Alcohol Awareness Classes Can Change Your Life

I like to think that I am a responsible person. I go to work every day and I pay my bills on time. I don't lie or cheat or steal. I stay drug free and healthy except that I consider myself a wine connoisseur . I love studying wine, drinking wine, talking about wine, shopping for wine, tasting wine, etc. But now, I do it very responsibly and cautiously. I never drink and drive and hire a taxi service in advance if I go out. I don't let my friends drink and drive either. I will pay for their taxi if necessary, to keep them safe.

Throughout my twenties I was a bartender and I drank a lot more hard liquor. I never considered my drinking to be a big deal until I was arrested for a DUI. Part of my fine was to complete an online alcohol class. I was so ashamed that I took the 30 hour course.  I wasn't looking forward to it thinking it would be preachy and boring.

However, to my surprise it was exactly the opposite. I learned so many things that I never knew before, and it inspired me to look at my drinking behavior. In some ways I am glad I got that DUI. It changed my life for the better and I was spared a far worse experience.

Be Safe when You Choose to Drink Alcohol

Drinking alcohol is a normal part of daily life for people in most countries. Sipping wine with dinner, toasting champagne at a wedding, and sharing a beer with some friends can be positive ways to use alcohol. In fact, alcohol is okay as long as you are being responsible when using it.

If you are not careful however, alcohol can be dangerous. Many irresponsible alcohol imbibers end up in serious legal trouble or even worse, in a car crash. Others need to attend an alcohol awareness class so that they learn about the full impact drinking has on their lives and the lives of innocent victims they may accidently come into contact with.

If you are not sure how responsible you are, try taking an online alcohol class. These classes are inexpensive, easy, and convenient to take. You will learn so much about the impact your drinking has on yourself and those around you. You will be amazed to learn how hard alcohol is on your body and how easily it is to drive while intoxicated. You hear from victims as well as offenders to get a picture of the full affect DUI has on individuals, families, communities and society at large.

Such a class may help encourage you take your drinking more seriously including cutting back on the amount of alcohol you consume or being so careful to drink responsibly.

Going to an Alcohol Awareness Class

If you are taking an alcohol awareness class then you have the unique opportunity to ask yourself some valuable questions. Namely, how much does alcohol really affect your life?

It seems that when you are in the midst of your life it is difficult to step back and evaluate it. This is more true when the questions revolve around your drinking because many set up a lifestyle where drinking  is common and normalized. For example, wine enthusiasts drink to be more educated on special grapes and sports fans like to believe drinking is a part of the game's milieu. Heavy drinkers and alcoholics who create a drinking lifestyle, often go unnoticed.  

Take some time out and take an online alcohol class. With some dedicated class time to this specific issue  you can be more objective and better determine how much your drinking is messing with your life. Maybe it's not that big of a deal. Then again, it would be best if you were honest about your habits.

An Alcohol Class to Help You Understand if You Are an Alcoholic

An alcohol awareness class can give you valuable insight into whether or not you are an alcoholic. After all, it isn't easy calling yourself one for a number of reasons. The first being that no one wants to be called an alcoholic.

Growing up we've often encountered one and they typically were not the best role models. Some were overly friendly, or acted weird. Others were fun until they drank too much and became good examples of what not to be. We would hate admitting being "one of them".

The second reason it isn't easy calling your self an alcoholic is because no one seems to know for sure what an alcoholic is. We all have varying definitions. Even amongst the alcoholic community you may get three different answers if you ask three different people. Regardless, an alcohol awareness class can give you some valuable insight into what an alcoholic might be and if you fit that description. It is good information to have if you find alcohol becoming a central theme of  your life.

It is Never Too Late for an Alcohol Class

I am sure you have heard the saying "better late than never." This most certainly is true when it comes to taking an alcohol class. Regardless of how much you drink and how far your addiction has progressed, an alcohol class is always a good step in your rehabilitation process.

As a counselor for both in-class and online alcohol classes I see students in every aspect of the spectrum when it comes to drinking.

