Hello Limers
I am the eldest of 6 and also the only one with the inclination to hit the AL ......big time. My parents also are teetotallers and like spring chickens in their late 70's!
I dont really think or worry about why I was afflicted (!) with the drink - I think I just have an addictive type personality. Now that I have almost 4 months with my binge drinking and smoking under control the way I now see it is that if you are not actually physically addicted to AL then it is more of a mental habit or physcological addiction and you can retrain or reprogram yourself out of those old triggers and patterns. Like you I vowed to give up drinking when I turned 40 (6 years ago) but I just couldnt get past 3/4 days AF and then binge again due to the established pattern of my lifestyle. I dont know how many times I tortured myself with guilt over those 6 years knowing I was killing myself. I dont know why the time was right in April when I found MWO and got my shit together finally. Anyway what I was trying to say is that of course you will make it to 40 and you can get on top of the AL - you just need to manage it. I have found my own little prevention mechanisms to use in social situations like you describe - for example I dont drink bubbles as it is like rocket fuel to my brain. I also make sure I have something to eat before I go and I make sure that I take my car or offer to drive others - kids etc. The main thing is to have a plan so you can outwit the beast who is waiting at every turn.
Dont know if this helps.
BH (no more)
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