Is hard to give up old habits you have been doing for years. First time I had a smoke was when I was eighteen. First time I drank I was sixteen. Smoking was not as prevalent as the drinking at all though. I rarely smoked. Buy a pack of Беломорканал cigarettes, and the pack would last me weeks. Is a Soviet, and post Soviet brand of cigarette. Had no filter. Strong cigarette. My father used to smoke them. My choice of drink was Vodka. Stereotypical, yes, but I also had American whiskey too.

I liked Русский стандарт (Russian Standard), Столичная (Stolichnaya), and Рускова (Ruskova) was okay too. American Whiskey was my second choice though. My drinking was light at first, but after my wife passed it got increasingly bad. 80 proof was not doing it for me. I went out and got the American Everclear, 190 proof. Got really bad. After doing my work business for the day I would get drunk constantly. Strangely I rarely got hungover. My father said it was because of my genes. I honestly have no clue if alcohol tolerance can be passed through genetics. I doubt that...

But back to the story. I drank and drank. Since I was sixteen. A whole decade. Tried quitting this year. I quit smoking last December. That was so much easier. I already rarely smoked. Quitting alcohol though is difficult. No AA programs for me. I not want to do anything like that. I just not like the idea. I have managed to nearly stop drinking. I still have something when I am out on social occasions. I have wine every now and then, but is only because Red wine is good for you in a small amount.

I have not gotten completely drunk since last year. Is proving difficult of course though. I sometimes get the urge to go get a bottle of something stronger than wine. Vices have affected me for years. Is not easy, but I am dedicated to stopping. Working out makes the urges cease. So, my usual routine really helps me out. My friends have been supportive. My brother...is a good person, but his drinking problem is still ever present. He thinks life is a party still, and he is older than me!

Nonetheless, my drinking has been severely reduced. Still present, but reduced. Is just hard to stop, but with enough dedication I have managed to somewhat do it. Hopefully in the future I can completely stop with hard liquor. At least I not getting drunk or smoking anymore.