I find it hard to believe that anyone truly drinks alcohol because it 'tastes good'.

Seriously?
That's an astonishing comment (at least to me) and if you mean it, it shows remarkable ignorance.

Do you think people spend a lot more to get better quality wines, beers and spirits because they find them more bearable? or to be pretentious perhaps?
No, plenty people, myself included, drink alcoholic beverages primarily because they appreciate the taste. If I drink a glass of wine with dinner I'm not about to feel any noticeable effects outside of the taste. I do it because I enjoy the taste. On the other hand, if I only had a choice between bad wine/beer, or a glass of water, I'll have the water.
Admittedly, on occasion I'll drink a bit more, and on those occasions I'll drink the good stuff first and the slightly less good stuff later when my palette's no longer at it's best! If people just wanted to get drunk and didn't like the taste wouldn't they just gulp down sugary cocktails or shots or something?

I'm going to be pre-emptive and say, WE DID IT!

Thanks again to our hostess and kudos to all those that played along.

I've stopped drinking twice in the past, primarily for weight loss. This started that way but became much more mental as I really focused on my relationship with booze (craft beer primarily).

In 31 days without alcohol I:

1. broke the daily, post work IPA habit;
2. realized that drinking alone (& justifying it) is really the little booze devil on my shoulder whispering demonic, habitual thoughts in my ear;
3. generally felt better and better about myself and;
4. lost 9 pounds ( I did eat better and began exercising regularly again, but they seem to go hand in hand).

I'm not going to place any hard rules on myself. I was contemplating no drinking Sun-Thurs but I think that sets myself up for failure. I still may have the occasional weeknight beer or a couple on the weekends but it's going to be more social and not habitual. As others have noted, I'm just going to be more self aware and make sure old habits don't return.

So, I won the no alcohol battle but my war on cancer continues with surgery and one time chemo blast next Thursday, 2/6 to hopefully eradicate this shit from my bladder.Thank you all for the positive vibes you've sent.

Keep on fighting the good fight(s). I will.

I find it hard to believe that anyone truly drinks alcohol because it 'tastes good'.