In February I took part in the Jean Lapointe Foundation's 28 Day Alcohol Free Challenge, which this year is 29 days long. My experience proved difficult in times when it was natural to have a drink, but allowed me to make significant savings and, moreover, to question my consumption. Here's what I take away from it.
• Also read: Sales of non-alcoholic products continue to explode on the SAQ
From a “flat” month to a break that feels good
Around mid-January, my friend suggested that me and five friends go without alcohol for the month. At first I had the reflex to say to myself: Meh. Do I fancy a boring February? I had the prejudice that many people have towards this challenge: that of unnecessarily depriving myself of the joy of life.
But when I thought about it, I told myself that maybe it would be good for me after a vacation and a trip full of wine, beer and cocktails.
At the same time, Le Journal was looking for a candidate among its journalists who wanted to express this experience. When I saw the stars dissipate, I decided to give it a try.
My friends, my girlfriend and I created a chat on Messenger to share our adventure. So on January 30th I sent the photo of my last beer there. “The grieving process has begun,” I wrote with a hint of sarcasm.
It has to be said that the change in habits seemed quite significant to me. When I was in my mid-20s, I went out to bars with my friends about once a week. I'm also a big fan of beers and wines from microbreweries.
Among the tools that helped me overcome the challenge: the growing range of non-alcoholic drinks. Photo Olivier Faucher
Difficult at first, but less difficult in the end
Super Bowl, Valentine's Day: The month of February offers many excuses to consume alcohol. It was in these moments that I found it hardest to resist and accept opening a Sprite instead of a Budweiser.
The first test of the challenge came quite early. On Saturday February 3rd, my girlfriend and I decided to go to an Indian restaurant for dinner. We were used to the “bring your own wine” approach of many places offering this cuisine in Montreal.
The food there is excellent, but I have a strange feeling that something is missing. In fact, I realized that I hadn't eaten at a restaurant without ordering alcohol in years.
Eating out like this was one of the most tempting times to order alcohol. Luckily, several places offer non-alcoholic cocktails. Photo Olivier Faucher
So I realized that in our culture there is always a good reason to drink and that makes alcohol-free month a “challenge”. Each month brings its own festive events, where it is natural to toast.
The next good reason was the Super Bowl on February 11th, where I had to eat my chicken wings while drinking Sprite instead of a good old Budweiser.
Then came Valentine's Day, when my cheese fondue evening with my loved one was accompanied by mocktails (non-alcoholic cocktails) instead of wine.
These mocktails, whose offerings are becoming more and more diverse in Quebec, also helped me a lot. It must be said that some are better than others and almost make us forget that our drink is not alcohol.
A friend makes us homemade soft drinks. Photo Olivier Faucher
From the second half of the month I reached a kind of cruising speed. Alcohol-free became part of my routine, which made the challenge easier to overcome.
Big savings and more sleep
By going alcohol-free for the month, I was able to save around $220, a sum that surprised me.
This is the result I got when I consulted my financial institution's transaction categorization tool. I double-checked how much I spent on alcoholic beverages in February 2023, while also estimating some alcohol-related amounts on my restaurant bills.
I realized that the most noticeable impact of a month without alcohol is definitely the impact on our wallet. It's a luxury we can live without and allows us to save more than I imagined.
It is also said that the benefits of the alcohol-free month include more restful sleep. I can confirm that I have felt subtle improvements in this regard.
No, I didn't wake up and think: This is the best sleep I've had in 10 years. However, drunken evenings force us to go to bed late, don't give us a particularly pleasant night's sleep and give us additional headaches the next day.
In the long term, I have noticed that my sleep rhythm is less disturbed and therefore better.
Of course, this challenge also gives us more time for ourselves. So I spent more evenings cooking and spending time with my girlfriend.
On the other hand, it is true that sometimes we miss the pleasure that alcohol gives us and that we can find certain evenings “flat”, especially in the age of social networks where friends who do not rise to the challenge have their good time split.
A lot of it revolves around alcohol
A whole part of my social life revolves around alcohol and changes are needed in this regard.
For many participants, Alcohol Free Month raises questions about alcohol consumption, and I am one of them.
Some of my friends didn't take part in the challenge and I hardly saw them in February. At first I told myself I wanted to avoid succumbing to the temptation of getting drunk to my face.
However, I realized that I meet my friends over drinks most of the time, and that's something I'd like to change. That's why I plan to find new activities for them.
In the long term, this will probably allow me to reduce my alcohol consumption.
Pierre-Paul Poulin / Le Journal de Montréal / Agence QMI
“The question that kills”: What is problematic consumption?
Intrusive thoughts, loss of control over quantities, impact on other people's lives: several signs can help us recognize whether our relationship with alcohol is unhealthy.
As I completed the no-alcohol challenge, I asked myself: Was my drinking problematic?
“That is the question that kills. And that’s not an easy question to answer,” says Jean-Marie-Lapointe, ambassador for the Jean Lapointe Foundation’s 28-day challenge.
Because there are gray areas between the stereotype of the alcoholic who can't do without his bottle of whiskey and that of completely healthy consumption.
“Culturally, alcohol has an important place. There are many people who use in a problematic way, but it will take a long time for them to recognize it because it is so present,” says Dr. Catherine de Montigny, specialist in addiction medicine at the University of Montreal Hospital (CHUM).
Criteria to consider
Dr. de Montigny uses several criteria to determine whether a patient has an alcohol problem.
In particular, it is about the loss of control over consumption. “At first we wanted to have two drinks, but it's very hard to stop,” she says.
There is also the desire to drink, which becomes more and more intense.
Finally, there is the time spent drinking or recovering from the effects of alcohol and the impact this can have on various areas of life, both personal and professional.
“If we look at the bigger picture, we say [dans certains cas]: We are really getting into consumption disorder and are no longer consuming,” she emphasizes.
Please note: Health Canada's recommended alcohol intake per week, which is 10 drinks for women and 15 drinks for men, is not necessarily a good benchmark for determining whether we are addicted. “You can consume large quantities without the criteria of a consumption disorder being present,” emphasizes Dr. de Montigny.
Monitor your thoughts
For his part, Jean-Marie Lapointe, who stopped using any substance 15 years ago, believes that intrusive thoughts can be synonymous with a problem.
How much time per day will I devote to my consumption? When we begin to develop obsessions, we can ask ourselves the question: Am I moving toward a true addiction?
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