Showing posts with label alcohol awareness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label alcohol awareness. Show all posts

Monday, March 18, 2013

Make Money Faster by Taking an Alcohol Awareness Class

How, you might ask, does learning about alcohol, drugs and addiction possibly turn into a way to make yourself money? Seems more like a waste of time, doesn't it?

Well the truth of the matter is that if you have a problem with alcohol and drugs, you are probably spending a lot of time with those activities (being high, drunk or hungover) than you are trying to better yourself. The great thing about a drug and alcohol awareness class is that you will learn about the harmful effects that drugs and alcohol have on your body (including the brain). You will also be given techniques to stop drinking and using drugs.

Once you have shrugged the drug and alcohol demon off your back you are free to focus on what you really want to do. Not only will you save money that is not being spent on alcohol and drugs, but you will open yourself to your true goals and ambitions. That is your personal success and the ability to make money for yourself!

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

My Son is Very Lucky He Got to Take an Alcohol Class

My son is very lucky. He did not get jail time for his DUI conviction. He also did not lose his job. He did however, lose his license for a year and I refuse to give him rides. He can take the bus, walk, or borrow a bicycle. 

He was ordered to take alcohol awareness classes. Since he was unable to attend a local class he is taking them online. The classes are good since they go into detail about the risks of DUI. My son needs to learn  how dangerous it is to get behind the wheel of a car if he has been drinking.

The night he spent in jail was a wake up call for him but I believe more education will help. The classes also helped me see what I need to do to help without nagging but setting good limits since he still lives at home.  We are learning to be different which means there is a lot more communication and honest conversations.

Indirectly, as a result, my husband has completely given up alcohol. This is good role modeling and leadership. I'm proud of them both.

Monday, February 25, 2013

The New Way to Take Alcohol Drug Courses

When you are ordered by the court or your current employer to attend an alcohol awareness class, you may  wonder how you will fit it into your busy schedule. Now, there is a new way to attend these alcohol classes. You can take them online from the comfort of your home.

With online alcohol classes, you log onto the website and take the course at your convenience. Whether you have to take an 8 hour, 10 hour, 12 hour, 16 hour, or 24 hour alcohol course, you can do this online. The courses cover topics about drinking and driving, how to handle stress and emotions, treatment approaches etc.The classes are accepted throughout the nation for many courts and there are websites that offer a 100% money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with the class.

Once you complete the online course, you are mailed a certificate of completion that you can take to your court hearing or to your employer. Not only are the classes interesting and cost effective (since you don't have to drive anywhere) but they offer privacy and the chance to learn the material at your own pace.

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Watch Your Kids Closely when They Are out to Party

My son just returned from his first minor in possession or MIP class. Three weeks ago he was caught at a party with an open alcohol container. He was charged with minor in possession of alcohol. As a result there were fines that I have to pay and my son had to agree to take an online alcohol class.

The point of the class is to inform and educate minors about the risks of using alcohol at a young age, and it also speaks to the legality of drinking alcohol under the age of 21. I do not condone my son drinking so I will have to keep a close eye on him from now on. It is the least of my responsibilities as a parent to know what he is up to. He now knows that I can "spot check" on him at anytime - this means that I will randomly show up to where he says he is going to be and see what he is doing. We both agreed that this annoying intrusion of his privacy is a result of him not making wiser and more responsible decisions.

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

My Cousin Needs an Alcohol Awareness Class

My cousin is 25 years old and she has had a drinking problem from 10 years. My cousin and I are really close and we talk about this problem frequently. I keep telling her to get some professional help but she's reluctant. She says that she wants to, but that she feels embarrassed and is also worried about how much it will cost. I told her there are online alcohol classes that are very affordable and private. If she took an awareness class online she would know exactly how much it would cost and could take it in the privacy of her own home. I really hope my cousin seriously considers this because I can tell that her alcohol problem is getting worse.

