[John Hill]

Hi Trias,

Firstly I'd like to congratulate you on having the strength of character to stay off alcohol for a year. This is something many, in fact most people could not do.

I was in a situation a little over 3 years ago when I noticed I had gotten into the habit of socially drinking on the weekends and for most of my life prior to this I had rarely ever drunk alcohol and found myself very miserable at the beginning of each new week. I knew the longer I left this the bigger a problem it would become so I set my intention to quit and then set the date I would quit and never drink again.

The reason I decided to quit permanently was I knew deep down that it was only a bad habit and nothing more. I could have fun without drinking, I always did before I started drinking and knew that this was where I wanted to be. If you set a defintite intention to stop permanently and stay true to yourself you will find the whole process so much more easy to handle than if you say you will stop for a year and then see what happens. If you leave the door open so to speak, you will eventually have another drink at some stage. So why don't you close that door to alcohol for good and throw away the key.

It's been over 3 years since I stopped permanently and my life has just gone from strength to strength. At first though I felt like you did when people who didn't know me well would ask me to go for a drink, I felt like I was a bit of an outcast because I wouldn't drink. Now I don't feel like that at all as I know people respect my right to say no and deep down I believe many people wish they had the strength we have to say no and mean it.

Good luck mate,
John