Why it’s easier than ever to say no to alcohol

I quit alcohol May, 2022 for several reasons, I think # 1 was for my heart. After heart challenges (details) I thought one of the few areas left to improve in my life was ending alcohol. My weight seemed pretty good, I am active, don’t smoke, take my medicines the Doc tells me to, trying to reduce stress. Heck, alcohol was the only thing left! During COVID it did seem Happy Hour was becoming more regular. With alcohol comes snacking but even worse for me, poor sleep patterns. I am convinced part of my heart issues was from sleep challenges due to aging, stress – and yes – alcohol. So I ended it.

2.5 years or so later I find it a non-issue. It’s dawned on me after going to yet another gathering of friends, enjoying my (zero alcohol) beer and not thinking about it or feeling out of place. In fact – it seems quite normal.

Here are the top reasons why I have found ending alcohol easier than anticipated. But first – two facts. Yes, I miss having a few and laughing loudly. And yes, I miss the taste of a great wine. Hence, I like to have one swallow of Jan’s wine every now and then and really, really cherish it. Just one!

Tops Reasons Saying No to Alcohol was Easier Than Anticipated.

Zero alcohol beers. While not an expert, improvements and changes in the process have greatly improved zero beers. Regular beers have around 5.0% alcohol. I look for the “zero” beers with 0.5% as opposed to the 0.0 beers as this tells me they let the beer begin to ferment – but stop the fermenting process. The result is a minute amount of alcohol but a beer that tastes much, much better than those days of crappy 0.0 beer we had to put up with. Zero beers have exploded in popularity thanks to improved product but also changing lifestyles and demographics. Even the big names are getting into it, including my fav, Guinness. I first tasted Guinness Zero in Ireland in 2022 – finally it’s available in Canada. Zero beers have made it discreet to abstain if that’s important to people, even hip.
Getting older and more health aware. Probably thanks to the people we hang out with – it’s no longer frowned upon to not drink alcohol. This is a combination of our aging and aging friends but also choosing friends who are active and engaged in vibrant lives. Suddenly parties seems full of people having max 1, 2 drinks, or often – zero drinks with alcohol through the evening.
Shift in societal norms. Trends come and go and I’m not an expert but it seems there is less alcohol consumed per capita. This reduces any stigma about choosing not to drink.
Drugs. While I don’t, I think many find alcohol expensive and have moved on to soft (or otherwise) drugs to get a recreational high.
Improved lifestyle. Yes, I miss the laughing boisterously, but the upside is improved sleep, better heart health, better diet, feeling better about one’s choices.
Moving to a region that encourages an active lifestyle. Living in Northern Alberta for 25 years was terrific for friends, family and business. But on those dark, cold, winter evenings – what else was there to do but drink? Or was that just us!? Moving to Victoria where we are constantly active via biking, walking and hanging out with a like minded crowd – it just seems to have made reducing or eliminating alcohol easier.
Health. Let’s face it – older, wiser, but when you get slapped up the side of your face with the reality of a bad heart – you have to give serious consideration to changing the things that are in your control.

So, cheers to a happy healthy life and cheers to healthy decisions. Cheers, with my Guinness Zero in hand.