Is it better to have many individual weeks off the booze, or fewer months?
September 19, 2009 7:02 PM Subscribe
I drink a lot. Not every day, but when I do drink I drink a lot. I have done for a long time. I have periodic abstinences of a week, two weeks, sometimes a month. What's better? Long breaks, or more frequent short ones? If I'm going to have (say) 1/4 of the year off, is it better to try for 3 dry months in a row, or 3 dry months spaced out across the year, or 13 dry weeks? Note: this is not a question about stopping for good. This is a question about what's better for my health in terms of periodic abstinence.
For about 10 years, I spent 1 month of every year entirely alcohol free. A few years ago, I tried doing 1 week each month; this has now shifted to 13 weeks each year. 13 weeks is undoubtedly longer than 1 month, so I have an assumption that it's better for me. I have no difficulty with abstaining, and I actually rather enjoy it - I like drinking too though, I like the social aspects and particularly the confidence I gain, and I like the taste and the variety of many types of alcohol. I'm willing to consider different periods of abstinence if it would be better for me, but I find weeks and/or months easy to track.
For about 10 years, I spent 1 month of every year entirely alcohol free. A few years ago, I tried doing 1 week each month; this has now shifted to 13 weeks each year. 13 weeks is undoubtedly longer than 1 month, so I have an assumption that it's better for me. I have no difficulty with abstaining, and I actually rather enjoy it - I like drinking too though, I like the social aspects and particularly the confidence I gain, and I like the taste and the variety of many types of alcohol. I'm willing to consider different periods of abstinence if it would be better for me, but I find weeks and/or months easy to track.
How much is a lot? Four drinks? Twelve? A fifth of 80 proof?
IANAD, but I can't imagine there is much difference between frequent short breaks and fewer long ones. As an alcoholic, I'd suggest more frequent but shorter breaks, to reduce the amount of change in diet your body has to deal with.
posted by Xoebe at 7:10 PM on September 19, 2009
IANAD, but I can't imagine there is much difference between frequent short breaks and fewer long ones. As an alcoholic, I'd suggest more frequent but shorter breaks, to reduce the amount of change in diet your body has to deal with.
posted by Xoebe at 7:10 PM on September 19, 2009
IANAD, but I would guess that it would be better to take more frequent weeks off, in order to give your liver a break. Maybe take on week off a month? Or every other week off?
(Also, this sounds like it's really bad for you. You probably know this, but I think it would be better if you would stop.)
posted by kylej at 7:10 PM on September 19, 2009
(Also, this sounds like it's really bad for you. You probably know this, but I think it would be better if you would stop.)
posted by kylej at 7:10 PM on September 19, 2009
Medical studies suggest that moderate drinking is best, binging is bad. How about, as an interim step, limiting drinking to only, say, Saturday and Wednesday?
posted by orthogonality at 7:13 PM on September 19, 2009
posted by orthogonality at 7:13 PM on September 19, 2009
I doubt that a study has been performed comparing the various scenarios you suggest, so no one can advise you with certainty. Off the top of my head (as someone with a small amount of medical training and not much clinical experience) I'd suggest you avoid binging - or reserve it for one or two special occasions a year. Additionally, I agree that freqent, short breaks are probably more useful that long, intermittent breaks.
posted by serazin at 7:35 PM on September 19, 2009
posted by serazin at 7:35 PM on September 19, 2009
Read this
"but the term is often taken to mean consuming 5 or more standard drinks (male), or 4 or more drinks (female), in about two hours for a typical adult.[5] This is called the "5/4 definition."
posted by Groovytimes at 8:03 PM on September 19, 2009
"but the term is often taken to mean consuming 5 or more standard drinks (male), or 4 or more drinks (female), in about two hours for a typical adult.[5] This is called the "5/4 definition."
posted by Groovytimes at 8:03 PM on September 19, 2009
You're not going to get a decent answer to this. The answer will vary, for example, depending on which progressive alcohol-caused disease you are talking about ameliorating, and even on a case to case basis it's not likely there will be a real evidence based answer, and even if some scientist had done the research and could give you some average beneficial schedule, it wouldn't tell you what would be optimal for your particular physiology.
