I used to have problems with drinking and drugs in the past that I managed to overcome. I spent nearly a year sober before I started drinking again but I somehow was able to manage it all, like a ‘normal person’ would. Last year I did a dry January and this year I’m doing it as well. Spent my night drinking NA beers today and had a great time. They make some great NA beers these days and I honestly don’t see the point of drinking anymore.
Jesus, I could have written this! I’m still smoking dope though. Less than I used to but still I like to cut that out too. I feel great after a couple of weeks with no alcohol and it was surprisingly easy. The only problem is when I’m outside shopping or whatever, normally me and my wife would go for a few beers, now that we’re not doing that we don’t want to go anywhere and just drink tea or whatever, seems pointless and something we can just do at home. There’s a huge social aspect to drinking that can’t easily be replaced. I’ll stay off drinking for the forseeable, but not forever, and I don’t want to go back to drinking daily like I’d been doing since lockdown.
I feel like NA beers would really help people with that, but I guess it depends on where you live. Where I live there’s a huge beer culture and funnily enough that has not hindered the NA Beer development. It is actually thriving and one brewery is even saying NA beers make up like 25% of their sales. There are lots of good NA beer in every bar so you don’t have to drink a tea or a basic soda if you go out.
Like you said, maybe it’s not forever and I decide to have the occasional drink. Maybe I won’t, we’ll see. Good luck to you!