Alcohol
 

Hi all, I'll jump in with both feet and say that I'm an alcoholic, I'm leaving in a few weeks on a trip (posted in another section) and am equipped for, and at ease with, pretty much whatever awaits me except for social situations I may encounter that involve alcohol or drunk folk. I don't drink and have no desire to...but....

I'm not ashamed of my alchoholism nor do I particularly hide it but it's niggling away at me...any thoughts or experiences?

Thanks

I think a lot of it boils down to the type of accommodation you book and who you hang out with.

Some backpackers I stayed in had no drinking vibe (some in New Zealand, some in Uzbekistan), whereas other accommodations are set up for partying, for example a backpackers I stayed in Bangkok. If you are out camping alone then this rules out temptation. I'd avoid the big party towns and districts like Pokhara and Thamel, Kathmandu Nepal, or Queenstown in New Zealand.

You can stay in family orientated places or even monastaries!

When you say you are an alcoholic I assume you are staying dry one day at a time(or hour or second). In that case, I can share. If you start to feel uncomfortable, leave. That has worked for me since 1982. I have gone to bars with relatives and been to family gatherings where I was the only one over 15 without a beer in his hand. No one bothered me because I was the family designated driver, everyone needed me to be sober.:) In non family situations I can say I'm on medicine and don't want to have an heart attack. Works every time-no one wants to haul my big ass to the hospital. If all else fails, leave-if someone is offended, that's their problem not your's.

Thanks for the response Fern, mostly wild camping and away from habitation, monasteries are an excellent idea!

Thanks grumpy geezer, I'm past the 'day to day' stage but it takes planning, discipline and vigilance, much like riding I guess! The medication excuse is a good one, never thought of that one, when persistently offered a drink having previously refused I usually just say I can't, I'm an alcoholic...guaranteed to work but usually elicits some form of guilt from others, which is unfair on them! Thanks again.

Shame u aren't coming to Morocco...... No chance of running into booze here unless u go into big hotel or a carrefour. Certainly I haven't even had a whiff of it up in the mountains. In any event if people don't understand then screw them, it's a very easy road to go down, I admire your honesty....... Safe travels

Thanks Chris, North Africa appeals...I've got my eye on Portugal and Spain for autumn, it's only a short hop from Algeciras.

I think many people are Alcoholics in Europa. Sad to see how they lose control of their life. Its a big problem. Some travelreports are more about beer as about the countrys they traveled in and then they ask me why i never drink.

Anyway i mostly experienced it the other way round. When working as a tourguide my clients allways wanted me to organize some Beer. Specially in islamic countrys this can be a big chalenge so what about traveling from Marocco to Senegal, were there is harly Alcohol available? Motorcycle transport from Africa. Senegal, Mauritania and Morocco

You're right ta-rider, alcohol is a very strong culture in western Europe, looking at it now from the outside it takes no small amount of forethought not to find yourself in an undesirable situation.

North Africa appeals more and more, especially as I'm a fluent French speaker so experiencing the culture would be that much more accessible.

There are many stories of alcoholism in the old Soviet Union, especially backwoods towns with high unemployment. You won't avoid it so cliched as it is, you'll just have to say "no thanks, I don't drink". Anything more than that is your business and nobody else's. Nobody wants to drink with the town drunk anyway so they shouldn't get upset if their "hospitality" is declined.

I deny alcohol all the time and i know this needs a strong character. Its so much easyer just to drink this poisenes stuff...

PM sent.

Have a good 24 hours.

Michael

Actually I don´t like alcohol too much, and it´s easy for me not to drink. But I love my 4:20 teatime.
If you are challenged by the availability of alcohol, try muslim countries, they sure have different challenges (like Marocco) but not alcohol.
If you are stable and strong enough, just be honest. From my experience, everyone will understand. And my experience is, that problems often or always start when alcohol is involved, except Japan (all drunks are really sweet :-) )
Especially in Russia I didn´t go out at night time, so I avoided most of them. I thought that almost everyone in Russia was drunk after dark.

Thanks Kurvenfieber, no I'm not challenged as such, just a few doubts that have been all but swept aside by the great response both public and private...it's my first trip since becoming sober 18 months ago. Thanks again.

Nothing to be ashamed of Chris23, there are many of us. Sobering up from any addiction and staying sober shows more courage, strength, will and determination than most other people will never have or understand.

I have been sober for almost 10 years now and on the road for 3,5 years. Actually I dont find it hard at all. If Im in a situation where alcohol is offered I say no thanks and if somebody then asks me why Im not drinking I usually tell straight out that Im an alcoholic and thats why I dont drink. Never had any negative experiences with that. But as we all know becoming to selfconcident regarding this issue is also a bit risky, so Im aware of that.
I dont mind other persons around me having a beer or two or whatever they drink, Im having my coke zero and Im very happy with that. When or if people around me drink a lot Im always leaving early, not because I get tempted to drink myself, its just that the drinkers have already reached another galaxy where I cannot get.

If you worry about that you might get tempted in social situations - its probably best to avoid them. Although that is also sacrifice. Its hard to give any advice but you fully and truly know the consequenses of starting drinking again. And it will of course be much worse if that happens in a place far from home and friends. A day at a time, thats what we learn...

Thanks for your wisdom Snakeboy...people enjoying a drink isn(t a problem, but I'm always gone when the alcohol talk starts, like you say, the consequences are way to serious...tea, a good book and peace make for a clear conscience.

Glad you're healthy.