If you are a teenager just experimenting with alcohol, an alcohol class could be helpful. If you think you may be drinking too much, take an alcohol class. If you know you drink too much but might have doubts as to whether your drinking really is a problem, take an alcohol class.

If you know you are an alcoholic and may not be in denial but are in hiding, take an alcohol class. If you prefer to maintain total anonymity there are online alcohol classes too.

He Got Caught Now He Has to Take a Drug Alcohol Class

I have a son in high school who like a lot of high school boys is testing his boundaries and seeing what he can get away with. Last week was a holiday party and he decided that he was going to throw a party at a local hotel.

When the party was broken up by the police, he got a citation for being under age and under the influence of alcohol. The citation came with a pretty hefty fine for someone with no income. It also requires him to attend an alcohol awareness class over two weekends of the month.

I am glad this happened and think it will be a good experience for him. He needs to learn that there are consequences for his actions and that when you make poor decisions you will get poor results. He is really upset about the whole situation but mostly, he is embarrassed. I suggested he take an online alcohol class for privacy but also so he could start immediately.

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.

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.

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.

Being Aware That You Have a Problem with Alcohol

How do you know if you have a problem with alcohol? Alcohol is a prevalent part of our culture and many people drink daily. How would you know if you have a problem or potential problem with alcohol?

If you've ever pondered this question, an 8 hour alcohol awareness class could be exactly what you need.

The rub is, you have to be open to it and self aware but you may also need more information. It isn't easy realizing that you may have an alcohol problem. Too often there are mitigating factors people use to brush away the truth and keep them in denial.

Denial is strong and may prevent you from realizing you are giving yourself the brush off. Instead of seeing yourself clearly, you might look at circumstances and make more excuses. Excuses that sound legitimate and real to you. An online alcohol awareness class can help you break this self destructive habit.

I know because I did it for years. So if you are thinking that you might need some help, but don't think you really need that much, maybe you should try the class. Why not? That way, you'll at least have more  information to assess yourself more honestly.

You Can Drink Too Much Without Even Knowing It

Just about anyone who ever has been drunk understands that sometimes alcohol takes effect more quickly than we realize. You don't need to have taken an alcohol class to come to this conclusion. Whether we do not know the potency of the beverage we drank or the fact that our metabolism is slow, there are times when the powerful effects of alcohol seem to come out of nowhere.

Drinking at a bar with a group of friends or at a holiday party are situations where it is easy to drink more than you are aware of. When you meet good friends at a bar and catch up over a few cocktails, time flies by quickly and before you know it you are definitely buzzed. Or, if you are at a holiday party feeling a little shy or nervous, the eggnog or champagne slips down too easily and on an empty stomach too. You can drink more than you intended when glasses are being filled and the environment is designed for drinking and merriment.

When this happens, it would be wise to call a taxi or get a ride with a friend. Don't allow yourself to drive. If you feel buzzed, or even slightly buzzed, don't drive. Remember, alcohol gets more potent as time passes and you may be the victim of drinking too much without knowing it. Make the smart decision and find safe transportation home.

Stay Sober this Holiday Season and Still Enjoy Beverages

My entire life I have enjoyed drinking during the holiday season. As a kid, it was the one time of year I got to drink eggnog. Man, I still love a good nog!

From eggnog I graduated to sips of champagne to drinking beer, wine and champagne, to getting drunk at every gathering I went to drinking whatever was available!

Now, as a recovering alcoholic, I choose to stay sober during the holiday season. Yet I can still enjoy my beverages. Following are a few of my holiday favorites.

Eggnog – I like it plain like a milkshake.

Daiquiris – the virgin kind – eggnog daiquiris are delicious so are fresh strawberry, peach and banana.

So relax, enjoy the company of those you love and care about in complete sobriety. Appreciate them for who they are and the fact that they are sharing their time and life with you. Serve fun non-alcoholic beverages for the whole party to enjoy. Starbucks does!

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.

How to Watch Football Without Drinking

Another exciting football season is in full swing.

