I used to buy an £8 ($US 10) bottle of Gaviscon antacid nearly every day so I could get some sleep. I’d “only” drink 4 cans of beer in the evening, but that was enough to set off some evil stomach aches and acid reflux all night. I had to use extra pillows to sleep a bit more upright.

What a ridiculous situation to be in. I can laugh reading the above now, but those of symptoms in a “normal” person would be worrying. What sort of person spends £8 a day on Gaviscon to relieve the symptoms of drinking alcohol?

But, of course, if I didn’t drink at all, the acid reflux wouldn’t happen. I initially cut down on drinking and took up exercise. The acid reflux would occur when running, which was fairly worrying as it caused chest pain. Once I quit 100%, that problem went away too.