The hidden dangers of alcohol and how to quit the bottle: Stop drinking yourself to a 2012 apocalypse

My research battle with alcohol

Have you ever abused alcohol? Chances are, the majority of people that read this Hub have, at some point in their life, abused “The Drink”. I have been drinking on and off since I was about 15. Call me a social drinker if you will. However, late 2011 saw my alcohol intake rise for a number of reasons. Firstly, for the sake of research for this very Hub and secondly, because I actually enjoyed the buzz; I have no reason to lie, the alcohol buzz is good. That doesn’t make indulging in it good at all; quite the opposite in fact. Alcohol is a very versatile drug and it comes in all forms of packages and bottles, not all of which are expensive to say the least.

I have in fact found that the best alcohol buzz around is also the cheapest. I recently had a slight addiction to cheap cider, which was around £3.00 for a 3 litre bottle from my local off license. That’s cheaper than water. With such prices, it’s hard to not have a cheeky drink as and when you fancy, it doesn’t exactly break the bank.

But, that’s the problem. I have found cheap cider to be the best alcohol buzz around, and also the cheapest. It is no wonder why so many people these days suffer from alcohol addiction and abuse the world’s most deadly and readily available substance.

For those wondering, I have since stopped drinking. I only turned to cheap cider for the sake of research, and while the buzz indeed was the best and cheapest around, I can see how people can get addicted to it, because it is delicious and cost effective. For those with an addictive personality, avoid it, at any cost.

So, with such products available and with humans having a naturally addictive personality, how exactly do you quit alcohol and enjoy a healthier life of sobriety? Let’s talk:

The side effects of drinking alcohol

Let’s start a bit cliché, yet justified cliché. Alcohol has side effects. Many of these can happen hours or even minutes after an excessive intake. Some of the “there and then” side effects of alcohol consumption include:

- Vulnerability to rape and predators

- More susceptible to violence or more likely to start violence

- Personal physical injury or injury to others

- Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headaches

- Dehydration

- Excessive hunger (The Munchies)

- Hangover

With such side effects able to kick in almost straight away, bad things can happen shortly after alcohol intake. Then of course, the long term side effects of alcohol are even worse:

- Alcohol addiction and dependency

- Obesity and weight gain (The Beer Belly)

- Family problems and issues that stem from alcoholism

- Impotency and loss of sexual desire

- More vulnerable to a number of deadly illnesses and diseases

- Lack of money due to constantly spending on booze.

- Severe depression

How to combat alcohol addiction

Cliché out of the way, exactly what can be done to combat alcohol addiction for the average person? None of us can afford this fancy therapy or miracle treatment these days. In fact, it is my firm belief that all of this fancy treatment is a load of cobblers anyway. Why trust someone to help you do something yourself when you can just, as the aforementioned applies, do it yourself? Realistically, kicking the alcohol addiction is simple. Just stop buyi9ng alcohol.

Your local off license has a vast selection of alcoholic beverages ranging from the cheap to the expensive, all of which have the same effect – they get you drunk. The fact that they get you drunk means that all of these alcoholic beverages all have the same side effects. Whether cheap cider, vodka, premium cider, lager, beer, ale, wine, absinthe or otherwise, these drinks all have the same negative side effects. And perhaps most important of all, especially considering the state of our economical climate, they all cost money.

Focus on the money

Money is of increasing utmost importance these days. The cost of living is constantly skyrocketing and there is nothing we can do about it. Even taxi fees, fuel for cars and bus fares are all on the increase also. So, with the increased cost of living, focus on the more important things in life and save the drink for when its needed. £3.00 you spend on a bottle of cheap cider every night of the week is money that could go on your rent or in your gas or electric meter. If you are blessed enough to not have to pay these bills, then it is money that could be saved for a luxurious holiday with your family.

Think of your health

In the spirit of saving money, think of the money you can save by quitting the booze. This money can be put aside in a pot and then when you have the guts to count it, you could spend it on something that is going to benefit your health. This could be anything such as an exercise bike, treadmill, multi-gym or if working out at home isn’t your thing, you could even buy a gym membership. This is a three in one victory for you because:

1) You have stopped drinking and have rid yourself of all the side effects of drinking.

2) You have saved up lots of money to spend on something that benefits you.

3) You can invest the money in something to get you in shape and help you live a happy, prosperous life.

Think of your family

You may think that it is your business and your choice to drink, but think of your family. Every time you are intoxicated, you are wasting time lost in your own trippy little world. This is time that could be spent with your significant other, your children or other members of your family. Why would you not only void your family of having valuable family time with you and more importantly, why would you void yourself of time with your family? Get real, be the good kind of selfish.

