your game plan
In order to have success using The First Round Last Call Challenge Coin™ as a TOOL to practice MODERATION DRINKING you have to learn how to use it. You wouldn’t try to build a house today with a hammer, you would use a NAIL GUN. And if you’ve never used one before you have a bit of a learning curve. It’s the same thing with attempting to drink less… especially If you even THINK you have a problem. The First Round Last Call Code of Conduct™ you agree to sounds easy when you’re clicking at home on your laptop but it’s a little harder when you are at a bar with your buddies and you‘re staring down at the Coin that says LAST CALL…
Beyond the Last Call
Part of this is developing a GAME PLAN for what you are going to drink or do before or after having your 2 drink limit. After your Last Call are you just going to leave the bar?, or drink plain water?. Not bad options but they are a little boring. Read on for some tastier tactics.
refreshing choices
For me, having a whole year of sobriety to find other options to drink in public and in private gave me a solid foundation of confidence to enjoy the social aspect of drinking without the buzz. My biggest enlightenment came in the Soft Drink aisle at Walmart…. Trying a whole range of fruity tooty options reconnected me with an old flame: FRESCA. Yep that grapefruit fizz was the bomb when I was a kid and it still is some 40 years later. I drink it all the time now. And I’ve become a connoisseur of Club Soda and especially watch sodium content (Hands down TOPO CHICO is the best sparkling water). And I have also reconnected with after dinner dessert and coffee. Before the Coin “after dinner” simply meant it was time for another round.
LORD OF THE RINGS…
Drink it slower and count the rings! The other thing this Coin has done for me is taught me to PACE MYSELF when I do drink, so I am drinking S L O W E R…. and certainly appreciating every sip more. So whether its beer or bourbon or a wine I am having I am sipping it more like its an actual fine wine.
test the waters
I’m not saying you need to stop drinking for a year before using the Coin like I did, but I do think a period of abstinence will help you explore non-alcoholic options. Because without knowing what you like and don’t like on the non-alcoholic side of the ledger you may fall back to old patterns and default to ordering another round of your favorite alcoholic beverage after Last Call. So take a day or a few days or a week , or whatever time you choose to explore non –alcoholic options.
My biggest weakness was PREGAMING – having drinks before the event you are really focused on and priming the pump for overconsumption. Its the bar you go to for a few drinks before the concert, or the tailgating before the big game, or the 2-3 beers you drink while grilling before the actual meal. That’s more habit or crutch drinking in my opinion and its here you need to really shore up your game so you can abide by The Code. Remember you can only deploy the Coin before you are ready to consume just 2 drinks. The Coin forces you to plan and prioritize. I have a few non-alcoholic beers while pre gaming now and I can savor and appreciate the 2 drinks I allow myself at the main event. It makes the actual drinking much more anticipated and enjoyable.
Click Here to see Reviews of Non Alcoholic Beers
mocktails
With the increased interest in Dry January and non alcoholic options many drinking establishments have developed a legit list of MOCKTAILS that are mighty tasty and look like a real drink, but are alcohol free. Ask your bartender. Word to the wise…. They cost about the same as an alcoholic drink. So club soda and lime is a refreshing and cheap Go-To for me.
Here is a list of the top 10 Mocktail Bars in Charleston SC… there are plenty of option where you live too.
spiritual component
Every time in my life I was going through big changes or faced challenges such as death of a loved one, divorce, job loss, etc. I found that a spiritual component of Prayer and seeking God as I understood him absolutely helped. Especially if you are in a situation where your usual support network or foundation such as spouse, family, work , friends etc . may not be there when you need them. And its not uncommon for people who drink too much to be the force that destroys their own foundation. Alcoholics Anonymous and their Twelve Step Program relies on God and prayer and meditation. It definitely works.
I grew up going to church every Sunday but haven’t been to church on a regular basis in decades. I’m not a Bible thumper but I do pray daily , give thanks, and ask for help. It makes the process of CHANGE so much easier when you don’t feel alone.
One book I have found useful is JESUS CALLING by Sarah Young. Somebody in AA gave it to me--and its super easy to use you just read one page per day. It’s written in calendar format so there are 365 entries…and its short and sweet thing I read every morning. Enough said on religion. Some practice, some don’t. So what…………
JESUS CALLING by Sarah Young
Click here to order
alternative refreshments
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Club Soda
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non-alcoholic beers
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mocktails
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coffee
Be Safe. Be True.
Sam