My one-six pack-a-week challenge

I don't mean to judge you or anyone else's drinking habits on this site, but I have to say I am truly astounded by the amount that some people consume on a daily basis. My father in law drank a 12 pack a day for 25 years and now has cirrhosis of the liver with months to live (he is 63). I guess it just becomes normal to some people. Anyway, no preaching here at all but just some food for thought.

 

I take it you're not a machinist.

 

IMO calling it a 6 pack a week " challenge " is a sign of a deeper issue. Regardless, best of luck, hope things work out.

 

I am very sorry to hear about your father-in-law; no matter when or how it happens it's always tough. It did become normal for me. My father passed at 48 from a heart attack caused by a (then unknown) genetic condition. There's a good (60%) chance I've got the same condition, and I only mention this because I used to not care about cirrhosis what-so-ever; I figured if I lived long enough to get it, good for me. Fortunately, I have a much brighter outlook these days

 

I'm at the six pack per week stage or even two weeks sometimes. I tend to like high ABV beers and would drink quite a lot of 12% ABV. But what happens then is that my resistance to alcohol increases swiftly and the I don't enjoy socializing with anything less than 8 or 9 ABV. I took 4 months off from drinking completely and went back to 5.6 % and now don't go over 6%. I buy one six per week. Although I usually drink it in a few hours or sometimes split it in two days.

Tommy

 

That's what the Vodka is for.

 

To the OP, I think you need to go cold turkey to test yourself. Don't have any alcohol for a month. If you think this is a crazy idea, or if you don't think you could go more than a couple of days drinking, I think you truly need to consider acknowledging to yourself that you might have a problem, and seek treatment. As others have mentioned, no judgement here, but I think sometimes because we are all craft beer drinkers, we think that it's acceptable to drink large quantities of alcohol to increase our knowledge and credibility in the "scene" forgetting that alcohol is a poison in consistently large quantities, regardless of the quality of the delivery system.

It's irresponsible for us as drinkers to not encourage people to look out for themselves, instead of looking for that next great beer. In fact, I'd even say it would be a good idea for BA, as a website, to embrace having contacts for AA listed on the site, for those who feel they might have a problem.

 

Can we not just agree that each person is different, and while one persons alcohol intake may seem extreme to one, it may be normal to another?
There are numerous things to consider from those being so critical, such as other lifestyle factors (diet, exercise, etc), genetics, environment, and more.
I applaud you OP, for making a commitment to change something that is not easily changed.
I myself drink anywhere from 2-4 beers a night, though sometimes zero, during the week. Weekends anywhere from 6-12. These can be 12's, 22's, 750's, whatever. Does this mean I'm an alcoholic and only have a few years to live? I doubt it. My family has no history of alcoholism or cirrhosis, I work out daily, and I eat incredibly healthy. All of this is a give and take. Some choose to drink beer, eat shitty, and sit on the couch. Others make it a point to offset their beer intake in various ways.
I say to each their own, and again OP, good for you. I hope that you find the balance you need and want, and are able to continue on your journey whilst enjoying the amount of beer that you deem fit.

 

Just a thought fore the OP. If you are going to cut back on drinking I think you may also want to increase your exercise, eat a lot of leafy greens and broccoli/Brussel sprouts etc. Also maybe add some turmeric to your food a few times per week. All things to aid in repairing the liver. Some blood labs with liver function wouldn't be a bad idea to check your liver enzymes and see if they are elevated. The above will help remedy that if they are. The liver is quick to repair itself. A few months off drinking does wonders but cutting back is a great start. Even taking two weeks off does allot.
Good luck.

Tommy

 

I guess it depends on what you drink, but at 6 beers a day, I would probably get sick of drinking. No shit.

 

Cold turkeying at 60+ drinks per week over a long period of time can be dangerous; alcohol is a GABAnergic drug and abruptly stopping GABA drugs can result in seizures. Not trying to scare anyone who is thinking of taking a break, just that nobody should be afraid of asking their doctor for help. Just be careful with the medications, most of which are also GABA drugs with a much higher abuse potential than alcohol.

 

Wow... please, no one look at my posts in the beer-**** threads...

 

Just looked...

 

Not sure what your thread is supposed to accomplish. A congratulations or recommendations or WTF.....

 

I did, too! Just not until 10 p.m. when f***ing meeting was finally over! That was a bad night...

 

Just because it may seem "normal" to someone doesn't make it not a problem. This isn't some moral relativism argument here, there are certain amounts of drinking that are not ok, no matter how normal it seems to someone. To an alcoholic, drinking 2 handles of vodka a day is probably "normal." Should their consumption be ignored just because "each person is different?" To say to each their own ignores the realities of alcoholism, as well as the justifications that alcoholics make regarding their drinking. Sure, there can be debate about whether 1, 2, 3, 4 drinks a night is a problem or not, but at some point, there is no debating. 12 drinks a night is never ok, no matter how different a person is, or how much they exercise, or anything else.

 

Do what you need to do. This forum is not a place I would frequent, if I was trying cut down. Too much beer **** here. My analogy, when trying to eat sensible, I avoid the food channel (s)/shows

 

What am I going to do for breakfast Monday morning?
Beer, it does a body good!

P.S.
Its Joe 6 Pack, not Joe 1 Pack.
P.P.S.
Do 40s come in 6 packs?

 

Couldn't have said it better. I don't care who you are, 12 drinks a night, or even a sixer a night is too much. Please don't try to justify it with exercise or healthy eating.

 

Best wishes to you, OP. I too just recently cut down on my drinking drastically after I put into perspective my burgeoning love and consumption of tasty craft beer, and experienced some slight alcohol withdrawal symptoms (scared me a bit).

Here's some important BA philosophy I realized: you know how this organization's motto is "respect beer"? Well, it's 100% correct, and correct in more ways than surely intended (intent being that beer is a "worthy" beverage compared to say, wine). That's all well and good, but more than that, beer is alcohol. I think we craft beer enthusiasts sometimes forget that, since craft beer is practically an art form... A delicious art form. If we have learned anything growing up to become responsible adults, it should be that the danger and power of alcohol is to be respected.