Just stop drinking

You do not need any fancy alcoholic anonymous groups in order to quit drinking, nor do you even have to tell anyone at all that you have a problem – other than yourself. Look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself whether you are truly happy. If you have an alcohol dependency or even a slight alcohol problem, then you are not happy with yourself. So, stop lying to yourself and do something about it. Got a spare £3.00? don’t blow it on booze at your local offy. Put it in a pot and save it for a cheeky treat for you and your family down the line such as a holiday.

If you drink, you have a problem. Do something about it for your own sake, because it really is that easy. Be a different kind of selfish in 2012 and make sure that this New Year is not your alcohol apocalypse.

What are the real dangers of alcohol?

Everyone knows that alcohol is bad for you, and yet, alcohol is still the most widespread drug in the world. It causes destruction of the self and others around the sufferer. The many dangers of alcohol are widely discussed, but most people do not pay attention to said dangers at all. However, if you have any New Years resolutions, why not do one that can benefit you by quitting alcohol? Here is a run down of some of the secret and hidden dangers of alcohol. Do not let 2012 be your alcohol apocalypse, now is the time to quit and here are some of the reasons why!

Alcohol can cost you your love life

Your love life should be a priority in your life. Your partner should be your world. You should show them romance and love all the time and it should be selfless, meaning you do it for them, and not for you. Alcohol causes you to lose track of this necessary aspect of romance. Alcohol comes between two lovers and if you let it, it will not only come between you and your significant other, but it will also come between you and your children. Many people who suffer a broken family from alcohol turn to the bottle even more to cope with depression that stems from a broken personal world. This is perhaps the most destructive hidden danger in regards to alcohol and indeed, one of the best reasons to give up the booze before it costs you your world.

Alcohol can cost you your family

Your mother, father, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins and all of your direct family are all important parts of your life. Blood is thicker than water and in this case, blood is thicker than booze. If alcohol starts to come in-between you and your family and it starts to cause problems, then it is the time to quit. Alcohol can ruin family parties and holiday celebrations very easily and it can leave a destructive void in the family life from then on. Do not let your alcoholism cause an apocalyptic black hole in your family; kick the habit before it makes you kick the bucket.

Alcohol can make you lose sight of your hopes and dreams

Everyone has hopes and aspirations. Some people want to grow up to be famous actors or actresses. Others want to be famous authors and even famous athletes. Some people simply want to have a nice house out in the countryside. All of these hopes and dreams however can all be hindered and potentially even completely halted by alcohol abuse. Alcohol causes you to have lapses of judgment. It can cause you to spend money when you don’t need to, it can affect your physical and mental state of mind and it can interfere with the more important things in life. If you dream of writing novels or playing a professional sport or simply dream of living a wonderful life with the one you love, give up alcohol now, before you lose your dreams.

Alcohol can cost you your health and fitness

Alcohol is not only bad for your mental health, but it is also terrible for your physical health. It contains ingredients that will ravage your body from the inside out. It is also very calorific meaning it is not suitable for those on a diet. If you become addicted to alcohol, you will lose those six pack abs and flat stomachs very quickly. Alcohol will make you look fat and flabby and it will make you look unhealthy. Treat this as a warning. If you abuse alcohol, you will put weight on and you will lose your physical and mental fitness. Just do your body a favour and listen to its cries for help; stop drinking before you get too fat and unfit!

Alcohol can be the cause of post traumatic tress syndrome

Alcohol can cause your judgment to be impaired at the moments where you are most vulnerable. Your drinks can be spiked if you are out in a club and if you are walking home alone, you can be at the mercy of thugs, rapist, kidnappers or worse. You never know who is watching you get drunk, especially when you are drinking. Some horrible, evil people out there will do what they can to take advantage. So many of the evil things that can come from alcohol abuse can cause post traumatic stress syndrome which can completely ruin the rest of your life.

The hidden dangers of alcohol are actually right before your very eyes

Do not be fooled by the buzz or sensation of alcohol. It is the world’s most abused drug, because it is the world’s most readily available. However, it is also the world’s most dangerous drug. It can completely strip an individual of their entire life and bring them to their knees before sending them to their grave. Let’s take a stand on alcohol abuse in 2012. As a prime cause of rape, teenage pregnancy, violence and the destruction of the lives of eve the most hardened people, alcohol is a demon that has to be tamed, and only you can tame your demons. Do not let 2012 be your alcohol apocalypse, give up the drink today and make it a New Year’s resolution that will benefit you for the rest of your life!