Man this is hard i am away camping for the weekend at a festival beer tents everywhere!!! This is the 1st time I have been camping without drinking (since i was a child obviously). Last night i was Ok i got coffees and went to bed early. Today however the sun is shining and people drinking everywhere. I had 2 cans of vodka and lemonade that my neighbour gave me last week and i brought them to give to a friend… Well i hadn’t seen my friend all day and i sat at my camp with food and gave in. I had one of the cans, just the one knowing i had let myself down. I walked to find my friend and gave her the other can telling her what i had done, she is the only person i have told about my problem apart from on here. I then sat down to watch a show and almost passed out i had the shakes and the sweats and stars in my eyes and everything thought i was going to keel over. I had to just sit and concentrate on breathing there were people all around me so i dare not stand up to make an exit i don’t think I would have got anywhere. Anyway 30 minutes later i am ok bit drinking water again. So my question how do i survive these festivals (i do about 5 a year)? Also do i habe to reset after having the one drink? (Yes i know i should so daft question really I’m just feeling defeated that i caved already and for 1 single drink. Sorry lomg post but thanls for reading. Any advice greatly received
I would reset. Also, if you are serious about getting sober maybe you should take a year off from going to festivals. I mean, it’s pretty clear that you aren’t ready to handle one. But hey that’s just me.
Yes to the reset.
I second taking time off of those situations until you have acquired the tools to be confident that you can make it through not just sobet, but while having a good time.
On my day one, I went to a rock show. That was pretty tough. On my day three, I had tickets for a band I’ve wanted to see for years, but I knew I couldn’t go and maintain sobriety, so I stayed home. While I’m disappointed I didn’t go, I am more happy to be sober.
Sometimes, missing out is the price of admission to sobriety.
So glad you wrote about this because maintaining sobriety during the winter isn’t hard for me, but when the sun is shining and there is live music around me it’s hard to think about not having one. I’m really excited to go to a festival this summer which is family based and totally possible to experience and have fun sober… I just wonder what it will be like and if it will be any less fun for me?
Sorry this happened to you. I know it’s so easy to say just don’t go to these events, but for me live music is everything for me. Is the cure for my depression and keeps me alive so missing out on it is not the way I want to live. But you of course have to do what’s best for you.
Also another helpful tip is to always make sure you have yummy drinks to enjoy on hand. Mock tails!
I find I really enjoy this ginger “beer” that’s spicy so it has this kick to it and it’s a glass bottle so you can have a satisfying clink cheers. It is satisfying for me until I’ve had a couple and I’m like dangggg this is a lot of sugar! Lol but still alcohol free.
Good luck
Thanks for this i love live music too i guess im gonna have to figure out how to do it which not needing a beer. Im here til Monday will let u know how im doing. But i will add the one I had earlier made me feel terrible so with that thought i may be ok.
Thanks for replies i have reset and from how I felt after the one drink i feel happy to abstain for the minute at least. Will update later on how rest of weekend goes
Maybe try a meeting make new sober friends who can go to concerts with you other wise id would not go until i was sure i could handle them wish you well
Yes to reseting. Well done to that.
And yes it might be a good idea to stay clear of festivals, at least until your strong enough.
It’s gonna be hard, because I understand. We’ve been to Glastonbury for years but decided against it this year. For obvious reasons. There is also a small one in my village, but I think we will give it a miss. The temptation to drink and drug is there. Especially at night when the DJ’S start.
I’ve done a few concerts over the last few months. Small venues, just drank Red bull.
You can do it, you just have chang your mindset towards alcohol. You don’t drink anymore!
Thank you im good today and have bought some alcohol free beers for tonight, there’s a crew party and i don’t want to miss it (i work while at the festivals volunteering as a steward) i have a plan that i will take them and see how it goes but if i cant handle it i will head back to my van. I have another 5 festivals booked for this summer so im gonna have to get my head around it.
Bring or hang with sober people? More and more lately its hip to b square. I just read about sober bars in ny and young folks really seem to b grasping just how bad alc is for our bodies. It may not b as fun in ur mind cuz ur still romancing the gravestone…Bits of fun boozie memories, etc. But u may learn to like sober shows better. And just think how cool it will b to REMEMBER the gigs!! Woohoo i been there. God bless u! Rock on!!
Like others yes to reset. In my first year i didnt do anything i thought could jeopardize my sobriety. Yes, i turned down offers to events from friends and family but i knew i wasnt ready. Its hard enough for me with just daily living with all the advertisements for alcohol everywhere i turn. If your sobriety is truly important to you, please take the time to say no to events and hang out with sober friends. Its worth it every day, for me anyway. Good luck.
Thank you everyone I’m good today and have bought some alcohol free beers for tonight, there’s a crew party and i don’t want to miss it (i work while at the festivals volunteering as a steward) i have a plan that i will take them and see how it goes but if i cant handle it i will head back to my van. I have another 5 festivals booked for this summer so im gonna have to get my head around it. But today feeling positive and yes it is good getting up in the morning! And without the hangover, even went swimming this morning! Happy days 
How did the crew party go?
I went to another show last night which was great and then the crew party. I had 2 of my alcohol free beers whoch were passable just. I did uave a good night but made an early exit as i was getting twitchy feeling the bar calling me (i had left my money in my van so i couldn’t buy). I heard them carry on til about 4am. I feel glad that i made that decision to leave as i feel great this morning and am looking forward to a lovely drive home through beautiful Welsh mountains.
Nice! I have found that leaving early is definitely the way to go. Drunk/wasted people are just really tiresome after a while 
What festivals have you got lined up? I used to go to Boomtown, took a break last year but very tempted by this year’s lineup. But not sure about it. Last time I went I was off drugs, just drinking, and I found it pretty annoying how fucked everyone was. I don’t know how I would navigate it completely sober.
Ive got Womad Beautiful Days and Boomtown booked. I work for Oxfam so do have things to do and focus on while I’m there which is good. Ive never touched drugs tbh im bad enough with alcohol so never moved on from that. Never been to Boomtown before and ive been warned it can get messy. Yeah if i ever have been a driver on nights out (very rare) but i hated drunk people lol im probably much worse than any of them were. So yes maybe leaving early is a good call
Proud of you! Enjoy your music and hold on to the feelings of those beautiful mornings!