Allen Carr – Easy way to Stop Drinking
While this one is written specifically for those of you who have decided you want to totally stop drinking. Again, like his other book, it concentrates on the cognitive aspects of your alcohol problems – what you are telling yourself internally about alcohol.
I stumbled upon this website while doing a search after reading The Easy Way To Stop Drinking. Two words: life changing. It’s been three weeks and I have never felt better: sleeping great, no longer waking up tired and feeling lethargic all day, have loads of energy, no longer feel blue, etc. I started drinking at 19 (48 now) – just a typical college kid — but I never stopped like many of my friends seemed to do. Drinking was always a part of my life. Slowly, insidiously I began to drink more, and more frequently. I enjoy a loving marriage, am a health professional, and never crashed a car, lost a job, etc. However, I have spent too many sunny Saturdays & Sundays on the couch nursing a hang-over. I wanted out, so went to the bookstore just to see what I could find since AA didn’t appeal to me for several reasons. I think I am done drinking — have been out to pubs and restaurants a few times and the thought of a glass of wine wasn’t a tiny bit appealing. I feel great. The way Alan used logic and empowerment worked for me. So far anyway!
Thanks for your post. I am reading the book now, a little more than halfway through. I see the logic and wish to feel as you describe, but the craving and habitual behavior scare me. I hope I can do it once I finish the book.
Keep in mind that alcoholism is so insidious that it can quietly wait for years to claim you back. If 6 month or a year later you will get a thought to try just one beer – ring the bell. If you drink one beer – you are back to welcoming arms of alcogolism. Specialists say it takes about 8 years of sobriety to feel really free of that narcotic.
Hi Vitas, Can you please post a link to the research from these ‘specialists’ that you mentioned.
The researcher’s name is A.Melnikov. He is author of books about alcoholism.
http://www.alcoholism.ru/
All in Russian unfortunately.
Allen Carr’s book is great (I have read it 4 times). But to beat alcoholism just reading the book is not enough. You have to restore your brain bio-chemistry damaged by years of drinking. Also you have to maintain sobriety oriented state of mind for years before you will be really free from alcoholism.
Vitas are you sure you have read the book?
You paint a very negative picture for some one stopping booze.
I’m reading the book now, I know it will work, the thing that scares me the most is that my husband is my “drinking partner”. Will our marriage survive? He has no desire to quit.
i feel just like u
I know exactly what you mean. We both have a serious problem but my husband just won’t deal with it and seems very threatened by my “bullshit bible” as he deems any self-help book. I worry that if I manage to quit drinking altogether -I have managed to cut down – it will drive a wedge between us.
please please help me, i’m going to die.
hI,dimo..Are U ok?I am here & also struggling
…If you wsant to talk,I will try to support U..Maybe we can work together 
….
i used easy way to stop smoking…. led to me drinking again after 20 years….
have not been able to get off drinking with easy way…any help???
I read The Easyway to quit drinking by Allen Carr and quit drinking August 29, 2007. It actually helped me to quit smoking too. I was so happy and loved my life and then I went on vacation 4 months later and drank alcohol. I hated it. So I went another half a year until a family party and then drank again and hated it again. This went on every half a year or so and then lately I have been drinking every few days. I lost everything that I had. I opened the book again but I don’t feel as desperate to quit as I did in 2007. My marriage was falling apart and I had nothing I was working towards. Everything seems to be in tact. I want to read the book and feel that wonderful feeling again but don’t know if rereading it will be the thing that helps me. Is there anyone else out there who was not sure just reading it again will bring all the great feelings of not drinking back?b
Hi Lisa,
Don’t worry and definately don’t feel guilty about it, alcohol is such a powerful poison, and all drinkers constantly try to remind you about the ‘benefits’. Its no wonder you and probably loads of others have started again. I read the book 6 months ago and haven’t had a drink since, but i have to reread it now and again when my reasons for quitting fade abit. I do not blame myself at all for thinking about drinking. It is extremely addictive. DEFINATELY reread the book, it will help you, it helped you before, it can help you again! You just need reminding thats all. Its so easy to forget that wonderful feeling, because practically everyone around you is trying to convince you that drinking is the ‘wonderful feeling’. All i remember is all the arguments that i started with my lovely patient boyfriend, and all the tears i cried for absolutely no reason. I feel so much happier now, life couldn’t be better, my relationship couldn’t be better, i have sooo much more confidence and have even more of a laugh when i go out now. I get up and dance now whereas it would of taken me about 10 drinks to want to dance. It takes afew months to get used to but once you have got through the adjustment period, and you can now do all the things sober that you used to need alcohol to do, it is such an amazing feeling! But now and again I need to reread the book just as a reminder. So do that – as many times as you have to. And don’t worry that you started again – you can stop just as easily as you started! Just be aware that it isn’t a miracle cure, as we are only human – but if you keep rereading it and stay positive all the time then I’m certain you won’t want to drink again. Good luck
x
Thank you. I am reading it again and will again if needed.
