All Consuming - Choosing Alcohol Free

After a couple of difficult months coming up with fresh topic ideas, this one picked itself. It's holiday time and, for many people who have contemplated going AF, this really is a no go zone for taking a break or stopping. Pub gardens, holidays, summer sports, the sun being out; lots of events that seem hard to imagine without alcohol and I know exactly where you’re coming from. When I think of the pints that promised the most over the years, the Summer ones were some of the most exciting.  5 years ago I never would have believed what I’m about to say, but I don’t think I’m missing out at all as I embark on another AF Summer. This blog post is more specifically focused on the holiday experience and how I see it so differently now. As always, whatever you are enjoying on your holiday is absolutely none of my business. I have no judgement towards anyone who drinks alcohol on their holiday, none at all. I just want to show those who might want/need to hear it, that AF holidays are no...

Since embarking on my AF journey, I have often been asked, could you not just have a few? To which the answer is yes, to the surprise of some! Of course, I’ve already been open about my susceptibility to going ‘all in’ and taking things too far, but there were also times where I would feel I got the balance just right. The difference now is that drinking on those nights doesn’t appeal to me anymore. While missing out on the perceived escapism associated with the all day session might, admittedly, still give me the odd pang of sadness, the ‘casual few’ has lost its appeal completely. It was a ‘big’ weekend recently that helped to reaffirm this.  Some people, when they go AF, discover an introverted side of themselves that the alcohol was masking, but I don’t think that’s the case with me. Socialising is still something that I need in my life and that weekend left me feeling positive about the number of social occasions that don’t require alcohol to be enjoyed. Going out both Saturda...