29 Comments

I like what you write. That’s generally true, and there is much in what you say here. Perhaps, while weighing your thoughts on this matter, you would enjoy the late Roger Scruton’s thoughts on it as well.

https://www.roger-scruton.com/book-shop/wine-list-3/i-drink-therefore-i-am-2

Expand full comment

Most of your points don't make much sense, honestly.

Expand full comment

Retiring from the drinking life is the best thing I ever did for myself

Expand full comment

I quit drinking almost 25 years ago. I had a real reason to quit: alcohol was killing me.

Expand full comment

I quit it last year, and I don't miss it. Good luck to you. Basically, it's poison.

Expand full comment

3.5 years sober here. It's a great life experiment and experience. I'm still learning from my sobriety.

Expand full comment

I’m sure Tyler approves too.

Expand full comment

I went down this path six years ago for the entirely stupid reason of becoming more interesting at parties. Since then I've been discovering this list of real reasons for it and constructing the case for myself.

Go for it, it is a superpower!

Expand full comment

Thank you reinforcing many of teh reasons that I quit alcohol a few years ago. I really do feel, on a daily basis, like I have acquired superpowers. How great I feel has surpassed my highest expectations.

Expand full comment

sorry for you, cheers

Expand full comment

Good luck - I’m 8 months in and the improvements have been almost immeasurably good

Expand full comment

I started on the Sinclair method a couple of months ago and it seems to be working super well, and may be easier for you than cold turkey. Tries to disengage the connection from alcohol to your brain. Also interestingly I find myself far more critical of the flavor of drinks now especially with food.

Expand full comment

lovely and 100% on target.

it's a societal delusion that alcohol is great.

if alcohol has been invented today it wouldn't be banned as a drug it would have been one of the more restricted was actually. this is not me, this is what drug experts say

Expand full comment

Hi Anna, I want to share the non alcoholic beers like Athletic Brewing and spirits like Ritual as well as a mocktail book have really really helped. It may be contrary to some of your reasons, or a crutch, but it has been a lot easier.

Expand full comment

I stopped drinking a while ago, except for the very occasional social *single* beer. My doctor asked (as they do) "do you drink" and when I said "yes" asked how much. My answer of half a dozen beers a year caused him to look at me for a while and then write down "no" on the form.

Expand full comment

Good on you! Commit to it, even if it just ends up being reason #10 as the end goal. Once you've experienced life with and without, you can then better decide between the situations in which alcohol may be an improvement (pending a control on the level of consumption), and those in which it should be assiduously avoided.

Personally, I rarely drink, and have never had a problem with it. However, two glasses of red and I'm at my sociable best - because at zero I'm guarded to the point of standoffish.

Expand full comment