I quit drinking alcohol for two years. Here's what I learned.

I quit drinking alcohol in my early 40s. It was one of the best things I have ever done.
In this video, I share my reasons why I stopped drinking and what happened when I had my first alcoholic drink in over two years. Let's just say, it won't happen again...
I hope you find this video useful.
Time stamps:
00.00 - The story of my first alcoholic drink in two years
03.13 - Life as a non-drinker
05.03 - 'The Super Habit'
06.05 - Abstinence vs Moderation
07.38 - Living in the moment
Who am I? I am a filmmaker based in Edinburgh, Scotland. I explore different ways of living to see if it will make me happier and I share these experiences on my channel. I always aim to share my experiences and experiments with the aim of positively impacting other people.
Thank you for watching!

[@stevennovakovich2525]

Quit cold turkey about 4 or 5 months ago. Zero withdrawal symptoms. Never going back.

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

Congratulations! I wish you all the very best.

[@niall3973]

The reality for me is that now in my late 30s I simply can't handle the hangovers a tenth as well as I could when at University. The pain caused afterwards far exceeds any pleasure. At Uni I could go out and drink four great nights a week and I'd have a great time 95% of the time. The hangover would be gone mid afternoon the next day, little to no anxiety, and a spot of exercise would perk me up no end. But in my mid 30s hangovers don't just last less than a day, they can last anywhere up to 2 weeks...possibly more. I started to become aware that even a couple of drinks takes me a few days to return to optimal mental clarity. I makes personal growth and learning so stop start. Ultimately when the good effects are far outnumbered by the negative effects then it's time to stop. Once this wasn't the case, but today it is. Drinking now is almost like trying to live in the past, which is possibly why in recent years I spend an increasing amount of my drunk time talking with others only about the old days and past experiences. But at Uni we were going out and making experiences. Time to move on. Conditions have changed and the game is different. It has to be a seriously good reason today to even just have a few drinks and be worth the potential effects for a few days.

[@theorgelmeisterakathesoapm8589]

I made that mistake several years ago: 6 months sober, I thought I could have a glass of wine at the beach. After the second glass and a mild buzz, I was off to the liquor store. Two plus years sober and there's no looking back. Sobriety is great.

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Congratulations to you and all the very best!

[@damian-795]

That happens to me, triggered into drinking that hideous rubbish again.

[@the_cafe_racer_project]

Great stuff. I turned 50 last December and in September I decided that I would do a year without alcohol. I’m now 5 months in and loving it - no massive life changing experience, just feeling better, sleeping better, saving money and being an all round better dad and husband. Thanks for the inspiration. Now to work on my running!!!

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

Thank you so much for your comment! And congratulations on your year of sobriety and I'm pleased to hear it's going well. For what it's worth I had one of my least enjoyable runs ever last night, which made me question why I ever enjoyed running in the first place! It doesn't always come easy, but it is worth preserving with. Thanks again!

[@x-h3whodar3swins16]

I didn't get the notice you went live 👀🤷‍♂️ but enjoyed the content👌4 years abstinent 😎

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

Thank you so much! Many congratulations on your four years!

[@AprilPvd]

This video really resonated with me in so many ways. I had my last drink two months ago tomorrow and it was the best decision I could have made. The problem with trying to cut down is twofold, you don't see it as the poison it is and once you have a drink, the ability to make responsible decisions, such as limiting the amount you will drink, goes out the window. The big point you mentioned is something that has helped me make good choices is that I owe it to the future me not to screw things up. I also gave up Diet Sprite, which I loved, but I feel better without. Lastly about decision burn outs, I simplified my clothing, not only so I don't have to choose every day, but also for laundry purposes. All of my socks are the exact same so I don't have to match them up or worry if one is lost. Thank you for making this video and good luck in your future.

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

Thank you so much for sharing your story! Completely agree with everything you say. Moderating is hard - it’s always much easier to stop completely. Funnily enough my diet Coke addiction has moved onto Sprite Zero and diet Irn Bru. However, I don’t drink nearly as much of this. I might try your tip about simplifying my wardrobe. It is something I have been thinking about, but it sounds like to could be a really good idea. Many thanks again for your comment and I wish you all the very best!

