Inspired by my friend’s recent decision to kick off the New Year by taking an alcohol hiatus for the month of January, I’ve decided to attempt the same in February. (Cynics will note that I have picked the shortest month in the year, but I will note that there is a leap day this year!).
It’s not driven by any burning need – it’s not a weight loss or alcohol-as-a-problem exercise. I’m just curious about what taking a break for a month will do to my mental and physical constitution. I wonder if I will notice any major differences at month’s end. I drink moderately about 3-4 times a week now – usually wines with dinner or craft beer happy-hour outings – so I think it will be a bit of a challenge.
So I’m looking for any advice from board users who have gone on similar adventures.
I’m wondering if it’s best to go cold turkey on all things wine related – e.g. browsing/shopping at wine shops, or checking out auction sites. Will it help scratch the wine itch a bit, or just make it worse? I’m also curious about food. Probably best to skip cooking meals that simply demand a glass of wine – e.g. coq au vin or grilled hanger steak. I simply can’t imagine having either one of those dishes without a glass of French wine.
As a partial sublimation for evening wine, I think that I will heavy up on my recreational swim schedule at the local public pool. I now go maybe twice a week, but I will probably increase that frequency. Time where I might have been sampling a half bottle of wine over dinner will now be devoted to exercise.
I have also been in a bit of a wine rut, likely due to holiday excess. I’m hoping that a break might refresh my palate. It’ll be fun contemplating what my return bottle will be.
Would appreciate any insight or advice on the mini journey.
Ever quit smoking then a month later try a cigarette? Nasty tasting. I used to take a hiatus for even shorter periods of time years ago. Sure enough, that first glass of wine tasted nasty. Alcoholic, tannic and acidic all in one, just like that first glass of Red Mountain Burgundy I had in 1966. Took a few days to settle down and probably a week before wine actually tasted good and I could discern flavors and another week to notice nuances.
I did about 10 days or so in November, just as part of a diet and kickstarting some weight loss. I love drinking wine, but the absence of it doesn’t really affect me any, either. Wine tasted exactly the same afterwards. That wasn’t a month, but I’d be shocked if taking a month off affected my perception any.
It’s not really that hard. The cravings will subside after the first week and should be gone completely after three weeks. At least that’s the way it’s been for me when I have given up wine, meat, and coffee at different times in the past.
During the first week, I try to avoid anything that makes me think about what I am giving up as it does make the cravings stronger. After the first week, it really should matter.
I took 7mos off from alcohol in 2014. It wasn’t available where I was so no cravings. The bottle of Monte Bello I had when I returned home was glorious! I didn’t notice any change in palate, if anything I noticed complexity more.
My husband and I are doing “no alcohol during the work week” (or 5 days off, 2 days on if there’s an event) as part of a larger regime to lose the vacation and holiday weight. Our intention is to last until the next Europe trip in mid-February, or until we hit comfort weight again. We neither of us feel a physical craving for it, but I sure do miss it, mentally and sensorily, if that’s a word. We are usually daily drinkers (in an old thread, I believe Jeremy Holmes and I were the only ones willing to admit opening and consuming 10 or so bottles a week), and the treat and ritual are a big part of the pleasure for us. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with daily drinking, but there’s no getting around the fact that giving it up is a big calorie reduction, and one that doesn’t leave you hungry in the literal sense.
For me, I could cut down to just a glass a night, but he has to do none at all, and gets satisfaction out of maintaining the absolute, whereas I could finish up a “perfect diet” day and treat myself to a glass. In the end, it’s easiest for us both to do the same thing, so I go without as well. Mostly, I find my biggest problem is resenting the restriction - why am I doing this? This is dumb! I love wine! - so I suppose my biggest piece of advice, one I should take myself, is to make peace with your decision before committing to it.
In any case, I don’t think you’ll truly regret it, and I have never before had the experience of wine suddenly not tasting good after a hiatus. Watch your tolerance level afterwards, though, as it may well slip. Many things will likely even feel good. I find that after a week, I sleep better, have more energy, am more focused at work, and am stronger in the gym. It totally isn’t worth it, but I do feel great!
Going ‘dry’ would make us all become vegetarians. Meat tends to make me want to open a bottle. Enjoying hummus on bagels,…not so much. I hope you try it and succeed. Report back.
Feel like a thread like this comes around every year around the new year.
Kinda sounds weird, but my answer is just don’t drink. If you’re craving alcohol, maybe there’s an issue, but if you aren’t addicted to it or have a compulsive need, it should be something that’s easily dropped.
I have to disagree. It’s often not easy at all to drop a habit (no negative connotation meant) or a ritual, particularly one that gives you pleasure. And finding it difficult needn’t have anything to do with physical addiction or compulsion.
On day 7. Going until March 15. The hard days are the weekends. I do try and avoid situations or friends that will make it difficult until I hit day 21. After that it becomes more of a quest and you get friend support.
It’s a cold month, so try different hot teas or decaf coffee. I’m quite fond of coffee in the evenings so if you’re a coffee drinker at all it might be a good place to start.
