>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Emily literally yelled at me from the upstairs balcony when we got home. As angry as I have ever seen her. Allie yelled at me this morning.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>You need to train the other hand to slap the first one whenever it reaches out to take the glass, and slap it hard. Helped me... with eating, not with smoking. Smoking was easy.
>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>The aggravating thing is I know I can do it. I have been sober most of the time this year. I just haven't gotten to 100% yet.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>I'm actually still the same I was most of the time of my life - a stable smoker. It's just not eighteen cigarettes a day, it's eighteen days a cigarette. Though I did keep a zero for a number of months.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>My parents were worried that I'd turn to drinking, because I did have the capacity while at college, and a bit after that. But I guess I was lucky to have my gut lose it before my head did, so I'd get sick before I got high, which made it quite unattractive. Then I taught myself how to drink, i.e. start strong, then take a break, then add a little just to keep the atmosphere but never cross the point where I'd go ironic ("throw the irons" - puke) or moronic (say something I'd regret). Then, gradually, the parties grew fewer and farther apart, and nowadays I still have some of dad's moonshine that we brought from home (the most recent trip was two years ago). We even decided to give domestic industry a chance and started trying out the whiskies - at the killing pace of about three bottles a year.
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>"Drink little, drink good stuff."
>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>At least that was the advertising for "Cezar" vinjak (pronounce vignac - neat trick of Yugoslav distilleries, as name of cognac was protected), and while that thing wasn't bad at all, I rather took the message seriously. Taste matters, experience matters, smell matters, quantity does not. As they say (another Chinese - don't you hate how often they get it right?), "first a man takes a drink, then drink takes a drink, then drink takes the man". Just stay on the left of the first comma, and slap yourself hard when you think you may forget when to stop. There's nothing new in the next glass, it's just more of the same. More is not better, it's just more.
>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>I wish alcohol did make me sick. One of the disadvantages I have is a very high capacity and almost never get hangovers. Well, tough muffins. I know I have to quit completely. Cutting back doesn't work for me.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Read that before.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Yes, I know. But I'm not giving up. I am sober today and already went to a meeting.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>From now on, whenever you go out, on the way to wherever, buy no liquor, and then on the way home, do the same again. If you happen to actually be going to a store that sells liquor, do the same when you're in between going and returning.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I'm no expert, but if you stick to those rules, it should work out. ;)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Do you really think it is so easy?
>>>>>
>>>>>No it's not easy. You missed my 'wink' at the end. But having said that it's not easy, I know it works with nicotine; should work with liquor.
>>>>
>>>>It certainly depends on some personal factors, as any other addiction. However, in case of alcohol, if certain checkpoints are over, then medical intervention is the only way left, i.e. it could be more severe thing than nicotine.
>>>
>>>Well, I admit I've never had a liquor problem, so I'm probably speaking through my hat. It seems to me though that if you don't buy it, you can't drink it, and I believe that it is easier to not buy it than it is to not drink it if you have it.
>>
>>That part is certainly true. That's why I try not to have any around. But as we have seen, it's no guarantee. There is liquor everywhere and it's not hard to get when the desire is too strong. One of the things I have heard a number of times already in AA is that you need to learn new habits, namely turning to other AA members and the principles instead of alcohol when desire strikes. It is a hard illness to fight but people do succeed in staying sober. It's not impossible.
>
>Mike - would it work for you to talk to the local liquor store and tell them that under no circumstances are they to sell you anything? Sure you could go elsewhere, but by ensuring you can't do business with the place nearby, you'd have removed one source of temptation.
>

A few weeks ago I did buy a bottle, then took it back a few hours later unopened. I didn't even care if they gave me a refund, I just didn't want it around. The clerk asked why I was bringing it back and I said because I shouldn't be drinking it. She gave me my money back. But that is the same liquor store I went to Saturday night.