If you are like me you watch games with a bunch of your friends. There is usually plenty of food and drinks to be had. Beer drinking is very much a part of watching the game. Not to mention the countless high priced commercials for beer.

But what are you going to do if you are trying to cut back on your alcohol intake. Or what if you've decided not to drink alcohol again for the rest of your life. If you've attended an alcohol awareness class you probably learned that it's a good thing to stay away from events or parties where alcohol is being served. But what if you are a huge football fan? What are you expected to do? Just watch the game at home while sipping bottled water?

Here's a few hints on how to handle this situation. First, make sure that you watch the game at somebody's house rather than in a bar. Bars are associated with drinking and if you can avoid them, you've done a good job. Second, tell your host ahead of time that you won't be drinking alcohol. Next, bring a non-alcoholic alternative such as sparkling water, root beer, or sweet iced tea to the game. Finally, make sure that you always have a full non-alcoholic beverage in your hand at the event. That way you never have to worry about somebody offering you a new beer if you're done with your drink.

You can definitely watch football and other sports in the company of your friends without drinking. Just follow these simple tips and you should have no problems. If you feel tempted, there are lots of great online alcohol classes that can help you conquer these situations.

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.

Use Your IPad to Take an Alcohol Awareness Class

New smart phones and tablets are certainly wonderful devices. Now you can do things that you used to only be able to do with a computer or laptop anywhere.

If you've been arrested for a DUI or other alcohol related offense, you might be required to take an alcohol class. Did you know that you don't have to sit in a room with a bunch of other people to take this class? Many judges allow you to take the class online. And because of the advances in technology you can actually take the class using your iPad.

This means that instead of having to be stuck going to class every night and taking precious time out of your day driving back and forth. You can take the class wherever you are right from your iPad. As long as you have internet access your alcohol awareness class is just a click or touch away!

Why Don't Alcohol Advertisers Have to Promote Alcohol Awareness Classes?

It's a known fact that alcohol kills. It causes numerous diseases and sabotages our health. It's also a leading cause of death due to DUIs and other alcohol related accidents. So why don't alcohol advertisers have to promote alcohol awareness classes?

It's not as crazy as it sounds. Cigarette companies also sell a product that causes much harm. It took years of lawsuits and legal wrangling but now they have to pay billions of dollars to state governments. And much of that money goes towards tobacco prevention programs. The theory here is that while the harm in the past can't be prevented, future harm might avoided by educating people.

Likewise, since alcohol can cause such harm, why don't alcohol manufacturers have to do the same sort of preventative education? Why aren't they forced to promote alcohol awareness education and teach people about the risks of alcohol use? Do we have to wait for decades and lawsuits like we did with the cigarette companies?

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.

Is Is She Cultured or Does She Just Want to Get Drunk?

There are many options for going on a first date. Going to the movies, going bowling, having a picnic together or even going to a museum. But what if the girl you are dating says she wants to go wine tasting? Is she somebody who really enjoys the nuances of different wines such as the delicate aroma, color and subtle hints of flavors? Or is she somebody who just wants to get drunk?

It's an important distinction. Something I've learned in alcohol awareness classes is that people often create hobbies for themselves that mask a bad habit. For example, somebody might like to brew beer in their basement. They say they do it because they like the authentic flavor of homemade beverages. But it could also be the case that they want an excuse for drinking all the time.

The same can said for a potential date that says they want to go wine tasting. Is it that they really appreciate the differences between merlot and cabernet grapes? Or do they just want an excuse to drink glass after glass of red wine in an environment that this is considered socially acceptable? There are certain signs that are dead give aways. For example, does she always seem to be drinking a glass of wine when you come to pick her up for a date? Or does her trash always seem to be filled with empty bottles? Or is she saying how "Napa" is her favorite place to visit.

In any case, there's nothing wrong with drinking wine if it's done in moderation. But to join a hobby just because it creates an opportunity to drink,  is never a good idea. If you've know a girl who acts like this, consider suggesting that she take a 12 hour alcohol awareness class. Or better yet, maybe she's somebody you should stay away from.

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.