The real critical factor is the depth and the frequency of the binges. There is no way in hell periodic abstinence on whatever schedule is saving your health if you are binge drinking more than monthly 3/4ths of the year. Reasonably long breaks will certainly help with some things, like by giving your liver a chance to regenerate, but as to what's the optimal schedule to prevent the scarring of cirrhosis? Who knows. It all depends on how hard and how often you are drinking, how susceptible your liver is to damage, and how quickly it repairs itself. You are definitely substantially raising your risks of liver disease, pancreas disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer... If you want to optimize your health and refuse to moderate your drinking to a sustainable level, find a doctor who will accept your lifestyle decision and have the ongoing degradation of your health monitored so you can have the best chance of dealing with the consequences.
posted by nanojath at 8:37 PM on September 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
The real critical factor is the depth and the frequency of the binges. There is no way in hell periodic abstinence on whatever schedule is saving your health if you are binge drinking more than monthly 3/4ths of the year. Reasonably long breaks will certainly help with some things, like by giving your liver a chance to regenerate, but as to what's the optimal schedule to prevent the scarring of cirrhosis? Who knows. It all depends on how hard and how often you are drinking, how susceptible your liver is to damage, and how quickly it repairs itself. You are definitely substantially raising your risks of liver disease, pancreas disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer... If you want to optimize your health and refuse to moderate your drinking to a sustainable level, find a doctor who will accept your lifestyle decision and have the ongoing degradation of your health monitored so you can have the best chance of dealing with the consequences.
posted by nanojath at 8:37 PM on September 19, 2009 [1 favorite]
For a given amount of alchohol consumed in a given period of time, even spacing is always better for you. What damages your liver most is not the amount it has to filter over a lifetime, but the degree to which and how often it's pushed beyond it's limits.
If you're going to drink just as much per sitting no matter what, minimize the number of sittings by spacing them farther apart. But really you should focus on getting the consumption per sitting down.
posted by phrontist at 8:51 PM on September 19, 2009
If you're going to drink just as much per sitting no matter what, minimize the number of sittings by spacing them farther apart. But really you should focus on getting the consumption per sitting down.
posted by phrontist at 8:51 PM on September 19, 2009
For your physical health, a more even spacing is certainly better. Your body reacts nonlinearly to abuse. Oxygen deprivation for 60 seconds every day for a month is going to be much much less harmful than oxygen deprivation for 1800 seconds once a month, to pick a more extreme example. Of course, it's hard to apply this to alcohol without knowing your definition of "a lot". For me that's "five drinks in a week"; if it's "five drinks in a night" for you then you may be doing long-term damage no matter which nights you're on vs. off the wagon.
For your mental health, longer periods of abstinence are probably better than a steady pace. Alcohol can be addictive, and overuse of alcohol can creep up on you slowly. Teetotaling for a month every now and then isn't a bad way to make sure it's not becoming too addictive for you, and to stay in practice at cutting yourself off in case you do find your consumption causing any problems with your health, responsibilities, relationships, etc.
posted by roystgnr at 9:15 PM on September 19, 2009
For your mental health, longer periods of abstinence are probably better than a steady pace. Alcohol can be addictive, and overuse of alcohol can creep up on you slowly. Teetotaling for a month every now and then isn't a bad way to make sure it's not becoming too addictive for you, and to stay in practice at cutting yourself off in case you do find your consumption causing any problems with your health, responsibilities, relationships, etc.
posted by roystgnr at 9:15 PM on September 19, 2009
I detect a bit of analysis paralysis. I think you're all wound up analyzing the wrong thing. Focus less on how frequently you go dry, and more on how much you are drinking when you do. Everything in moderation may be cliché, but keep in mind that alcoholism is a progressive disease. As you get older, the more you binge drink, the harder it will be to take those dry health breaks. Your body will come to miss its drug and will begin to fight back. It is not a good feeling. I wish you the best. If there's anything you'd like to talk about offline, please feel free to MeMail or email. My profile has the info.
posted by netbros at 10:23 PM on September 19, 2009
posted by netbros at 10:23 PM on September 19, 2009
Back in my heyday when I used to binge drink, I noticed that it took my body at least a week to recuperate after a binge. I think I would, with only my own experience to back this up, suggest six or seven 14 day breaks per year. This way you give your body/liver a week to rid itself of all the toxins, and another week to liven up and get the good energy flowing before you beat it down again with another binge.
posted by heytch at 1:18 AM on September 20, 2009
posted by heytch at 1:18 AM on September 20, 2009
If you are thinking this much about how to make it better to drink, then you have a problem. Two lines into your post and I was thinking that you need serious help. Obviously, I'm an anonymous internet stranger, but I've been deeply involved with people who try to justify it exactly how you are. You really don't sound like someone who has any control over alcohol consumption, otherwise you wouldn't need to create a better way to drink.
posted by Lullen at 1:23 AM on September 20, 2009
posted by Lullen at 1:23 AM on September 20, 2009
Yeah, I have your same problem and I agree with others that you're going about this wrong. You simply have to reduce the amount you drink during your binges. Maybe you could practice having one beer at home while you're just sitting around watching a movie and then going to bed -- then you won't associate alcohol with energy and manic consumption. Also I find that since I get some serious regular exercise and get up early every day on a strict schedule I can't drink as much on my binges, because I just start winding down after around the third beer -- though there's still a tipping point after the fourth or fifth where I can go all night again. The idea is to become aware of where this point lies and not to go past it. Maybe drink sissy drinks, like a beer/sprite combo, if they have that sort of thing where you live. Don't drink vodka and red bull no matter what.
