit stumped when having to make a change from the usual, but that’s just a mixture of habit and social expectations.
Finding something else to drink instead has been interesting. Normally when I’m out I alternate an alcoholic drink with a glass of water, but I didn’t see the appeal in alternating a glass of water with another glass of water for the whole of the month. So I’ve been trying a few new drinks with varying success and lime and soda seems to work best, at least when it’s mild and sunny.
Which brings me on to the next thing. Why are non-alcoholic drinks so expensive? I don’t mean the freshly made juices or the special and unusual imports, I mean everyday drinks such as cola, bottled juice drinks and the like. I know that pubs and restaurants have to make a profit, but I’ve recently seen people being charged £4.00 for a J2O / Britvic type drink in an unswanky West End bar, and it’s just getting beyond a joke.
It can’t be much of an incentive for designated drivers, and it makes all these ‘please enjoy alcohol responsibly’ caveats on adverts look like cynical lip service.
Anyway, I can’t say there’s been a miraculous difference in my general wellbeing, but with no caffeine intake after 6pm it is definitely easier to fall asleep at night and I’m feeling a little brighter in the mornings. It might take another week or two to get the full effect, but let’s see.
I too have given up caffeine for Lent, and have switched to decaf tea and stopped drinking soda. That is the hardest part i love soda and have gone cold turkey. Its awful. but the tea thing has been surprisingly easy. but you are so right it makes falling asleep so much easier. down with caffeine!
Hi Etta! Cold turkey? You’re very brave! How are you feeling in general, and did you get a bad reaction? Decaf teas are better now than they used to be and I’m having some here most days too. Must confess, I really enjoy a freshly ground and brewed coffee on a Saturday morning, and the first cuppa of the day, and afternoon tea. Could probably give up coffee without too much trouble though, as I regularly go four or five days between them.