Saturday, December 22, 2012

I Learned About My Alcohol Behavior in an Online Alcohol Class

If I am to be honest, I did not really think I had a drinking problem. Yes, I enjoyed a few drinks after work, and drank more freely on the weekends but so did my friends. There were times when I drank too much, but I never considered myself "a drunk" like my father. 

One particular Friday night, we were celebrating a big merger when a few drinks turned into more drinks and I was arrested for public intoxication. Part of my sentence was to enroll in an alcohol awareness class.

This turned out to be a problem because no one offered any courses near me; and the closest one was a three hour round trip drive. I was not sure what to do until a friend suggested that I find an online alcohol class about alcohol awareness.

Not only was the price lower then what I would have paid in person but it was convenient and well written. It also met my sentencing requirements but more importantly, in the privacy of my own home- the class helped me open my eyes. I was able to be more honest with myself and see why I was abusing alcohol. It got me to turn around my life.

Monday, December 17, 2012

An Alcohol Awareness Class Saved Me from Getting Fired

My office has a zero tolerance policy but they offer one time rehabilitation. It wasn't even my normal day to work but I came in to cover a shift for a sick employee. Our time clock system assigns random drug tests and my number was up that morning. I drank a lot the night before and some was still in my system so I tested positive for alcohol.

I need this job and will do whatever it takes to keep it. I had no idea that drinking the night before would still be in my system the following day. I had to take an alcohol awareness class.

I have learned my lesson and won't repeat the same mistake twice. I am grateful and relieved that I wasn't fired.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Helping the Alcoholic by Not Helping

If you think one of your friends or family members needs an alcohol awareness class, you need to understand that no one gets help until they are ready. As a drug and alcohol counselor for ten years I saw time and time again, addicts and alcoholics ordered by the judge to attend rehab or counseling. The individual showed up and went through the motions, but never really engaged and got anything out of the treatments.

Addicts typically don't get better unless they truly want to get better. So if you are frustrated that you can't help your friend or family member, remember that it's not up to you to save them. Your power is limited and you can only help yourself. This may mean attending Al-anon meetings or setting boundaries with that person.

The paradox is that you may help these people best by not trying to help them at all. It is possible that when you step out of the "parent role" they may come to the realization that they are being self-destructive and want to stop.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Don't Risk a DUI: Take a Taxi!

Trust me when I tell you that the best $50 you'll ever spend will be on a taxi home after getting drunk. By driving home in a drunken state you are jeopardizing your life and future as well as the lives of others.

Why then do so many people avoid spending the $20-$50 it would cost to take a taxi? As a counselor for both in-class and online alcohol awareness classes I often discuss this principle with my students. Not surprisingly almost all agree they wished they had paid for a cab. They provide interesting excuses including, "I didn't have enough money on me", "I wasn't sure how to call a cab at that hour", "I didn't want to leave my car there over night", and my personal favorite, "I thought I was OK to drive".



At best, drinking and driving can result in a DUI violation which will cost you thousands of dollars. Heavy fines, increased insurance premiums, alcohol classes and counseling are only the tip of the iceberg.

At worst, you can permanently injure yourself or even kill yourself and others due to the "excuses" that allowed you to drink and drive. Imagine how the rest of your life would look if you killed your best friend or another innocent person because you were too cheap to take a cab ride? I have looked into the eyes of people with these stories. The regret and despair are unshakable.

Next time you are out on the town and know you have had too much to drink, please do the most responsible thing and call a taxi. Just think how fun a karaoke cab would be! 

Friday, November 23, 2012

A DUI Can Make Your Insurance Rates Skyrocket

With the cost of living so high already, and the economy in turmoil, you have to do whatever you can to save money and protect your future. You think things are tough now, try adding the increase in auto insurance premiums if you get a driving under the influence (DUI) violation.

With the bombardment of information you know that drinking and driving is both illegal and dangerous. You also must know that getting a DUI is expensive. Not counting all of the fines and fees for alcohol classes and attorneys, one place that will continue to hit your pocketbook month after month is auto insurance.

