New Australian Drinking Guidelines

[peas_and_corn]

I've spoken to quite a few junkies about this subject (my line of work) and they all agree. Cigarettes are much harder to kick than smack. One of them told me the hardest addiction to quit was internet porn, then cigs, then hammer.

A month off the grog? Easy. (Day 4 for me.)

STOP! No longer hammer time!

 

[Katherine]

No, this is plain wrong. Nicotine is extremely addictive. Just like a junkie getting off smack trying to remain clean finding themselves wondering around Cabramatta or the Cross looking for a fix, smokers coming off the nicotine will just wander into a newsagent, supermarket, bottle shop, chip shop, service station, or whatever, see the brand they smoke, twitch and buy another pack. Problem is they're everywhere, so the strength needed to not cave is considerable.

The urge to keep smoking is very intense, it's got nothing to do with replacing the hand to mouth action for ~most people~. Drugs which are highly successful like Zyban and now Champix work by blocking nicotine receptors in the brain. Once there is no neurological reward for smoking, the habit dies. About 3 weeks into my course of Zyban, I just stopped smoking, period. Didn't find myself eating more, nibbling on pencils or whatever, the nicotine craving just left and so did the habit. Stupidly, a year later, I got hooked again via a cigar while playing golf. Bam, one hit of nicotine and I was back on the merry go round. Once a smoker, always a smoker. The only way to stay off is to never have "just one" once you've stopped, imho.

Anyway, I'm stopping Sunday or when my pack runs out, whichever comes sooner. Goes well with an alcohol free month. For me, beer and cigarettes are triggers for one another.

For some reason I am surprised to see that you are a smoker...

Zyban is used as a anti depressant in the states and has for years! I have never used it but my x did many many times he swore by it but he still smokes.

As PoMo said the only way to stop is to stop cutting down only feeds the monster, the monster does not understand cutting down. That is why as you get older you smoke way more then when you first started feeding the monster.

Anyhow Im changing myself from a smoker to a non smoker not a quitter! That's my plan.

First day on the wagon for me. What a day to stop drinking it's FRIDAY! I went out with a bang last night... Even had a chuck have not done that for years espeacially on beer. I have 10 kilos to loose...

 

[caleb]

Errr... what about "smoke less, smoke better".

You realize smoking 30-60 Winfield or Marlboro a day is the tobacco equivalent of sinking one or two cases of XXXX Gold or Toohey's Red a day, then wondering why it's affecting your health. (Oh, and of course throwing all the empties wherever on the ground or stuffing them into planter pots...) No wonder tobacco is one step away from being banned totally.

And as for "smoke snobs"... I remember going to a party years ago, lighting a spliff (outside) and being bitched at to "smoke that elsewhere" by some girl who was chain smoking cigarattes while skulling cocktails out of a pint glass. :wacko:

So anyway... BEER...

disclaimer - I don't smoke much of anything nowdays.

 

[Snow]

Reading these "new" drinking guidelines reminds me of an apt quote:

"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading." --Henny Youngman

 

[deebee]

Errr... what about "smoke less, smoke better".

:lol:

 

[PostModern]

For some reason I am surprised to see that you are a smoker...

I've smoked since I was 13 Very stupid habit. Can't wait to get rid of them so I can start getting fit again, and tasting beer properly.

Errr... what about "smoke less, smoke better".

I'm with deebee on that one. :lol:

"Every cigarette is doing you damage". Alcohol in proper beverage concentration doesn't damage anything on the way in. Sustained use does the damage. With tobacco, it starts damaging you the second it's inhaled. There is damage to the mucous membranes in the mouth, the trachea, the lungs, as soon as the CO gets into your blood, there's damage to every tissue your blood comes in contact with. It kills you from the inside. I don't care if you're smoking Havana cigars grown on the northern slopes of cuba, rolled between the thighs of virgins, or the finest ganga from Tibet, you're sucking carbon monoxide into your system with every puff. Never mind the nicotine and every other random organic compound therein.

