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Ask HN: What to do instead of drinking alcohol?

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

#91
For awhile I was drinking a fair amount every night. Though I haven't quit drinking I just stopped buying it. My nights are the same, I just don't drink.

It's the same way I "quit" drinking soda. I just stopped buying it. It's easy to say no at the store, it's hard to say no after a long day when your defenses are down.

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

#92
post #89

> I am going to stop drinking It’s important you do what is best for you, however, in general I recommend avoiding excessive drink but enjoy one or two really nice drinks occasionally with friends who do the same. Why do so many tend towards drunkenness or prohibition? There is a third option in the middle.

The OP is reacting to a study that made it to the front page a few days ago that found that no amount of alcohol was safe. I suspect that they're not trying to solve a drunkenness problem, they're trying to drop a substance that more and more studies are showing has negative effects in any quantity.

EDIT: here's the link to the previous discussion as requested in a comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=30009529

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

#93
I haven't quit drinking, but I have cut back from an average of around 1-1.5L of strong IPA (7%) per day to a half liter 3-6 days a week. I'm also not vaccinated, which basically simulates the quitting clubs and bars thing.

I have gotten into Perrier. I buy a 24 pack of 355ml glass bottles for about $16USD. I can then stimulate the carbonation, refreshing Ness, and cold factors of Beer that I so enjoy. It also helps fill my stomach, and I will now instinctively grab and drink a Perrier after my first beer, putting off the desire for a second beer for a while.

Perrier is also great for stretching out alcohol. Noone in their right mind would recommend watering down a beer, and yet that is exactly what I am recommending here. With Perrier, you will get MORE carbonation than the beer, MORE cold if the beer has been out for a few minutes, and especially if drinking out of a can, or unchilled glass. But the dirty little secret is that tap water ruins the taste, and degrades bubbles. Perrier allows the taste to remain the same/better (it's probably better than the starting water used to make beer!) While diluting potency and reinforcing the bubbles and temperature (if adding to not fresh beer)

Sometimes I forgo the beer altogether and make a craft soda. I don't like a lot of sugar, and won't drink pop. But with a local company, https://blackgoldcola.com , I can choose the amount of syrup (sugar) I add to a glass and then fill with Perrier. It's the ultimate refresher. I typically use about 1/2 the recommended amount, or 25ml per 355ml, which is 16g of real cane sugar.

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

#96
If you’re looking for something tasty to drink (it’s Friday and I want something special, but I don’t want to drink) I go for hot chocolate. Melt some high quality chocolate into some milk and bam, youre all set. That it some of the sparkling teas out there that are flavored with Hops. hoptea is great.

I’ve gotten back into working out, taken up new/old hobbies now that I’m not drunk and sleepy from 7pm onward.

All the best to you!

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

#97
post #89

> I am going to stop drinking It’s important you do what is best for you, however, in general I recommend avoiding excessive drink but enjoy one or two really nice drinks occasionally with friends who do the same. Why do so many tend towards drunkenness or prohibition? There is a third option in the middle.

The OP is reacting to a study that made it to the front page a few days ago that found that no amount of alcohol was safe. I suspect that they're not trying to solve a drunkenness problem, they're trying to drop a substance that more and more studies are showing has negative effects in any quantity. EDIT: here's the link to the previous discussion as requested in a comment: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=300095…

> no amount of alcohol was safe

You didn’t link to the study so I can’t confirm, however I’m guessing the behavior I recommend would constitute a tiny added risk overshadowed immensely by other behaviors they delight in.

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

#99

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…

I've tried every NA within reach, but settled on Busch NA. Anything that tries to be an IPA or other feels like an expensive imposter. Busch kind of hits the same spot Coors Light did, which was my usually go-to for light drinking. And it's < $1 per can.

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

#100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t know about you, but if I have two or three drinks in an evening I definitely experience the pleasant effects of alcohol and have roughly zero chance of a hangover unless I was drinking something awful. People in here are acting like the only thing enjoyable about alcohol are the effects of binge drinking.

I have two beers and I get a hangover the next day. I'm approaching 40 though.

> I have two beers and I get a hangover the next day. I'm approaching 40 though.

I have one or two beers in the evening, and I fall asleep. Been that way since my 20s.

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