[@MYZTICTRAVLER]

Great follow up. Thanks for doing both videos. I know they have helped a lot of people. My experience is a tale of two extremes. I went from being a Vietnam era vet (Mounted light infantry leader) with over 20 years in. To going cold turkey now with 15 years of being Alcohol Free. Best of luck to everyone. "Head on a swivel!"

[@Martin_Edmondson]

Thanks for the video! Congrats on changing your life for the better, I am sure it will inspire many people to do the same. I think there is always a feeling of 'maybe I should start again, just the one can't hurt...', but in the end it is better not to. Tastes very nice but is just not worth the damage to your health. Like smoking once was, it is amazing to me how deeply ingrained it is in so many aspects of life. (Celebrate the birth of your child with a cigar!) Social pressure be damned.. I would rather go for a run! Good luck to anyone thinking of quitting.. you can do it.

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

Thank you very much! I totally agree with all you say. From one non-drinker to another - cheers!

[@DavidWheaterScotland]

Brilliantly done as always Richard and a really important topic. I’m not teetotal, but I don’t drink much and I have found this very difficult socially over the years. You can feel a bit excluded at times and feel as though you’re spoiling the party. I think it’s something we need to be talking about more and you deserve enormous credit for not just a superb film, but for your honesty in sharing your own personal experience, which I know will be really helpful to others 😀 I always love the way your films make me think & question things, and this makes them really important.

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

Very kind comment David. Thank you very much and thank you for your support, as ever. It's always greatly appreciated.

[@jachin.mullen]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. Best Wishes as you continue your life's adventure.

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

Thank you very much! Same to you 👍

[@DarkEuropa]

Having these reactions to being poisoned is how a healthy mind and body reacts.

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

Thank you!

[@damian-795]

I gave up for months at a time. I drank again recently and it was frankly hideous because of the fall out. It messes up my mind and makes me feel terrible. Blood pressure goes up, feel more angry and resentful for no reason. It sucks, and I am NEVER going back now.

[@tgrant413]

Thanks for making this content! It's important to have some type of representation for not drinking alcohol. "Sacrifice the life you want to live now for the life you want to live later" are words to live by!

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

Thank you very much! 🙏

[@hungariancottageadventure77]

It's an interesting video slightly different approach, when I was around 6 months AF I felt like everything had changed but nothing had changed, meaning on the outside my work, life relationship etc were the same but my perceptions had done a 180, it's an extraordinary feeling, I'm now 17 months AF and even though this has become my normal I still marvel at the freedom I've gained from leaving alcohol behind🎉

[@Jay-ob4ti]

Great point, I feel the same. 5 months without alcohol now and it’s changed everything, but nothing at the same time. I still live the same life & have the same struggles, but I feel like I’m more disciplined, I don’t NEED to drink to enjoy myself, I don’t NEED to drink just because I’m out, or with friends, or at a bar, etc etc… Those triggers that used to get me drinking don’t exist anymore. I used to lack so much discipline when drinking, I never had issues with drink, but I’d tend to drink on any social occasion just because everyone else was.

[@hungariancottageadventure77]

@Jay1878 Benfits is of Alcohol are an illusion at best, its great to see it for what it really is...unnecessary and toxic

[@BobbyBlueSky77]

Great video. I have two years and five months without a drink. I use to drink a 5th of vodka every night. I'll never even try one drink of anything because I don't trust myself or rather I know myself so well I will be back to bottle a night in no time. Half a life drunk is plenty. I'm 47 now and love having a clear head every morning.

[@willmackay804]

As a 22 year old who never had a problem with alcohol found myself with racing thoughts and heart rate all of a sudden when drinking. Now every time I drink, I get the exact same symptoms which always result in a panic attack and now also I have quit drinking. It’s amazing the difference just in mental health when you cut out alcohol !

[@red-bd3mc]

Nah... that sounds like an anxiety thing brother.

[@gus333]

Well done🙌

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

Thank you very much!

[@jenniferklopman2557]

"Life begins at 40. The rest is just practice " -Carl Jung

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

I like that a lot!

