This article is not intended to help alcoholic men or women. It is the testimony of an average consumer, used to drinking wine and beer. By taking on this 30-day alcohol-free challenge, I have learned to better understand my consumption and have discovered the benefits of not drinking alcohol.
Initially I hadn't planned to do this challenge. It had never even crossed my mind. Yet I know that my alcohol consumption is sometimes excessive, but it is part of a certain idea of sociability, of celebration and in some cases of gastronomy. So a priori I didn't want to stop drinking alcohol.
The penny dropped on Sunday 7 June. The date is important because I had started the 30-day daily workout challenge When I went to visit a friend I hadn’t seen for several weeks, lockdown being what it was. As we had a lot to talk about and it was hot, we got very thirsty, and from what I remember I think there was only rosé in his fridge, or at any rate no non-alcoholic drinks!
The next morning I had a gym session at 7.30. I really struggled to get up, and then I really suffered on the equipment, especially as that day my training partner had planned a new type of session that I wasn't used to.
No alcoholic drinks for 30 days
No alcohol sign
The following two days were also difficult when I trained, with my body clearly making me pay for my weekend excesses. I therefore decided to simultaneously start a new challenge, that of do not drink alcohol for 30 days.
I didn't really think about it the first few days. A bit more at the weekend. The second week I thought about it sometimes at the end of the day, but I didn't have any alcohol at home. At the end of the second week, I felt like drinking some wine while eating my favourite dish, couscous. I have this habit – very French – of associating the pleasure of a good meal with a few glasses of wine.
The second source of temptation was social media, and photos shared by friends enjoying their first days of holidays over a drink.
If I analyse where my urges to consume alcohol come from, it comes back to what I already knew, the temptation comes from good meals and sociable moments. It is a mechanism quite different from that of shortage of tobacco. In my case, alcohol doesn’t cause any withdrawal symptoms; it’s more of a craving that arises in specific situations.
«Alcohol causes invisible fatigue»
This self-restraint brings significant benefits in terms of wellbeing: I feel more energetic, I sleep well, my sporting performance has improved, and I can work for longer.
This challenge didn’t require any particular effort on my part. I even waited 36 days before drinking alcohol again, at a barbecue. That day, it didn’t take much alcohol for me to feel euphoric, and I really didn’t like the usual after-effects that followed: a drop in performance, difficulty getting up, physical discomfort…
Before this challenge, I used to drink about every other day, or even more at certain times of the year. Not huge amounts, just a glass of wine here and a beer there, which brings a rather fleeting sense of well-being and causes a tiredness you don’t really notice until you’ve actually tried giving it up. So I’ve decided to limit my drinking to a maximum of four times a month. Once a week seems reasonable to me, so as not to affect my overall energy levels or my sporting progress.
Life is more intense without alcohol
Another thing I’ve learnt from this challenge is that there is a certain kind of social pressure. Not drinking makes you look, in the eyes of some people, like a sad bloke, or a former alcoholic, or even someone who’s converted to Islam. That’s rather simplistic, and it’s a shame because, ultimately, life is more intense without alcohol.
What are the benefits of a month without alcohol?
In my own case, the most important element is the increase in muscle tone and vitality, but depending on each individual, the positive effects can vary. Among them, we can mention: improved sleep, healthier skin, improved liver function, weight loss, higher spirits, better bowel regularity or even better concentration.
Can you drink non-alcoholic beer during the 30-day alcohol-free challenge?
Alcohol-free beer may contain a very small amount of alcohol, but I think drinking it is acceptable as it is not possible to get drunk on alcohol-free beer or wine. On the other hand, it suggests a certain dependence on the taste and sensation of drinking a beer or a glass of wine. From this point of view, I think the best drink to choose is water – whether still or sparkling – and this gives you the chance to rediscover just how much water really is the best drink in the world.
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