that if you feel the need to periodically go without booze altogether then you are probably, er, sort of an alcoholic. It's best to put that at the back of your mind and enjoy the glow of feeling virtuous.

Unless you're going on holiday yourself the best month to do without booze is actually August. Your social life doesn't suffer because, er, everyone's on holiday. (I'm aware that "best month to do without alcohol" is up there with "best position in which to receive an enema".)

Still, good luck Vince. You're a better man than I, as Kipling and the Yardbirds have it.

Really fancy a pint right now ?

Just me then....

"He who makes a beast of himself, frees himself from the pain of being a man."

Best reason I've ever heard ...

My wife and I try to follow a not-on-a-school-night-(except-sometimes-on-Sundays) rule, so we don't feel compelled to take periodic longer breaks.

We are allowed exemptions for 'hard days', naturally!

I always go out on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and have 1.5-2 litres of beer each time.

get hammered every Friday at the village club, and only have a glass or two of wine on the other days. I only have a break when I've done something so catastrophic that the Fear takes over. I like drinking in January because amateur party season is over.

And quite often not on a Tuesday. Otherwise, yes. Which means that I drink far too much.

"is anyone else in the same boat?" would, from the nine people who decided to post on this thread, be "no"

Well, er, thanks everyone. And particularly to Moose. You've cheered me up no end*

*irony alert

First thing I do when I get home is crack open the wine. After the days i have, I need a drink.

I don't feel any the worse for doing so. In fact, I think I'm far more relaxed.

Someone I work with has had a dry Jan and says it has made no difference to how he feels whatsoever.

I did it. I do it every year, mostly to spite Mrs V who tries every year but only gets to 4 days.

...including moderation.

I've been taking a month off the drink every January for at least 25 years now. I do a calendar month from my first day back in work after Christmas so I won't be hitting the Guinness or Tyskie 'til this Friday. Originally my logic was to prove to myself that I could as my father was a card-carrying alcoholic, so I wanted to test the genetic imperative. I was around 20 when I first did it and looking back, it was my early 20's rock'n'roll years particularly when I moved to London, that I was drinking most heavily and that I was in danger of slipping down that slope. I've stuck rigidly to the 100% abstinence even in the face of free bars and weddings. My father had the good timing to die in late December a few years ago so I wasn't back in work yet after Christmas which allowed me to drink at his funeral in January. It's what he would have wanted.

I'd love to say that there were health benefits or a significant impact on weight but to be honest I don't think there were. I only really drink at weekends now but even three or four years ago I used to have a few beers most evenings. I still feel the need to test myself with a month off but it doesn't feel very difficult. I get 11 months guilt free drinking and, perhaps it's my imagination, but my singing and putting seem to improve slightly. It also saves a few bob after the excesses of Christmas.

Roll on Friday! I can almost taste it. Mmmmmmmmmmmmm

.....and last Friday, I did it too. I also did it last November. I don't think I have any 'issues' -I'm quite a cheerful soul when in drink and always have a good time. Thing is, I'm trying to lose some weight - and as my tipple of choice is Guinness , it's a bit of a no- brainer.
I will say this: I find abstinence easier than moderation. I'm gonna try to do it in Feb again - as come March, there's a mingle, a visit to my old stomping ground in Madrid - and, of course, Paddy's day .

but, after a bout of flu in the early weeks of January, I broke the habit. After I got better I didn't feel the urge to down a can of Stella or three every night so I just stopped. I do have a couple of beers on weekends but that's it. I really feel better for it. I find that I don't really miss the taste of alcohol at all and am just as happy with a cup of tea and a digestive biscuit. I've actually lost loads of weight too.

Visiting parents and in laws meant it wasn't actually dry at all.

However we have mostly stopped drinking on schoolnights and we'll be keeping that up. Truth is I know I drink a bit much, occasional not drinking had reminded me that booze is meant to be a pleasure rather than a habit. I'd quite like to keep that attitude.

Vince, I too abstain every January, except for the one night when we go out to celebrate Mrs U's birthday mid-month. I don't find it difficult as I'm not a big drinker anyway. I very rarely drink mid-week (I won't be bothering tonight even though it's now February), and am quite happy with just a couple of beers on a Friday and maybe a glass of wine or two and a whisky on a Saturday. I honestly can't remember the last time I had a hang-over; it's certainly more than two years ago.

So, why do I do it? Two reasons really: 1. I like the virtuous feeling it engenders; 2. it helps with trying to shift a bit of weight after the Christmas food blow-out.

If it makes you feel good, mate, stick with it. It's not as if you're inconveniencing anyone else by not drinking, is it?

Ye Gods. I'm kinda hoping for a dry week at the moment. Maybe we have a problem... Trouble is, right now, life is either boring or terrifying when I'm sober. I'm such a regular at my pet pub that I've got a loyalty card (you really think that's a joke, don't you...)

It's not a reassuring set of thoughts, I fear... Sadly, January, Satan's own month, is the worst possible time to think about sobriety.

bar three or four glasses of red. Being ill helped, but the net result is nearly a stone lost in weight, sleeping better, and a generally sunnier disposition*. I think you don't realise how much of a depressant booze is until you knock it on the head for a bit.

*Despite evidence to the contrary witnessed in these parts

Partly to lose weight, partly to save money and partly help me stop smoking. Haven't really shed any pounds but saved maybe £200 (fags'n'booze) and I've enjoyed plenty of good sleeps.

but no booze Monday to Thursday. Friday, Saturday and most Sunday's we'll share a bottle of wine each night. I have bought the glass bottle variety of diet cokes though to be a kind of surrogate cold beer. I allow myself one a night and it is strangely effective at emulating a cold beer.

...cos it's my birthday near the start and I had a gig/promotion thing at the weekend. But every year for the last five or so I do those 3 1/2 weeks. I notice I have more energy and I get a little bit more stuff done. I usually cut out processed food, pastry and red meat too, not that I eat that much, and with all that drop about 7 pounds.
Don't care what anyone says, It's worth it for the little boost it does to my waistline, skin tone, energy levels, wallet and liver. But I wouldn't do it all year round - however, I am mellowing in my advancing years. I don't even like the taste of binge anymore.

...Never really tried it. Don't see the harm in a pint a night and a few more on Fridays and Saturdays, to be honest.

for 21 of the 31 days.

It forms a part of cycle of health that generally makes me not want to eat rubbish foods (that always taste the best).
I am continuing into February, only drinking when I am out. And these days are few and far between as I save up for holidays and three weddings and stag dos this year. Then it will all fall apart.

But the benefits are superb when not drinking. Excellent sleeps, healthy diet, alert, fitter, happier, more productive (cue Stephen Hawking voice)...