A Year from Beer....Could you do it?

[SwampassJ]

A year with no beer (or wine, liquor, mead, etc.) ...could you do it?

No soup for you!

 

[fujieagle]

A year with no beer (or wine, liquor, mead, etc.) ...could you do it?

If I was dead.

 

[Sujeto]

Yes and I did it, volunteeringly. I went 419 days without alcohol. The first few weeks were the hardest. And that was just because you have to find something different to drink. I drank alot of juice.
I discovered that 1) drunk people are annoying and 2) people don't carry alot of non-alcoholic beverages in the fridge other than water. I found myself bringing my own beverage when I visited friends. It really gave me a different perspective on society's relationship with alcohol. Would I do it again? Anything is possible.

Just an observation, I found the posts that said, "Yes, but I wouldn't do it," amusing. I kind of equate that to "I can run a marathon but I wouldn't do it or I can climb Mt. Everest but I wouldn't do it." I could become the President but I don't feel like it.

 

[MBasile]

Do hydrometer samples count?

I dry out for one month every year, just to do it. I don't like it and the first few days are a bit tough, as are the last couple days waiting for the drinking date. Of course after a month of not drinking, two usually gets me pretty hammered. Could I do it? Yes. Would I want to for any reason? For a year? F*** no.

Seeing as I'm broke, the stout I legged today wont be good to go until after summer (bourbon oak imperial stout) and the pilsner is just now starting to lager, I think I'll try to go dry until the English IPA (brewing this week) is ready.

 

[azscoob]

I give up beer for lent every year, 40 days of no beer..... I have a rough couple days at first but it is no big deal after that, I just brew a lot more during those 40 days to keep me occupied. I think I could go a year without beer no sweat, but why would I??

 

[LakewoodBrew]

To much beer in my garage to commit to anything right now. I'll let you know when I run out.

 

[user 70770]

The way I see it, there's thousands if not millions of different beers out there to try and very little time to do so. Taking a year off would just waste time. So no, I wouldn't quit drinking for a year.

 

[rycov]

Just an observation, I found the posts that said, "Yes, but I wouldn't do it," amusing. I kind of equate that to "I can run a marathon but I wouldn't do it or I can climb Mt. Everest but I wouldn't do it." I could become the President but I don't feel like it.

thats not the same. those are asking you to do some laborious task. this post is talking about not doing something. and yeah anyone could do it, (or not do it i guess) but for what? that idea makes me sad. no beer? other than for health (like if its gonna kill you) family(if they are gonna kill you) or religion, there's not really a good reason to not do things you like. also if its your religion then you probably weren't drinkin already so you didnt really give it up

 

[iparks81]

I stopped drinking/making beer for a full year when I started College (kinda weird ehh) but did well in school for that year and then went back to the brews hard...A little too hard, now I've found a good balance.
I wish I could stop agian for another period of time to lose some damned weight tho...I just dont have the will-power to do it right now.

 

[Golddiggie]

Forcing yourself to not drink for anything other than a medical reason is a bit masochistic IMO... Personally I don't drink enough to talk about. There have been times where it's taken me more than a month to go through a 6-pack... Since home brewing, I've had times where I go for weeks without (mostly due to waiting for bottles to be carbonated)... I've had a cold for the past week and a half, so I've refrained from any alcohol. Personally choice in doing that, and more to do with how I was brought up. I probably could have had one the other day, but I decided not to... 100% personal choice.

I discovered that 1) drunk people are annoying and 2) people don't carry alot of non-alcoholic beverages in the fridge other than water.

Maybe YOUR friends are annoying drunken a$$holes... Some people are annoying/a$$holes sober or drunk. If you didn't tell them you're not drinking and they didnt' bother to have ANYTHING else to drink other than water, they probably aren't all that good of friends. Probably not too healthy either. Everyone I know have plenty of things to drink without alcohol in them. The vast majority of the time when I go over to someone's house, I don't have a beer when there. It used to be that I wanted to be sure I would be safe to drive when leaving. Now, it's more to do with wanting home brew over commercial brew.

As for the comment you made about marathons and climbing mountains... There are plenty of people that do those for the actual physical challenge (and part of the mental challenge)... Going X months without alcohol is pretty much all mental. Unless you're an actual alcoholic that has no desire to change, you CAN go for an extended period without drinking. It's just a matter of wanting to do so.

I do have to wonder why you posted 'I went 419 days without alcohol.' Says, to me, that it either wasn't really voluntary, or there was something else going on that really forced you to go that long... Remembering the exact day count as well seems a bit odd to me too... A bit too proud of that IMO...

I don't think you'll get any sympathy on these boards either...

 

[rjwhite41]

Could I? If I had to. Would I? Not unless I had to.

 

[Hybridthreat]

Did for 15 months in Iraq, if I reenlist again ill probably have to go without again. Ill cry.

 

[Flomaster]

I give up beer for lent every year, 40 days of no beer..... I have a rough couple days at first but it is no big deal after that, I just brew a lot more during those 40 days to keep me occupied. I think I could go a year without beer no sweat, but why would I??

you're doing it wrong. you need to give up everything BUT beer for lent.

diaryofaparttimemonk.wordpress.com

-=Jason=-

 

[onthekeg]

No, but someday I will. We only get so many days on earth, why give up a perfectly good drinking day?

 

[onthekeg]

yes and no. I could do it, but I never would do it for the reason you mention.(just to prove it to myself?) But I know I could cause I've quit smoking cold turkey twice no problem If the doc said its over and the second doc said its over and the fifth doc said its over and the wife said its over, i guess i'd quit.

Thats when I would tap the second keg of the day and tell them all where to go!

 

[drkaeppel]

This thread is actually a really fun read. I generally only go through a six pack a week...one or maybe two after dinner. Quitting for a year is do-able but I probably wouldn't want to do it unless I decided to go on a hardcore workout schedule.