[@Jay-ob4ti]

Nice video mate! I’m just over 5 months alcohol free now & even the thought of drinking moderately doesn’t appeal to me anymore. I’ve got a summer holiday coming up next month, I’ll imagine I’ll make an exception and have a beer or two throughout the week, but getting drunk, being hungover, fatigued, & anxious just isn’t worth it anymore. I honestly encourage everyone who drinks to quit alcohol at some point, doesn’t need to be forever, but cut it out for a week or 2 and see how much better you feel. It probably won’t transform your life, but you’ll have more time & energy to do things. I’ve also learnt that being active throughout the day, having a consistent bedtime & getting better sleep really isn’t worth sacrificing just to be drunk or have a buzz for a few hours.

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

Congratulations to you on being 5 months alcohol free. Really interested to hear about the positive effect this has had on you. I agree with you on all the points you make! Thanks again 👍

[@truthalwaysprevail2738]

44years? You look good 👍

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

I'm here for these kind of comments. Thank you! 😂

[@LWT1449]

Exactly the same symptoms for me,but it's pretty much the same for everybody. Have you noticed all the people who say they don't suffer from these symptoms are in the pub everyday. Hangovers are withdrawal symptoms and anxiety and cortisol release and racing heart rate are part of this. These symptoms disappear with more alcohol till it wears off again.like you I have no problem with Alcohol but I hate the anxiety and depression after, I'm not tea total and occasionally still have a drink, but cause I don't set myself the target to stop for ever and if I want one I can, I tend to not bother now hardly ever. Saying you can never have something makes you want it then and creates the illusion of missing something,but knowing I can have a drink I kinda don't want it. I've also discovered Guinness 0.0 lol.

[@JS-xn3dq]

I have a Garmin watch too and it is very clear that my resting heart rate goes UP when I start drinking and goes back down by the same amount when I stopped drinking. 5 beats per minute but when multiply that by minutes per day that’s an extra 7200 beats per day!!! It’s very hard to imagine that’s not extra stress on my body and mind. 👍

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

Really interested to hear this. Thank you so much for sharing your experience!

[@Daryl26543]

I really noticed this too and further studies are needed. My Resting heart rate when drinking everyday 78 bpm compared to being alcohol free 58 bpm. Heavy drinking will most definitely shorten your life

[@nonenonnenopenonenomorefor5556]

One was to many 24 not enough quit 23 months ago going for 2 years

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

Very well done you. Keep it up!

[@JS-xn3dq]

Also, the idea that alcohol makes life more fun and interesting is just a hollow perception. 👍

[@dimitar297]

If you decide not to drink many people will get offended as if you're limiting their enjoyment of the occasion by not joining in. This is similar to the people who get offended if you decide not to get vaccinated as if your not joining in puts them in danger.

[@Jay-ob4ti]

100% agree. I’ll never quite understand why people are so bothered about someone’s choice to not drink. I’m 5 months in now so peer pressure doesn’t work on me anymore, I made a decision to not drink and I don’t care who it offends, I’m not doing it for attention, or for anyone else, I’m doing it for me. There’s endless amounts of reasons why drinking doesn’t appeal to me anymore but when I get asked why I don’t drink I literally just say “can’t be bothered with it anymore”.

[@BT-be8rh]

It's even worse when that comes from your spouse!! ( except for the jabbed part )

[@LWT1449]

Couldn't careless if the whole world turned on me in regards to that jab. No way, never. Still can't believe people queued on mass to take it.

[@boblatkey7160]

Nonsense, I don't drink and my friends don't pay any attention to it and they drink or don't drink as they choose.

[@boblatkey7160]

Alternatively, you have crappy friends.

[@LouiseButler-or4hg]

You’re right, it's a fact that quitting booze not only makes your world a better place to be in, good things start to “magically” happen and the energy is insane! Steffon Barkload's Quit Drinking Forever, that’s the best shortcut I go’ogled that took less than a week to work without suffering withdrawal.

[@awman-nn1po]

You can just tell ppl you have an alcohol allergy. Who cares what people think? If you need a vice to fit in pick up a maijuana dependency

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

I’m definitely getting better at not caring what people think. Not always easy, but the more time that passes the less easier it becomes. Thank you.

[@Treborray]

I only stopped drinking because of God. I didn’t know drinking was a sin until I recently gave my life to God. I didn’t even do it for all these physical benefits im seeing !!

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

I wish you all the very best!

[@paulbrown5839]

Booze is clearly not for you mate. You are getting very unusual symptoms. Your story is an outlier.

[@Swiftfilmsuk]

Yep, I agree with you there!