Now, I could run on about how amazing I feel and the couple of kilos I’ve lost (mostly thanks to diet and exercise), but two changes have really stood out: deeper sleep and solid stool (apologies).
The former has had the biggest impact – more energy, more motivation to exercise – while the latter is, admittedly, much appreciated. There was also the financial aspect, which saw a few new t-shirts purchased.
However, these aren’t necessarily the most impactful findings I have taken away from this experience. Essentially I just feel the way I do on a Monday or Tuesday after going out on a Friday night, but at all times.
I am 28 years old and what you would call a binge drinker: the classic Friday night instigator, the week’s done and time to let off some steam, as are most of the people that I hang around with. There’s nothing wrong with it just something we’ve done for the past ten years? Or is there?
After the first week of not going out I had the bright idea of googling: “how much weekly alcohol consumption makes you an alcoholic?” That was when I discovered that I am a heavy drinker and misuse alcohol... but so do about 85% of the people I know.
According to the NHS, you are recommended to drink a maximum of 14 units of alcohol per week.
From there the next logical step was “how many units of alcohol are in a pint of Battin?” There are approximately three units in a pint of Battin (other Luxembourgish beers are available), and it’s not uncommon for me to have six or seven in a night...
As I did the math, my sober brain began thinking about the bigger picture, considering that I have now been doing it for about a decade.
I played rugby where beers after a game are part and parcel of the culture, and university was full of going out and meeting new people – two periods of my life I thoroughly enjoyed. Hence, I looked into the long-lasting effects of my drinking habits.
One study of older binge drinkers showed that over a 20-year period, episodic heavy drinking (binge drinking) doubled the odds of total mortality (i.e. the risk of dying) compared with regular moderate drinking, even when average consumption levels were similar.
This shows that how you drink truly affects your quality of life in later years – something, perhaps naively, I hadn’t considered before.
Another study found frequent binge drinking between the ages of 17 and 25 were linked to higher rates of alcohol dependence and misuse at a 10-year follow-up, and to elevated alcohol consumption 25 years later.
I can tell you something for nothing, I don’t have any plans of becoming an alcoholic and don’t feel like I’m on the verge of it, but these types of studies make you reflect on your past and where you may unknowingly find yourself in the future.
In terms of my social life, being empty-handed while others drink felt a little uncomfortable at first. But as the evening went on, the need for a drink diminished as I acclimatised to my surroundings. Non-alcoholic beverages can even taste quite good!
The one thing that I found quite amusing was the volume levels of the people around me. After three beers, everyone is talking over one another but having a good time. Drunken chatter is an aspect that I do enjoy on a night out, and this isn’t quite the same when not drinking.
So if anything, this month has made me think about how I drink and that unsurprisingly binge drinking is incredibly bad for you.
Will this stop me from going out? No, it likely will not.
Will it stop me from going out and getting hammered every weekend? I think it will.
We are all aware of the fact that alcohol is bad for you, but it is incredibly accepted in society.
So my main takeaway is moderation and my binge drinking needs to be cut. Groundbreaking stuff, I know...
There is nothing better than a few drinks with friends but it doesn’t really necessitate staying out into the early hours. I plan on having more sober weekends, where I’m more productive and don’t have to sit through long, hungover days.