There' nearly convinced myself to quit this second with this post

 

[Jase71]

Croupier by trade, or as some call me Provider of Misery.

LOL, a 'POM', you say ?!

How dull would this forum be if we stuck to two drinks per day ? :lol:

 

[Pollux]

Seller of hopes and dreams at inflated prices......SOHADAIP.......

Odd you mention being a Pom, I am actually able to get a british passport

 

[manticle]

So Kevin Rudd, the man who's been drunk ONCE in his life, wants me to cut back to two pints a day with nothing on the weekends?

At least Bob Hawke had no problems with half a yard or two.

 

[chappo1970]

Is this thread still going? Wow we are an opinionated lot on this forum...

CUE: ranting shoes

"My 2c is that yet again our duely elected Government Polies see it fit to spend more of our hard earned, and let me say dwindling, tax money reserves on yet another useless "STOP BOOZE" campaign to cover their bottoms from future litigation. This is a thinly veiled litigation mitigation exercise to minimalise the off chance we might one day put together a class action against the govt because our livers don't work. Or is this to justify the READY TO DRINK revenue raising... Or the teenage drinking not unless your over 18 campaign... This has nothing to do with a genuine concern for the people's health and but like more for justifying the current govt policies....

As for smoking and kicking the habit. If the Govt was truly serious about us smokers kicking the habit and not being a burden on the health system wouldn't they be well served deferring the $7 per packet they now pocket in to consolidated revenue to making nicotine replacement therapies completely free to those willing to have a go? Or are they as addicted to the revenue as we are to the nicotine?"

Or I am I being waaayyyy to cynical?

 

[boingk]

PoMo- I know a few people for whom zyban had failed.

I know one. He's going on 20 and smokes pretty heavily. Or, at least what myself and mates think is heavily...I'm sure he's not at the front of the pack (excuse the mixed metaphor). He tried [insert some smoking tablet quitting-aid thing here] and was alright for a while, but messed it up badly. He would forget for 3 days, then take 3 days worth at once and kick himself into full-blown cold-turkey mode. This made him feel nauseous and foul so after a few bouts of this he stopped.

Theres a reason we think he's only half a quid though, but thats why we love 'im, the mad bugger!

Or I am I being waaayyyy to cynical?

No. Not at all. Seriously, thats about it - I share your opinion.

Cheers - boingk

 

[buttersd70]

Can we please move this topic off smoking and back onto beer?....please, please, pretty please? I know I was the one that brought it up in the first place....but out of sight, out of mind.

 

[chappo1970]

Can we please move this topic off smoking and back onto beer?....please, please, pretty please? I know I was the one that brought it up in the first place....but out of sight, out of mind.

Butters! Mate! Buddy! You don't need those horrible foul tasting things. You don't want to smell like an ashtray do you? You won't enjoy the slightly heady sensation as you gulp mouthful of beer as you have light drag from a durrie. Oppsie??? Did I mention smoking??? Bugger!!!

 

[staggalee]

the woman over the road was telling my missus she was trying to break her heavy smoking and the Dr. was trying to get a line on her smoking habits, Dr. apparently asked her "Do you smoke after intercourse?"
The silly bugger said "I don`t know, Dr, I`ve never looked"
True :lol:

stagga.

 

[chappo1970]

the woman over the road was telling my missus she was trying to break her heavy smoking and the Dr. was trying to get a line on her smoking habits, Dr. apparently asked her "Do you smoke after intercourse?"
The silly bugger said "I don`t know, Dr, I`ve never looked"
True :lol:

stagga.

:super: A+ Classic!


Come on staggas Butters trying to quit smoking mate. Show a heart and stop mentioning smoking! Or he won't be able to quit smoking! (I think that makes 3 mentions of the unmentionable word? )

 

[staggalee]

stagga.

 

[chappo1970]

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Your killing me Staggas!!! :super:

 

[mr brau]

It would be a whole lot easier to ease back on the booze (and other substances) if some guy hadn't crashed the economy. Apparently even Michael Phelps is finding it hard. I thought he had a pretty good year.