My Year of No Beer- Sprints 24 and 25

These blog posts document my journey of abstaining from alcohol for a year with the help of the One Year No Beer program.  Please feel free to comment because I know there are others that could benefit from hearing your voice as well. I would be thrilled if we could be on this journey together. I started this blog about 60 days in the challenge, so there’s plenty of time for us to be goal friends.

Sprint 24: September 9- September 22, 2022

Sprint 25: September 23- October 6, 2022

During these sprints, I spent a lot of time thinking about my life after this challenge. I’m not sure if I mentioned this in earlier posts, but I took the “Take Control” course a few months ago. This course taught skills for having total control over alcohol use. At that time, I wasn’t in the mindset to think about the drinking again. It was all or nothing. However, if you’ve read enough of my posts, you’ve seen me go back and forth between alcohol not having a place in my life and feeling tempted by FOMO. So, it’s time I became a realist and thought about what role alcohol will play in my life going forward.

Setting Boundaries

If I’m contemplating drinking again, I need to set boundaries. I need to set limits and stick to them. I also need to think of consequences and rewards to sticking to these boundaries. My rules will be:

1. My default will be to spit out my beer samples for judging and beer certification practice.

2. I will allow myself to do two wine pairings p a year.

3. I will allow myself one vacation a year to break the rules.

4. I will not drink to cope.

5. Unless it’s an exception day, I will not drink more than one drink a day.

6. I will not drink more than 3 times a week.

7. My default will be to not drink.

Given the leniency built into the rules, I will do another year without beer if I break the rules. If I stick to these rules for the year, I will treat myself to a dinner that has a temperance pairing or a food class.

There’s part of me that doesn’t want the rules because I believe I should manage without alcohol. However, there’s another part of me that knows having something “off limits” makes it even more tempting. It makes me question why I don’t do another year challenge. The ambivalence makes me question whether I’ll crumble and fall into old drinking patterns. The ambivalence is also showing me that I need to hold myself accountable no matter what happens. Regardless, rule number 7, my default will be to abstain.

If you want more information about the One Year No Beer program. Check out this LINK. I strongly recommend this program if you question your relationship with beer. Even if you’re doing a “dry” month, it could be helpful for you to meet your goal.