I stopped drinking almost 6 years ago because when I started drinking I drank way to much. Had no ability to moderate. And the hangovers were killing me.

I have achieved so much more in my life now that I dont drink. Got a degree, bought an apartment, had a kid…

These days I drink once a year (which occasion I choose changes) and I have a maximum of 2 beers and I find that I am able to manage that without going into binge drinking territory again. I also find that I dont really want to drink more than that.

I used to drink a lot to deal with loud social situations as an autistic person (especially bars, pubs and clubs) but these days Im very happy being a day time activity person and being in bed by 9pm. I feel like my community does not show young people enough ways to socialise and have fun without alcohol so it took me a long time to find that for myself.

I stopped drinking 3.5ish years ago. I didn’t have a choice, drinking always made me super sick and vomit. In uni I thought it was normal to “puke and rally” everytime you drank. As I got older I wouldn’t even be able to get very drunk anymore, because I’d vomit before I could even get there.

The final nail in the coffin was I had a heavy night of drinking and was vomiting for a MONTH after. So I finally stopped. 6 months later I had a single shot and vomited for a week.

Since then every now and then I’ll try having 4 (literal) sips of wine, and I’ll have gastric distress every time.

The first year or so was very difficult because I missed social drinking and didn’t really know how to be social otherwise.

Now I’m just used to it. I don’t even miss it anymore. I’ll just chill with friends sober, or high. My friends don’t give me shit for it, and when randos do I’m just super rude and blunt and tell them “it makes me shit myself” and maintain aggressive eye contact until they go away awkwardly.

i was a social drinker, but had to stop when i went on psych meds. i’m off them now but i never started drinking again. it definitely is a little awkward in social situations, but also, i realized i just never really liked the taste of most drinks or how being drunk felt, honestly. i was just doing it bc i felt peer pressured to.

My two year soberversary is coming up at the end of the month. I was a bartender for 15ish years, got cirrhosis and a liver transplant, now back in school for a career change.

I haven’t found a so er community in the fediverse yet, though I through sobriety as a topic when beehaw was soliciting new community ideas the other week. Hopefully something comes of it.

I personally am finding it hard to make sober friends. My old drinking friends, I believe, find it easier to avoid me then have my presence remind them of the fact that making alcohol a huge part of your identity can have seriously negative consequences.

I’ve tried recovery groups, but the groupthink and religious emphasis of most of them do not jive well with me.

So, it’s been a lonely experience for me. But the clarity and drive to accomplish things I’ve gained is amazing.