Is anyone teetotal?

[RetroPug]

I went through a while of not drinking at all, mostly because I was doing a lot of boxing so it was to stay fit and healthy.

Currently I do drink, but only really in moderation. I do have times where I go for drinks with people and don't actually consume any alcohol though, and just stick to soft stuff. Really I don't find it bad at all, as you're still out with your mates and doing the exact same thing you'd have been doing anyway, however as I rarely drink large amounts anymore my tolerance has come down quite a lot so I can drink in moderation and still get a mild buzz which I suppose is nice of an evening. I absolutely HATE drinking to the point I feel bad the next day though. The alcohol does actually make you feel depressed the next day, it is a depressant, it also interferes with your sleep which adds to a low mood.

I'm not sure how much any of this really helps, but what I was trying to say was that for a lot of social things, they tend to be just as nice with no alcohol/a little bit, unless everyone is deliberately getting hammered. Certainly for a barbeque, a nice bit of food in the sunshine with your good friends is fun even when you're sober really when you think about it.

Have you considered setting a drink limit for going out? Eg. A maximum of __ pints and not going over no matter what? It will probably be difficult to adjust to at first but it might push you in the direction of being able to drink in moderation if you stick to it, rather than simply completely cutting it out of your life, as like you say, you enjoy the taste and brew it for a hobby etc. I know you said drinking in moderation didn't work though, it was just a thought.