Wonderful comments, Tammy. I’m reading the book for the first time and am about half-way through. I know I will succeed but it helps to know that I may need to re-read to remind myself why I shouldn’t drink. Thank you! And thank you Allen Carr (his book got me to quit smoking).
Lisa, the book helps to quit but to stay sober you have to do some work every day. This work is simple – maintain your state of mind to stay sober forever. Read books, listen to anti-alcohol lessons, write own anti-alcohol diary. You will have to do it for years before you will feel real freedom from alcohol. And keep in mind one thing – your anti-alcohol defence is broken forever. You will never be able to drink moderately. Even after 20 years of sobriety if you start drinking again you will jump right back to where you are now.
VITAS – Why are you commenting on this thread when you have clearly have never read the book it is about. The Alan Carr Philosophy is that you have a tiny physical dependency which is barely noticable and an enormous psychological dependency based upon the idea that something pleasurable comes from taking the drug you are addicted to. If you break the psychological conditioning then you don’t spend the rest of your life thinking “I can never drink again” but instead think “Isn’t it wonderful, I’m free, I never have to drink again.” The assertations you are stating are based upon a false unfderstanding of addiction if you accept the Alan Carr method. You could do serious damage to some vulnerable people here, either read the book, stop commenting or prefix every comment you make with “I don’t know what I’m talking about”
you were right on the money with your comments.
the brain connections are definitly changed, altered, path
ways created,,etc….these all have to be re connected in
the sober mind…..i was having one hell of anxiety attacks. i thought
i would lose my mind to one of them. this had nothing to do with
what thought i was thinking, but was create by years of drinking. the
alcohol set up bio-chemical path ways that worked as long
as you supplied the alcohol…..it took months to get rid of the
anxiety which got worst the longer i quit drinking….you have to be
really strong to stop drinking…..it is worth the price …alcohol is complete
posion to your wonderful body…it’s a slow kill…
Although I didn’t have the tool of Mr. Carr’s book in 1991, I was able to quit using precisely his same reasoning and have not had a drink since after drinking heavily from ages 16 thru 36. Best decision of my life. I’m hoping the book may inspire my husband and grown children to come to the same conclusion!
Nice comment, Terry. Congratulations to you! I’ve been drinking heavily since about age 18 and I’m now 45. It’s time to quit and I hope Allen Carr will help!
I have read the book & do believe his point of view. I’m also using hypnosis in conjunction with it. I have dry periods of a couple of weeks, but the lore of alcohol pulls me back in. I want so badly to be different, not a drunk. I certainly relate to dimo. Help me please.
Has anyone tried one of the clinics? Do they still exist?
Yes, they are available in London and Birmingham as far as I know.
I’ve been free of the Alcholol trap for a year now and life so much better without it. I achieved this with the book. I’ve read it 3 times (picked it up each time I felt I had questions). Best book I’ve ever bought!
Wow. I am so encouraged. I stumbled across this book yesterday at the book store and bought it, not really believing the claim of the title. I’ve tried several times to quit or control my drinking with limited successes, but always end up back in the trap. I’ve been perfecting my drinking skills & rationale for the past 30 years, and am frightfully good at the game.
I read the first two chapters of Mr. Carr’s book in the middle of the night last night, and am still skeptical, but am more hopeful having read some of the encouraging posts here.
Wish me more sleepless nights–and freedom!
I’ve read the book two or three times now and while I agree with everything in it have not managed to break free of the trap. I would never dream of having a drink during the day, could happily have a pub lunch with a diet coke, but come evening I inevitably have a couple of lagers then bottle of wine – shared! – with dinner. My husband drinks more than I do and argues that we’re harming no-one one – kids grown up, semi-retired, etc etc, but every morning I hate my weakness. Reading the book again and am considering going to a clinic. Any more info on these?
I’m only a few more chapters along in the book, just started the on entitled: the new drug “Exhiliration.” I’m still drinking, though not as much. I know the book says not to alter your habits while reading the book, but I haven’t been as interested. Weird. Plus, have to follow the instructions to be sober while reading, and I don’t have that much time to read as it is.
