Over a year ago I decided to stop drinking. I had spent one too many mornings wondering what I did the night before. I will certainly never judge those who choose to drink, I can promise you that. But if you are in the mood to stop, here’s a few more reasons why.

Benefits:

• No empty calories - The average cocktail or beer can have about 300, or as many as 700 calories in the case of some of the ‘frou-frou’ drinks!
• Cheap date - You don’t have to be someone’s date to be cheap. I’ve gone out many nights and spent only $5-$10 (a few sodas and tip for the server). At sporting events I’m not inclined to shell out $7 for an overpriced beer. You’ll love that padding in your pocketbook!
• A reason not to go out - Maybe you’re tired of late nights in smoky bars. When you remove the element of drinking, many times the incentive to go out night after night disappears. Many people notice their lifestyle and friends changing when they quit drinking. It’s usually a positive change.
• A reason not to stay out late - Ever find it hard to leave just as the party is getting into full swing? When it’s 1:30am, people are falling all over each other, yelling over the music, and hooking up with strangers, you can make a choice to exit stage left without any regrets.
• Drive yourself home - Um, taxis are expensive. Arguing with your friends over who is the least drunk is sad. Getting stranded at some guy’s house in Pewaukee that you and your friends just met yesterday (today? it’s 4am) is annoying. Maybe your nights out don’t get that wild, but you don’t have to be a party animal to know that driving home 100% sober is a very empowering feeling.
• Early bird - How many Saturdays have you wasted sleeping in til 10am or even noon? When you commit to fitness, Saturday mornings are a very rewarding time to work out, and lots of races and events happen at this time. When you get up refreshed and ready for your workout the next morning, you’ll be glad you put the brakes on the booze last night.

Ideas how to ease into it Try going out with your friends for a night without drinking. You’ve probably done this before as the designated driver. You’ll get free soda at many places if you mention that you’re the DD. You’ll see that you still have fun, you’re way more into what’s going on, and you can help your friends if they go a little overboard. When it starts to get too loud/annoying/insane you can decide to leave and be glad you won’t regret anything the next morning

How to deal socially
If you go cold-turkey there will be lots of events where you are ‘expected’ to drink. You can get around feeling out of place by ordering something non-alcoholic to drink. You don’t need to announce to people that you are not drinking — in fact that sometimes makes people uncomfortable or defensive! Politely say “No thank you, I’m not drinking tonight” to anyone offering to buy you a drink or a shot. They don’t need to know you’re a teetotaler!

What to order
It’s nice to hold something in your hand to help you feel like you’re blending in a little better. Here are a few smart choices to help you blend in.

• Mocktail - Order your favorite drink but without the booze. Some good choices are Shirley Temple (lemon-lime soda, ginger ale, grenadine), Arnold Palmer (iced tea and lemonade) and Virgin Mary. Non-alcoholic beers still have a bit of alcohol percentage in them, so if you’re going full swing on the non side, avoid them.
• Soda - If the bar has Sprecher or another soda in a bottle, that’s a great way to hold onto something that at first glance looks like a beer. But you also can’t go wrong with ordering a soda. Most bars will give you soft drinks on the house if you’re not drinking. Remember to leave a nice tip to show your appreciation.
• Water - What better way to increase your H2O intake the night before a morning run than to drink your ounces at the bar the night before? Ask for a slice of lemon or lime in your water for a sophisticated touch and a bit of flavor. Bonus: it looks like a gimlet!

It may not be the right choice for everyone, but after being sober for almost a year and a half, I can tell you that I barely miss it, and I’m much happier and better off without it.