As a counselor for alcohol awareness classes, I often discuss the effect of a DUI on insurance rates with my students. Can you guess who sees the biggest increase? The answer is minors. Get a DUI and be under the age of 21 and if you can even keep your insurance, you are looking at an increase of $1,500 per year!

One DUI class student became a high-risk driver and his insurer boosted his premiums by $450 per month. While that may seem exorbitant the average increase is 20-40%.

Do yourself a favor and save money on insurance. Don't drive after consuming alcohol.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

A Hobby can Help You Stop Drinking

If you're somebody who has a drinking problem, the worst times are probably when you are bored or feeling anxious. Often when you are just sitting and thinking is when you're tempted to grab an alcoholic beverage.

But a healthy distraction such as a hobby can thwart the temptation to drink better than almost anything. When you have a great project in front of you, like wood working or weaving, you'll feel excited to work on that and stay busy rather than crack open a beer in front of the television.

Another benefit is that handiwork takes skill and concentration. You will quickly realize that as you get further into your project, you want to be careful with your work and avoid mistakes. So staying sober means that you'll have better, more precise results of your craft making.

To learn other ways of staying sober, take a 24 hour alcohol awareness class or online alcohol class.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Improve Your Nutrition by Cutting Alcohol Consumption

You probably have read that alcohol is basically empty calories. You also may have heard that drinking a glass of red wine every day is good for you.

When it comes to alcohol there are many facts and myths. A good alcohol awareness class can explain them in more detail, but we'll give you some of the basic facts in this article. Alcohol is called "empty calories" for a very good reason. On average alcohol is mostly sugar and carbs. That means it contains no protein, no vitamins and no micro-nutrients. One drink has been shown to reduce blood sugar in Type-2 diabetics; however, alcohol is lethal if more is consumed.

Alcoholic beverages have marginal nutritional value when combined with other foods or drinks. Fruit and juices are examples. But, when alcohol is mixed with juices which only slightly improves the nutrition, there is a lot of additional sugar added.

What About Red Wine?

Some studies have shown that a glass of red wine every day is good for your heart and reduces the chance of heart disease. There are other studies that show no added value to your heart from red wine.

Red wine may be the most nutritional alcohol beverage. Would you care to guess what nutritional value a glass brings to your daily requirements for vitamins and minerals?

From a glass of red table wine you get about 1% of your daily requirements for riboflavin, vitamin B6, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and potassium. You get 2% of the required daily intake for manganese. That is it!

Not only are alcoholic beverages empty calories, booze also has the ability to inhibit the absorption of vitamins and other minerals. So if you are looking to boost your health, it is a good idea to strictly limit your intake of alcohol (especially during the holidays). If you want to learn more about how alcohol affects your health, consider taking a 12 hour alcohol awareness class.

Thursday, November 8, 2012

An Alcohol Awareness Class Can Save You on Car Insurance

It might seem very strange that the idea of taking an 8 hour alcohol awareness class will save you money on car insurance. But once you understand what you're going to learn in an alcohol awareness class, you'll see how you'll get the savings.

First, when you take an alcohol class, you're going to learn the very severe consequences of drinking and driving. A DUI is going to cost you a lot in terms of both money and time. You'll more than likely lose your license, have to pay a huge fine, spend some time in jail and be required to take an alcohol awareness education class.

But something will follow you for the rest of your life and that's a very high car insurance bill. After a DUI your insurance costs go up astronomically. This means you'll be paying thousands of more dollars per year.

Once you understand all this, you'll be more careful when you drive. You'll be less likely to drink and drive and you'll save lots of money in insurance costs.

Friday, November 2, 2012

Why Don't More Celebrities Take Alcohol Awareness Classes?

It's a well known fact that many celebrities have drug or drinking problems. You can't pick up a tabloid magazine or go to a celebrity gossip website without reading about some actor who was arrested for a DUI. Or you might watch an online video of a famous actress stumbling into the gutter in front of a Hollywood nightclub.