I got into a rather serious discussion with my spouse last night about drinking. She doesn’t drink as much or as often as I do, but still admitted some fear about not ever drinking again. I’ve tried so many times and different approaches in the past to stopping or controlling how much, that I don’t imagine she believes I’ll be successful anymore than I do. I’m scared that I will fail, again. Trying to stay positive and keep and open mind.
Hi everyone, I have just picked this book up to read for the second time, the first time I did cut down but soon resummed my stress busting large sauvignon blanc’s every evening sometimes equating to 2 bottles of wine and going to bed oblivious. This is the first time I have posted anything on this web site, I am 52 this year and very worried for my health, doing a level 3 paper on alcohol
consumtion by nurses for my degree so I was very aware of how many units in a large glass of wine. I stopped yesterday and I’ll stick with the book, its great to hear offer comments posted on this site, so wish me goodluck
Mez,
According the posts from the people who have been successful with this, you won’t need luck, you just won’t want to drink any more! I’m still reading the book for the first time, so I haven’t had my last drink yet, but I’m looking forward to it. You can do it. Stay positive.
Mez, How’s it going? I finished the book, and haven’t had a drink since my final one on 8/6. It’s only 3 days, but it was the *weekend* which has always been a great excuse for me to drink more than the usual. I’m feeling cautiously optimistic, as I’ve never known anyone personally who has used this method.
Hope you’re sticking with it and feeling positive about your future free of the alcohol trap. You can do it!
Good for you Ranne. I’m hopefully right behind you. A few days until I finish the book!
I have read this book, I got to the end of it, followed all the instructions and the morning I had finished the book I had decided that I would never drink again and I was very excited about it. I really thought that his message had sunk in and that I was free. I had a great day and imagined my life without drinking in such a positive way.
When I got home and looked in the fridge my boyfriend had brought me a bottle of wine and that was the end of my great day.
Has anyone been to his clinic, would be really interested to hear about it you have?
Lisa,
The first time I read this book I knew I would stop even when i was half way through. I did for 2 months. I have now read the book 5 times and each time it motivates me less. Clearly for some it is not enough. It makes so much sense yet it is obvious to me that I /we/all are sleepwalking. Why can’t we see it as it is. There is something not right and we know it. I bet most of us function well but would love to shake the alcohol chains of and be free.
I Read alan cars book and yes i did stop drinking but soo started drinking again i stopped for a munth and felt so good but still had the cravings which eventully i gave in im back to my old style drinking ways 4 beers a night in the week then when weekend comes just get more drink and end up geting drunk fri sat and sunday night i realy want to give up as i feel it is effecting my health but do quite a bit of socilising and last time people teased me and i could not wait to get out of the pub i also enjoy drinking when i go on holidays and the thought of not drinking on holiday makes me think hollidays will be boring , deep down though i just want to stop drinking and see my girls grow up i have bough a new course lee muler habit changing system which says it can stop you drinking in 21 days but cant bring my self round to starting the course . all the people on here who have managed to stop drinking good on you it is so hard i have even thought about councilling any one tryed that .
you could try one of the stop smoking clinics
I was looking for a site to discuss the book as I just finished it on the 13th. It’s been six days without alcohol and I am absolutely amazed! I haven’t gone a week without a drink in 16 years, other than during my two pregnancies with my wonderful kids. I could flip the drinking switch off while pregnant but it controlled me the rest of the time.
Being one of those “high functioning” alcoholics, I lived in denial for many years. I am happily married, a mother, own a home, am a college graduate with a successful career, and have close friends. Problem was, I was drinking every night (never before 6pm! That was my stupid rule) but I rarely got hungover. I could be bombed and blackout on a Tuesday night, then go to work the next morning and be totally functional. I don’t drive drunk so I’ve never had a DUI. My worst crime was online shopping and not remembering what the h*ll I bought. But, I knew that it would get worse to the point that I could lose everything. My husband was at the end of his rope. I knew that despite my successes in life, I was definitely an alcoholic.
Allen Carr’s words saved me. I will not let my children grow up with an alcoholic mother, or sentence my husband to life with a drunk. I’m only 34 and my kids are young, 4 and 1. I knew I needed to do this while they are young enough to escape damage I would have inflicted on them if I kept drinking when they were old enough to remember it. Sure, it’s been 6 days, but I am confident that will stretch into years, then decades. Elation feels great.
NT, I’m in practically the same situation as you are. Although I’m 45 with 2 young boys. I need to stop drinking for me and for them.
Both of you give me inspiration! I have not yet quit- although I have tried many times in the past. One cannot fault me for not trying:)! I am about 1/3 of the way through the book. I hope it works for me! I do not want to pass anything on to my kids!