I know this doesn't answer your question, but from everything I understand about alcohol, being abstinent for a week or a month or a year doesn't really do shit for your health compared to the occasional beer, whereas binging at all is just bad for your health, period. I like binging too, but there's no way of making it less bad.
posted by creasy boy at 1:38 AM on September 20, 2009
I know this doesn't answer your question, but from everything I understand about alcohol, being abstinent for a week or a month or a year doesn't really do shit for your health compared to the occasional beer, whereas binging at all is just bad for your health, period. I like binging too, but there's no way of making it less bad.
posted by creasy boy at 1:38 AM on September 20, 2009
I view my alcohol consumption very much like medicine. The critical thing with any medicine is dosage.
You wouldn't take 50 aspirins all at once - it would probably wreck the lining of your stomach among other things.
I used to binge drink and enjoyed the buzz. Loved all sorts of international beers.
My guess is that you are relatively young - mid 20s to mid 30s.
I don't think its a good sign that you said "I like the social aspects and particularly the confidence I gain".
I get what you are saying because I was there but I don't think it was confidence I gained. The booze released inhibitions but I wouldn't say I gained confidence. You can be confident without booze.
Are you brave enough to go to a social meeting without booze? I admire a person with that courage not someone who needs booze to feel right in a social setting.
I enjoy a drink now and then but my overall opinion of alcohol now is of disgust.
I am disgusted at how the media and commercials almost brainwash people to think that alcohol is something good and almost healthy.
I think people will look back from the future and laugh at what a shitty drug alcohol is. Makes you fat, makes you lose brain cells and gives you a hangover not to mention increases certain diseases. WTF!! Just like Huey Lewis said in the song, "I want a new drug". I don't think its that far away (10 years?) when something else will replace alcohol - something better for you individually and society. Lets not ban alcohol, lets replace that shitty thing.
Would I drink beer and wine if there was a better drug than alcohol in it? Hell yeah!
A final thing. This is not meant to scare you (and it probably won't since nothing I say will stop you from drinking) but did you know:
"According to the expert report from the American Institute for Cancer Research, Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective, there is convincing evidence that alcohol increase the risk of cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophagus. The risk of upper respiratory tract cancer is greatly increased if drinkers also smoke. Alcohol also increase the risk of liver cancer and probably increases the risk for colon, rectal and breast cancer."
from http://www.healthcastle.com/alcoholandcancer.shtml
WTF!! I don't want that shit in my body.
But I still want a drink here and there for special occasions until they replace it.
Just remember that DOSAGE is critical for any drug! If you binge, your body reacts different than a few drinks.
Hope that helps. Sorry for preaching. I'm older now so my big drinking days are over. My health is good but I regret those days, especiallly my teenage years when my brain was growing. God only knows how many brain cells I lost.
posted by simpleton at 2:24 AM on September 20, 2009
You wouldn't take 50 aspirins all at once - it would probably wreck the lining of your stomach among other things.
I used to binge drink and enjoyed the buzz. Loved all sorts of international beers.
My guess is that you are relatively young - mid 20s to mid 30s.
I don't think its a good sign that you said "I like the social aspects and particularly the confidence I gain".
I get what you are saying because I was there but I don't think it was confidence I gained. The booze released inhibitions but I wouldn't say I gained confidence. You can be confident without booze.
Are you brave enough to go to a social meeting without booze? I admire a person with that courage not someone who needs booze to feel right in a social setting.
I enjoy a drink now and then but my overall opinion of alcohol now is of disgust.
I am disgusted at how the media and commercials almost brainwash people to think that alcohol is something good and almost healthy.
I think people will look back from the future and laugh at what a shitty drug alcohol is. Makes you fat, makes you lose brain cells and gives you a hangover not to mention increases certain diseases. WTF!! Just like Huey Lewis said in the song, "I want a new drug". I don't think its that far away (10 years?) when something else will replace alcohol - something better for you individually and society. Lets not ban alcohol, lets replace that shitty thing.
