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Ask HN: What to do instead of drinking alcohol?

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51–60 of 172 posts

Re: Ask HN: What to do instead of drinking alcohol?

#51

Of all the benzodiazepines it is particularly pleasant to have a Valium or a Xanax and go to a party. It has an effect very similar to alcohol but doesn't have the physical toxicity. If you have even minor anxiety symptoms you probably won't have a hard time getting an ℞ for Xanax from your primary care doc for 30 pills or so, particularly if you intend to substitute it for alcohol. Even though those drugs are very s…

>>You probably won't have a hard time getting an ℞ for Xanax from your primary care doc for 30 pills or so, particularly if you intend to substitute it for alcohol. Not in the United States. Try getting a script for Xanax and you'll be lucky you don't get reported the DEA re: our opioid crisis.

It depends. I just asked and he gave me 90 days be plus multiple refills

While people react differently Xanax scared the shit out of me. I would never touch the stuff again. I have a friend who got off Xanax and also heroin...Xanax was way harder to abstain from

It is noteworthy though to not buy them on the darkweb. Fentanyl is now tainting that stuff

Re: Ask HN: What to do instead of drinking alcohol?

#52
post #12

Kids.. make kids don’t worry about how to spend free time you won’t have any

Even though this post may seem funny to some, I can underline what OP wrote. I used to drink a lot. Usually went out for drinks 3-5 evenings a week. Always social drinking and never missed a day at work, but it was certainly too much. The birth of my son changed everything. Not only have I been barely drinking for the past two+ years, but drinking is making me quite hanxious the day after and I‘m suffering a lot more than I ever used to in the past.

I don’t miss alcohol, but I do miss the social part. Having kids is taxing, but also incredibly rewarding.

Re: Ask HN: What to do instead of drinking alcohol?

#53

Of all the benzodiazepines it is particularly pleasant to have a Valium or a Xanax and go to a party. It has an effect very similar to alcohol but doesn't have the physical toxicity. If you have even minor anxiety symptoms you probably won't have a hard time getting an ℞ for Xanax from your primary care doc for 30 pills or so, particularly if you intend to substitute it for alcohol. Even though those drugs are very s…

Suggesting benzos is dangerous advice

Re: Ask HN: What to do instead of drinking alcohol?

#54

Of all the benzodiazepines it is particularly pleasant to have a Valium or a Xanax and go to a party. It has an effect very similar to alcohol but doesn't have the physical toxicity. If you have even minor anxiety symptoms you probably won't have a hard time getting an ℞ for Xanax from your primary care doc for 30 pills or so, particularly if you intend to substitute it for alcohol. Even though those drugs are very s…

This is really awful advice. Guy doesn’t really have a drinking problem and just wants to cut back and your suggestion is to take BENZOS instead??? If you need something to have in your hands at parties just get some flavored water or seltzer or something!

I'm not claiming it is universal advice and I think a lot of the other advice people are giving could be better for him.

On the other hand I think he should know that a 1-1 pharmacological substitute is available.

Re: Ask HN: What to do instead of drinking alcohol?

#55
> For those of you who don't drink, how do you fill your Friday and Saturday nights?

As life-long teetotaler, I always had more things to do than time: hobbies, sports, or simply talking to friends and family. I might be workaholic, since most of time I cannot find time for those things because of work, but if/when I do have free time the possibilities seem endless.

It's Saturday evening where I am right now, I'm going to work some more and then do some chores while listening to an audiobook. But if I were not working, I'd be in the gym for couple hours and then meeting someone.

Re: Ask HN: What to do instead of drinking alcohol?

#57

I’ve decided to give up drinking after I caught Covid over the Christmas break… sort of a “complete recommitment” to my health. Add to that, hangovers have gotten fairly brutal north of 30. The ultimate life hack I’ve found for when you feel like a beer is Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher. They’re super tasty, zero alcohol, zero sugar, zero carbs. It’s basically seltzer flavored with hops and man is it delicious and nicely…

Most anything from Athletic Brewing is good as well, although they do have carbs.

Re: Ask HN: What to do instead of drinking alcohol?

#58
post #32

I'm a very big fan of good alcohol-free beer. There are some good ones, here in Europe at least. 7% of the beer sold in the Netherlands is alcohol-free based on recent reports last year. The cheap stuff in the states tastes silly, but if you can find a good brewery that makes it, I recommend as an alternative.

Here in the UK all too many of them taste like Horlicks (i.e., very malty), but I'd recommend Adnams Ghost Ship alcohol free[0]. There are one or two others that are palatable, but I'm struggling to remember their names: I had one last Friday that I thought was good so if I remember I'll post the name here. One slightly annoying side effect is that I find non-alcoholic beers tend to make me very bloated/gassy/windy.…

I find that a strong IPA that has no more than 0.3% alcohol really does a good job of filling the void.

Re: Ask HN: What to do instead of drinking alcohol?

#59
post #10

Don't stop drinking. Live your life. You only have one. Are you going to worry about an air conditioner falling on you while you walk down the pavement?

Is all you want to remember when you look back at your life a bunch of hangovers and stupid things you did?

But the poster seems to be doing it based on concern due to health posts on HN not because of hangovers or stupid behaviors. Also many people who drink don’t drink to get drunk so hangovers and stupidity aren’t part of the experience.
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