I was in your situation a few years ago. I told my wife that I didn’t like the fact that we were drinking so heavily. She happened upon Alan’s book at the bookstore. It changed my life. I have not drank or even wanted a drink in 2 1/2 years. My golfing buddies used to tease me quite a bit saying “he read a book and now he’s cured”. It really is that easy. I just lent my book to a friend yesterday. Pulling it out reminded me of how far I have come. Happy reading! Enjoy the rest of your life!
Congratulations NT, you have spurred me on to re-read the book and try u again. Like you the only time I managed to quit was when pregnant -in fact that’s how I knew I was pregnant because the idea of a drink repulsed me. Your honesty to admit to being an alcoholic really hit home with me because, like you, I function perfectly well. Ironic that I would never dream of drink driving yet over the years would probably have failed an early morning breath test on the school run. And I was most heartened by your online shopping …. i thought I was the only one! I had been quite smug in that I had increased my “watershed” to 8pm but found I was drinking just as much to catch up. Back to the book…. wish me luck and let me know how you go
Hi all
I too read this book about 5 months ago and stayed comfortably off the drink for 6 weeks and out of nowhere an irresistable urge to drink again came on me. I went back drinking 15 units a night and often more on the weeends. I am 33years old.
On paper I look like I have it all, a beautiful patient wife, 2 children, and am studying to be a surgeon. This year will see me in surgeory and I realise I desperatley need to stop drinking before this happens as I will lose EVERYTHING. I am at a junction in my life where it is either a life of booze or keeping everything good in my life.
Is there anyone out there that has remained sober from rereading the book. I am afraid the rereeading it will reduce its impact. The smoking book worked like magic. I feel this book should work though, i guess I am afraid of it not working for me as counselling and AA are out of the question with my career as there would be a paper trail, in short I need to fix this problem without getting formal help.
Hi all, I have been an alcoholic for more than 20years. I, like many of you have probably picked up this book , ALMOST finished it and then carried on regardless and fallen back in the bottle. This time im going to try to get to the end. Wish me luck!!!
i don’t drink and never have. my mother was abusive and her father was a violent alcoholic. i am one of 11 cousins and 10 of us were abused. this hideous fact affects many families. they have tried to shut me up because i want later generations not to have to suffer. my efforts to expose this makes me the culprit not the victim!!!my grandfather went to the pub to ‘have fun’ and after he got over the hangover in the morning his wife had a black eye and/ or the children were bruised and cowering. fun!!! wasting money, babbling rubbish and picking fights!! fun!!! i may have a glass of wine 2-6 times a year. a glass. feeling squiffy is not nice for me, bumping into things and slurring my speech.i do have addictive issues and i love allan carr. i wrote this to remind you all that alcoholism, even if there is no violence destroys families.a drunk parent/ partner is not really available. not like a sober one is. and i always get good sex by avoiding sex if a partner has been drinking. why sell yourself short???
I would love to quit drinking. I know I’m not an alcoholic but I do drink too much. This book sounds great.I’m looking forward to hangover free days!
i been to c a coucillor about my drinkin and she told me i hadnt to stop or there b real problems thing i cant stand the taste ove the stuff how wierd
Quit drinking a while back using a similar method called Rational Recovery,didn’t drink for 2 years & didn’t give it a second thought. Ironically, my mother who has never had a drink in her life brought me a bottle of my favorite wine for my birthday, I started slowly, but have been drinking again ever since. I am about 3/4 of the way through the book and feel like I can do this, the problem is I was married 5 years ago & a big part of our life along with some healthy things, is our “cocktail hour” and wine with dinner. I wonder what will happen if I quit, he doesn’t think he has a problem. Does anyone else have a similar situation?
I have had exactly similar situation. At the beginning my wife was saying that our life without parties with beer and wine will be grey and boring. My tactic was to persuade her that life without booz is so much better. It took 3 years of persistent convictions and now she is no longer thinking that life without alcohol is bleak and boring. Usually when one partner quits another partner should follow. Otherwise there will be conflicts. My wife was drinking alone during first couple of years of my sobriety. And when drunk she was really unattractive. Every morning I was telling her about it. My efforts finally gave results. 20 years ago I accustomed her to drinking. I felt guilty and obliged to reverse the process.
I read the book and haven’t had a drink in 11 days…yippee. I feel stronger emotionally and physically and glowing. All this in 11 days – what will I feel like in 30 days? I found Carr’s analogies to be a wee bit irritating but I needed them to stretch out the process of finishing the book. Carr’s way certainly works for me as he gave me the strenght to go against the modern day western opinion that we have to drink alcohol but just not too much (or too noticeably) and those boundaries change depending on who you are drinking with. My partner is a bit shocked and said he misses having a wine with me. I think he is now realising we can have drink together only mine is tonic in a wine glass. He also has the bonus of having me as a driver and I have already done my duty for a dinner and a party. We are currently planning a big party in a months time and I am looking forward to being a sober host. I never thought I could do this, especially so easily.