Wouldn't it be better if these talented people, who make their living by entertaining, learn something about their addiction problems? Wouldn't it be great if there was a reality TV show where they talked about their experience taking alcohol awareness classes? Wouldn't it be inspiring to read about actors and actresses who were learning something about themselves and at the same time inspiring their fans?

Sure that's far fetched. Some people will never change and continue acting foolish for years. That is until they realize that their acting career is also going down the tubes.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

How to Avoid People Who Drink

The absolute key to staying sober, especially in the early days of sobriety, is to stay away from alcohol. This means not only do you have an alcohol free home but also that you stay away from people who are drinking.

If getting together with friends for a drink after work is a regular part of your life, you will need to find a new activity to replace it with. Starting a new hobby or challenge is a good idea. This could be anything from cooking for your family every night, going to the gym, or taking a photography class. You need something to focus on besides your friends and drinking at the bar.

Another thing to do is to communicate. Make sure your friends and family members are aware that you are avoiding alcohol. Loved ones are very accommodating in helping someone they care about stay sober.

A third thing you can do to avoid people who are drinking is to find activities you can enjoy doing alone such as gardening or jigsaw puzzles.

If you or someone you care about has a drinking problem I urge you to seek help. If you prefer to maintain total anonymity there are alcohol awareness classes too.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Four Things to Keep You Sober

As a counselor for both in-class and online alcohol awareness classes, I have discovered four keys to help my students stay sober. There is no greater goal for an alcohol class than to prevent relapse and recidivism.

By far the most important factor in staying sober is not to have alcohol in the house. There is no way a person with a drinking problem will be able to continually resist the urge to drink if booze is a constant, physical presence in the home. While it may be possible to stop for a while, eventually the mind will relent and you will drink again. Again, the rule is no alcohol beverages in your living quarters.

A second key factor in staying sober is not to associate with people who drink. This includes a spouse or significant other. If you want to stay sober, do not hang around with those who are drinking. At least early on in your sobriety you can't go hang out in bars and try to stay sober. This is just like having booze in the house. Don't tempt yourself. Don't go to parties where alcohol is being served. Don't put yourself in a vulnerable position to relapse.

The third key is to find activities that you can do instead of drinking. This means that instead of watching sports or bowling with friends, where drinking is common, pick something where the participants usually don't drink. Take an evening spin or yoga class, join a rock climbing club or take your pooch to the dog park. These are good examples where drinking isn't an integral part of the activity.

A fourth key is to be open about your drinking problem. Even if you don't want to broadcast your problem to everyone, find at least one person you can share with. You need to be held accountable for your actions. You need someone to share your experience with.

Those four rules plus a good alcohol awareness class form the basic platform necessary to get sober and live an alcohol-free life.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Alcohol Class Could Save You from a DUI

With all of the advertising and education on how horrible the combination of drinking and driving is, it is a wonder that people continue to do so. The statistics are alarming.

People die and lives are ruined. This does not happen once in a blue moon. This happens every day. This happens every hour. This happens every 15 minutes! And these facts aren't hidden, we all know the terrible statistics.

So, the big question is why do people continue to drink and drive? As a counselor for both in-class and online alcohol classes I often discuss this very subject with my students. As almost all of them have had an alcohol-related incident, everyone in the room can speak about their problems and experiences. Some have gotten a DUI and many others have driven while drunk but weren't caught.

Many report believing they were "ok". It is very common for drinkers to underestimate themselves as we know by now that alcohol affects judgment. Have you ever convinced yourself you were safe to drive? If you answered "yes", take a second to think about why you do it.

