I would say I did this maybe three or four times in twenty years of drinking. I never, ever stuck to the promises I made to myself about how much I’d drink. ‘Maybe’ meant yes. ‘Just one’ was never one. And the next day I felt like I’d failed. The cycle repeated itself, over and over, and the mental load of calculating what I’d drink and when was ex-hast-ing.
I went through a period of trying to have 3-4 alcohol free days a week. The maths of this shouldn’t have been complicated, but it was. Monday was an easy day to stay dry… except there was always wine open from the weekend. And I couldn’t waste it - the thought of pouring it away was alien to me. Wednesday was a wine day because I’d made it through half the work week. And the weekend was three days of drinking, because I didn’t know how to do it any other way. Either wine or cocktails with friends, or a GnT and a glass of wine at home. Either way, there was always a drink.
Unless they are driving, I don’t know anyone who can stick to one glass of wine. The alcohol crosses into the part of your brain responsible for decision making, so it’s all to easy to order a second glass (and end up doing karaoke at 3am… it’s your brain’s fault!). You are quite literally not in your right mind after a drink. Ask yourself if you know any truly moderate drinkers - people who can honestly take or leave alcohol. I don’t know any. Alcohol makes you want more alcohol…. it’s out of your hands after the first glass.
Not having to do the crazy mental arithmetic of what I’ll drink when, or having to balance my gym habit with my hangovers, or work out what the random debit card spend of £44.32 was in a bar I didn’t remember… it’s so much easier. It’s more peaceful. It’s way more fun. It’s so much SIMPLER. Thank god for that.