Good morning!

Something special for you. This video can change your life: No MORE BOOZE VIDEO https://youtu.be/ZfLF79WpShw

READING TIME: 5min

In 2023, one trend stands out—and it's worth following. And I'm damn excited to jump on this bandwagon.

Lately, everyone I follow and listen online has ditched…. drinking. 

And as today marks my couple of weeks' anniversary of being alcohol-free. Bravo to me, so I have decided to record this video to share my reasons and backstory.

No MORE BOOZE VIDEO https://youtu.be/ZfLF79WpShw

Like most of us, I was a moderate drinker, rarely exceeding two glasses of wine, maybe drinking two to three days a week. Practically nothing. Especially when compared to my alcohol intake in my twenties and early thirties.

But over time, drinking with my wife became a monotonous routine rather than a celebration. We used to reserve opening a bottle of wine for special occasions, accompanying a nice dinner and the promise of a great, cosy evening.

Recently, though, I caught myself drinking while on the phone, still dealing with work emails. We'd have a quick glass of wine, chat briefly, and then return to mundane tasks like cleaning or vacuuming. I didn't like it at all.

Furthermore, I've realised I don't need alcohol to feel good. In the past, I would rely on it for courage, to get into the party mood, to fit in, or to forget my failures and bad experiences.

But now, with most things falling into place, I don't have much to run away from. I find myself appreciating the clarity of my mind more than ever. Being in a drunken state has become a waste of time.

I can't handle those brutal hangovers anymore. It didn't matter as much back then because I didn't value life like now. Every minute feels precious, and I don't want to waste a second.

There are still so many things I want to try, taste, and experience. I've been lost in the haze of drunkenness far too many times. I don't need to practice that anymore.

When I think about it now, it's utterly insane. Social life, especially in Poland during the early 2000s, revolved around copious amounts of vodka and beer. Alcohol was everywhere, cheap and accessible. And we, young and brave, pushed the limits.

I remember being proud of my ability to down vodka straight from the bottle.

We could finish a 0.5L bottle with my friend in under two minutes.

We did it just before heading to the nightclub so we wouldn't have to buy shots at the bar. And then, in the middle of the night, we'd do it all over again.

Alcohol shops were open 24/7, scattered all over the place. Access was never an issue.

During my university years, the ability to drink a lot could earn you star status. Those who couldn't hold their drink would be ridiculed and laughed at.

There was this Thursday evening party we waited and prepared for all week. The doors opened at 10 PM, with the first hour offering free entry. We'd start at 8 PM, drinking in student rooms.

Those who lost the ability to walk would be carried to get the stamp for free entry.

Then it returned to the room for more vodka or the infamous student mixture of pure spirit, honey, and water.

The party wouldn't end until early, and many of us would head straight for Friday morning lectures. What the hell!

The drinking culture in Poland was insane, reminiscent of the days under Soviet rule when they knew that drunk and hungover citizens wouldn't have the time or willpower to protest. That's why alcohol was always available. You couldn't find toilet paper or meat for soup, but you could always get a bottle of vodka.

I'm not sure if I'm ready to quit drinking altogether.

How will I meet up with my university friends without a few pints? Is that even possible? ;)

I can't recall ever going out with them or anyone else without alcohol being involved. It might be a challenging adjustment.

But I'll deal with that when I'm in Poland. For now, I don't have any immediate plans to visit. It's quite easy here in Edinburgh, as we don't go out often anyway, and the non-alcoholic beers are surprisingly decent.

They do the trick.

I enjoy the taste of beer more than the alcohol itself.

I won't make any promises. I believe in moderation in life, and I don't think a glass of wine every other week would do any harm. But from now on, for the foreseeable future, I'll try my best to avoid it and see how far I can go.

Why not?

It's like experiencing things for the first time.

Going camping and sitting around the campfire without a sip of whisky will be an entirely new and exhilarating experience.

Going to the bar without a pint of lager will be refreshing.

Celebrating a birthday without a glass of wine may be challenging, but I believe it's possible.

I haven't even mentioned the massive health benefits. I didn't quit drinking due to health scares, but I've noticed improvements in my overall mood and recovery times.

Do you know why this video?

Well, if you're on the fence, if you've been toying with the idea of quitting or limiting alcohol, why wait?

Start today, and let me know how it goes.

Leszek