I read this book and it changed my life. A heavy weekend drinker for years I thought i’d never be able to give up the sauce. But after another heavy evening on the pop and the subsequent morning where I tried to piece together the previous evenings events – I decided enough was enough and bought the book. It has been a complete revelation. I read the book and after I finished it I never wanted a drink again. I have lost weight, feel fantastic, the working week flies by while weekends last longer (a reverse of what it used to be like) my relationship with my wife is better as well. I am also out of bed at 6am everyday and doing a 2 mile run before work – something I could have only fantasised about in a drunken stupor previously. I’ve been to pubs, restaurants, comedy clubs and done all things I used to turn up to and get pissed at – and yet I still do them now with no booze and do not feel deprived at all! Life is wonderful now and if you’re still reading this and wondering whether to buy the book or not…….DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR!!! Get this book, read it and never look back! Quitting booze will be the best thing you ever do! You can do it
Wow that is so encouraging.. there is life after alcohol! I so desperately want to give up because every morning I hate my weakness and guilt. My husband says I am doing myself more harm than good by trying to give up because I give myself such a hard time. It is so refreshing to hear you say holidays and social occasions can be great without a drink. I’ve just come back off holiday and put off finishing the book because I wanted to be able to “enjoy” drinking. Now I’m home I’m determined to finish the book.. and finish with booze!
Hi everyone. I finished the book, yesterday at 4:45. I purposely finished it at that time because it was 15 minutes before my usual start of drinking 6 to 8 large glasses of wine. Wow, the thought of drinking repulsed me. For the past few days while I was reading the book and still drinking, I could not believe how bad the drink tasted. I will post again in a week and hope that I will have an encouraging report. So far I am completely sold on the Easyway.
Hi everyone, I just started the book. I am a functional “drinker” who only drinks wine, but a “big” (1.5 liter) bottle every night. I still dont feel I get abnoxioulsy drunk on this (tolerence is obviously built up), but I do feel foggy the morning after, and the GUILT is destroying me. My biggest fear is that it will kill me early and I have 2 boys, ages 8 and 10 who love me so much and I dont want to die early. I have quit in the past for 1 month, 2 different times. I want to want to quit, or I want someone to tell me that the amount I am drinking will have no physical ramifications later on. I know intuitively that the second is false, so I am working on the first. I have to want to stop!! I am 30 pages into the book and I am feeling strong, open-minded, and I intuitively believe Carr’s philosophy. Hopefully this will work. I love my family so much, and they love me. There is enough bad stuff in life that can happen to you that you have no control over, I hope at least to have the strength to control something that I know is stealing from my family: time, money, health..If anyone else has had a positive experience with this book, please reply…I need all the encouragement I can get.
Hi,
I went on the Allen Carr easy way alcohol session last Saturday. I have not drunk since but beginning to feel the pangs, they offer a follow up session which I will definitely attend. Has anyone else been on a follow up and seen an improvement?
Previously I occasionally attended AA and even managed 11 months sobriety during which I climbed close to the top of Mt Everest.
I find the hardest part with the Allen Carr theory is curing the disease. Most Alcoholics realise the dangers but repeat the proceedings time after time. This is a symptom of and the madness of alcoholism.
I am finding it hard to just say things like “thank God I dont have to drink anymore”
Stopped smoking after reading Allen Carrs Easyway to stop smoking. After another night waking up with a horrendous hangover, no money, many bruises, a sense of guilt that i must have said or done something wrong and many other negtive symptoms i decided to read the Control your alcohol book ( i had read it once before but just wasnt in the right frame of mind to do it so it didnt work) Since i read it again i havent had a drink now its going on thirteen weeks no one i knew thought i could do it – not that i was a problem drinker mind just a glass of wine or two a couple of nights a week and the traditional blow out followed by a blackout at the weekend – i realised that if i didnt stop i would end up dead, divorced or raped this book has made me realise there is more to life and i am finally free!!!
Well, it has been a week now that I have been alcohol free. I have felt pangs but that’s all they are and I easily ignore them. I feel so much more alert, energetic and happy. I feel like I am not hiding anything anymore. My family is happier that I am not drinking. I have been able to help my son more with his demanding school work in a calm demeanor. I have picked up the book a few times and reread the synopsis of the rules and have still agreed with every one.
I am so happy to be free. I really am looking at the world differently. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to stop drinking.