Community: Real Life

Giving up booze

What makes young people in the prime of their social lives give up drinking? It isn't as unusual as you might expect, as Ellie and Nick prove.

Ellie, 25

Ellie

Ellie salutes sobriety

I gave up drinking because I was feeling depressed and drinking was making it much worse. My mum died when she took an overdose while she was drunk; I don't believe she would have done it if she was sober. I often worried that I would do something similar as I occasionally experienced very extreme lows when I was drinking. I decided that it was safer to stop drinking all together to ensure that I never 'did anything stupid'. I was also tired of making a fool of myself when I was drunk. I didn't feel like people were getting to know the real me, or seeing the person I wanted them to see.

I haven't had a drink for six months now, and most people have been really supportive. I get a few comments about how sad it is that I can't 'go out and enjoy myself', but the people who say that are usually big drinkers who don't want to look at their own drinking habits. The fact that I have given up drinking completely and never intend to drink again totally baffles them.

Sitting in a pub when everyone else is getting drunk is pretty boring, so I usually only go out if there's a band playing, or a special occasion, like someone's birthday. This is much better for me as it makes going out a bit more special. If I'm going out clubbing, I get a sugar boost from an energy drink so I can keep up with the party animals. I don't really miss drinking - I am happy to know I will never have another hangover, be sick in my hair, or wake up next to a stranger. The most annoying thing is waiting for drunken friends to leave a club, or decide collectively on doing anything. I usually get bored and go home!

"I get a lot of negative comments from friends they dont think I'll enjoy the evening as much as I would if I was drinking alcohol."

Nick, 22


I drank heavily from the age of about 17, but I chose to give up alcohol six months ago. The onset of two-day hangovers and alcohol-related illnesses, such as acid reflux, told me that it was time to stop.

I find that now I've stopped drinking I'm healthier and more awake during the day. My skin has cleared up and I can actually remember nights out, which I never used to!

If I want to be energetic on a night out I tend to buy energy drinks, which keep me going. If I want a thirst quencher I go for orange and soda, which also fills you up, so you don't have to drink as much! The best way for me to avoid alcohol is by distracting myself with other hobbies, or socialising in my house.

Nick

Nick stays sober now

There is a lot of peer pressure to drink. When I go out everyone else is drinking and trying to persuade me to drink with them. I get a lot of negative comments from friends - they don't think I'll enjoy the evening as much as I would if I was drinking alcohol. It's also very hard when some of my friends offer to buy me alcoholic drinks and are just plain rude when I say no. I've dealt with this by distancing myself from this group of friends. Seeing them drunk when I'm sober has made me realise that they're not very nice people.

Interviews by Susie Wild


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