Would I drink beer and wine if there was a better drug than alcohol in it? Hell yeah!
A final thing. This is not meant to scare you (and it probably won't since nothing I say will stop you from drinking) but did you know:
"According to the expert report from the American Institute for Cancer Research, Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective, there is convincing evidence that alcohol increase the risk of cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophagus. The risk of upper respiratory tract cancer is greatly increased if drinkers also smoke. Alcohol also increase the risk of liver cancer and probably increases the risk for colon, rectal and breast cancer."
from http://www.healthcastle.com/alcoholandcancer.shtml
WTF!! I don't want that shit in my body.
But I still want a drink here and there for special occasions until they replace it.
Just remember that DOSAGE is critical for any drug! If you binge, your body reacts different than a few drinks.
Hope that helps. Sorry for preaching. I'm older now so my big drinking days are over. My health is good but I regret those days, especiallly my teenage years when my brain was growing. God only knows how many brain cells I lost.
posted by simpleton at 2:24 AM on September 20, 2009
I have no data on it, but a friend goes dry on a cycle he calls 'the French Method': one day a week, one week a month, and one month a year.
This is a rather more limited answer than most above, but I'm not much of a drinker myself.
posted by sixswitch at 5:21 AM on September 20, 2009
This is a rather more limited answer than most above, but I'm not much of a drinker myself.
posted by sixswitch at 5:21 AM on September 20, 2009
There is some serious cognitive dissonance going on here. You are well aware that the amount of alcohol you are consuming is unsafe, trying to justify it through debating the merits of intermittent vs extended binging is silly. The relative difference in health benefits between the two is most likely negligible.
posted by zentrification at 3:48 PM on September 20, 2009
posted by zentrification at 3:48 PM on September 20, 2009
Let's assume that alcohol consumption, in the amount you've admitted to typically enjoy, is a negative. You're asking how to best alleviate the health risks of a negative activity.
I'd ask in response: What is so positive about this that you want to continue it? You stated:
I have no difficulty with abstaining, and I actually rather enjoy it - I like drinking too though, I like the social aspects and particularly the confidence I gain, and I like the taste and the variety of many types of alcohol.
The taste and variety of many types of alcohol? I enjoy those too, but I also know that my ability to discern whether a drink is that great diminishes greatly after I hit a certain threshold. I don't think you're talking about being a fine connoisseur here; I would guess you're referring to having a beer, a mixed drink, and some shots in the same night as variety.
As for the social aspects, I would say that can mean several things -- that you enjoy socializing with people as you're drinking together because you feel it brings you closer; that you feel like you open up more with others when you've been drinking, or that you normally hang out in a place where drinking is the norm, whether it's a friend's living room or a club/bar situation.
It all comes down to this: look at the positives you're getting, and look at the negatives. Is there anyone in your group of friends who has lived this lifestyle for a long period? How is their life? Is their life typical, or are they kind of an outlier in your social group, or in your community? Are they doing well health-wise, with employment, with their personal life? Stop thinking about your life the way it is and seeing this one behavior as a negative to be dealt with, and determine if this is the way things are going to be from here on out, and whether you are willing to deal with the possible consequences.
posted by mikeh at 11:51 AM on September 21, 2009
I'd ask in response: What is so positive about this that you want to continue it? You stated:
I have no difficulty with abstaining, and I actually rather enjoy it - I like drinking too though, I like the social aspects and particularly the confidence I gain, and I like the taste and the variety of many types of alcohol.
The taste and variety of many types of alcohol? I enjoy those too, but I also know that my ability to discern whether a drink is that great diminishes greatly after I hit a certain threshold. I don't think you're talking about being a fine connoisseur here; I would guess you're referring to having a beer, a mixed drink, and some shots in the same night as variety.
As for the social aspects, I would say that can mean several things -- that you enjoy socializing with people as you're drinking together because you feel it brings you closer; that you feel like you open up more with others when you've been drinking, or that you normally hang out in a place where drinking is the norm, whether it's a friend's living room or a club/bar situation.
It all comes down to this: look at the positives you're getting, and look at the negatives. Is there anyone in your group of friends who has lived this lifestyle for a long period? How is their life? Is their life typical, or are they kind of an outlier in your social group, or in your community? Are they doing well health-wise, with employment, with their personal life? Stop thinking about your life the way it is and seeing this one behavior as a negative to be dealt with, and determine if this is the way things are going to be from here on out, and whether you are willing to deal with the possible consequences.
posted by mikeh at 11:51 AM on September 21, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by dfriedman at 7:08 PM on September 19, 2009