Hodd

It was with my running club. We went for a little run and a chat before adjourning to the local pub. My running mates range from plodders to medium runners like me up to Ironman types. So what did we all drink? A couple of us had coffee, another two had alcohol free beers, there were cokes and and even a pineapple juice. Maybe there was a small beer in there somewhere. And what a laugh we had joking about an event some of us had done at the weekend and how good/rubbish we did. We’re not professional athletes, we just enjoy the events and banter.

So that’s the sort of stuff non drinkers (or occasional drinkers) get up to. I’d much prefer this to my drinking buddies who’d have had four beers and a headache tomorrow morning. Sobriety opens up lots of doors we never knew existed. Just over four years ago, I was an obese misery with no interests and no local friends. When people wonder what sort of life they’ll have when they quit drinking - a much better one.

calmself

Inspiring! Nice, real world info for folks like me who are wondering how to meet friends without alcohol. You rock, Hodd!!

Time2bfree

Sounds as if sobriety is opening some doors for you Hood. That’s really great.

Mummyto2

That sounds fab 👍

SimplySue

Love this post!! It’s great being around sober people!
Pretty much all of my socialising now is centered around sport and fitness activities, so no booze involved. It’s a whole new world!

Hodd

I have to be honest. If 4+ years ago, I’d have been in a pub with my beers and saw a group come in and order coffee, cola, etc., I’d have looked down on them. I’d have thought they were faking it without a load of beers to enjoy. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

MrPL

Nice to hear that Hood! I had similar experiences recently, and also noticed the vast majority of
people in pubs do not drink as much as I did.

DriGuy

Yes, I would have called them "lightweights," but not to their faces, because any one of them could have kicked my ass. Great story. I would have enjoyed being there.

Hodd

Ha ha, thanks Calm. The thing is I, like I suspect most of us here, am just a regular 50 something male. I certainly wasn’t the life and soul of the group last night or any night, but I’m in a new world altogether since I quit. I’m never going to develop great charisma and charm now I’m sober, but at least people like me now, eventually

So, we all rock, but in different ways

anxiousrock

We have very few pubs here but I like them!!! I've never been to one to get drunk (too expensive) but I like the food they have haha.
Surprised to hear that people ordered non alcoholic beers, I'd rather have the coffee or juice!

Hodd

Hi Zug, you’re very welcome. I reckon you’re 99% there and just need a few more weeks to realise your life is much better now and that there’s too much to lose by drinking.

Forwards

Thanks for this Hodd.

Yes, a nice normal non alcohol centred visit to the pub is possible after we have some decent recovery time behind us. I went to one locally last Sunday for the best roast beef in town. My friends had a beer, I had a coke and nobody batted an eyelid. I wasn't triggered in the slightest. Happy days!

All the best, Forwards.

Hodd

This is where I get told off

I used to drink alcohol free beers a lot. I probably average about one a month now, so it’s good I weaned myself off it. Saying that, I think the influx of such products is a positive. Younger people are drinking AF. I’d rather pubs served AF (to others, I wouldn’t pay pub prices for it) than younger people getting hooked on alcohol like most of us did.

dustyfox

Great post Hodd. I used to like pubs a lot when I lived in bigger cities but I saw them only as a starting point to the night, my hard drinking would carry on at home. I think many of the friends I had then were heavy drinkers and would have scoffed at anyone who refused to drink - now I feel so differently. I'm glad you had a good time!