There is no good reason to drink and drive. Do not ever let yourself believe it is okay and that you can manage to get behind the wheel without any risks. Either you will eventually get into an accident and possibly kill yourself or somebody else. Or you will be arrested and thrown in jail. If that happens to you, consider yourself very lucky.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Alcohol Class Could Save You from a Bar Fight

Do you have a story of a friend, family member or colleague who did something stupid while they were heavily intoxicated? I bet you do. Alcohol has different effects on different people, but one thing it has in common with all who drink heavily and get very inebriated is that it causes you to do dumb things.

Have you ever been in a bar-fight? If you have, I bet you were drunk. As a counselor for both in person and online alcohol classes, 100% of my students who admitted to being in a bar fight also admitted drinking heavily at time.

Alcohol decreases inhibitions while simultaneously intensifying our emotions. This is why many people cry or fight while intoxicated. Sometimes they say things too, like how much they love someone, or how much they hate someone. Basically, the truth can come out.

It also increases the tempers of some drinkers. This is the difference between the "happy drunk" and the "bad drunk." The best way to steer clear of a bar fight is to not visit bars and not consume alcohol. If you do go, do not get overly inebriated so that your cooler head will prevail if provoked.

Monday, October 15, 2012

An Alcohol Class is Good Start if You Worry About Drinking Patterns


Are you an alcoholic? This is not such a simple question. Seemingly the answer should be yes, no or maybe. As a counselor for both in-class and online alcohol classes I firmly believe that people who have drinking problems are aware of them. Of course denial is the first stage of alcoholism – but that does not necessarily mean you are an alcoholic.

Every Day Drinkers

Is everyone who consumes alcohol every day an alcoholic? Is everyone who has a drinking problem an alcoholic? The answers to both of these questions are no.

If you have one beer or glass of wine every day you neither have a drinking problem nor are you an alcoholic. However, if you drink to the point of intoxication every day you most definitely have a drinking problem and should stop drinking and seek help immediately. The line is drawn when someone is unable to alter their drinking habits despite evidence of it's problems.

Drinking to the point of intoxication is a good sign you have a problem and could be an alcoholic. Other signs include: how much time you spend on alcohol - either thinking about it, purchasing it, or consuming it. In other words do your urges to drink increasingly consume your time and interfere with work, relationships, and other activities? Have people made comments to you about your drinking? Have they asked you to cut down or stop? Have you tried to stop and failed? Does your personality change when you drink? Do you become more moody or boisterous after a few drinks? Are you able to consume more alcohol than many of your friends? Does alcoholism run in your family?

If you or someone you care about might have a problem with alcohol,  I urge you to seek help as quickly as possible. If you prefer to maintain your anonymity or want to be on a flexible schedule, sign up for an online alcohol class. While change might feel scary, take small steps. Big changes come from changing one small thing. Start with an online alcohol class.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Go Sober for October


I am challenging all of my loyal readers to go sober for October. There are many good reasons why you should not touch a drop of booze for this entire month. Can you name some?




Not only is it beneficial for your health to give your liver a break and lighter on your wallet, put away up for that trip you've wanted to take, but how about the calories you safe for your waistline if those reasons are not enough.

For Your Health!

The best reason to give up drinking for a month is for your health. Not only do alcoholic beverages contain a lot of sugar but all alcoholic beverages are filtered through the liver. Many people drink every day. Alcohol is loaded with empty calories consider all of the empty calories you will save. One organ that will thank you is your liver. It does not like having to process poison from your body. Yes, alcohol is a poison.

Many people who take this challenge experience a slight weight loss, clearer skin and eyes, improved quality of sleep, and a feeling of wellness. If you haven't challenged yourself with an alcohol free month, try it. Your body will appreciate it.


For Your Wallet
Alcohol is expensive and getting more costly by the day. Three drinks at a bar a week will set you back about $20. That is $80 for the month or about $1,000 in savings if you abstain for a year.

Even if you drink at home you can figure on a $1 a drink. That is $12 a month or about $150 per year. You could use that money to buy something nice for yourself or perhaps take an 8-hour, level 1 alcohol class which may actually help you make the decision to quit drinking all together.