Month completed: April 2008

This is a glass of 2007 Vasse Felix Classic Dry White.

Who cares, you say?

Well, this glass of wine is significant in the fact that it is my first glass of alcohol in 100 days. And boy did I enjoy it!

During my 100 days of abstinence (which ended on April 11), I found that there were probably only 6-7 times that I really felt like a drink. The hardest time was probably at a wedding we went to at a winery, which had all sorts of free alcohol, including some great wine from the Margaret River region (also the location of the wedding).

But during this time, I found out about a new drink - ginger ale. And I think this might be my new drink of choice in future.

Benefits of ginger ale:

1. It is non-alcoholic, so you can drink as much of it as you want and still drive home

2. It is cheap - usually about the same price as a Coke

3. It looks pretty much like beer, so people just assume you are drinking beer and don’t call you a pansy for not drinking beer with them

4. It tastes really good

5. You can mix it with a variety of spirits if you feel like it

So I would have to say that apart from feeling healthier after 100 days alcohol-free, I have now discovered the drink that will become my number one choice next time I feel like popping in to a pub.

This goal proved to be a reasonably hard one, but very worthwhile. You should give it a go, if only for the health benefit. But you may just discover a new favourite drink along the way.