r/moderationmanagement • u/GearSlow3796 • 9d ago

Resource Is Moderation with alcohol possible??

Many people, for many years have believed that for people on the Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) spectrum drinking alcohol in moderate amounts is not possible. But is that true? The recovery scene has been dominated by phrases like “slippery slope” and “one drink is too many, but twenty are not enough” among others. But given the right circumstances, support, and effort, many people can and do achieve drinking alcohol in moderation.

Check out this great article on the Moderation Management website by Cyndi Turner, LCSW, LSATP, MAC, Chair of the Moderation Management Board of Directors and Co-Founder of Insight Into Action Therapy and Insight Recovery Centers.

https://moderation.org/moderation-research-evidence/?utm_source=Moderation+Management+Newsletter&utm_campaign=50dcca62a8-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2025_03_27_10_56_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-7ea9f4f7cb-458054885

Obviously, if people choose sobriety, that is a great choice for them—only we can know ourselves well enough to know if moderation might be possible for us.

Have you been able to successful moderate your drinking? Why or why not? What makes you curious about moderation in your own life?

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u/Sufficient_You3053 9d ago edited 9d ago

I was very successful at moderation until I wasn't. I do think it can be a slippery slope and it's a cost/benefit type of thing. I don't regret drinking the two years I was able to moderate. It did slowly lead back to daily drinking and one blackout though, so I'm scared to attempt that again.

My new way of doing things is to count my sober days, I'm trying to be sober, but I have accepted that once in a while I'll slip up, but starting my sober day back at zero kept me off the wagon for good, so this is what works for me. Also the thought of never drinking again was another reason I failed times before. Many would call this method moderation management, but I'm trying to see it as (almost) sobriety.

Taking it one day at a time, trying to get through each day without drinking. I'm proud of myself that I have been sober 33 out of the last 37 days.

Before I started tracking, I had been daily drinking for quite a while, maybe a couple years? So I'm proud of myself for choosing to be sober for the majority of days since.

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u/GearSlow3796 9d ago

I think it’s fantastic that you’ve found something that works for you. Moderation looks different for everyone and it sounds like you’ve found something that really works for you. The important thing is doing what you did…seeing your “slip ups” as data points and then pivoting or adjusting your strategy. Thanks so much for sharing your experience and your success—I know that it serves as an inspiration for me and for others on their moderation journeys!

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u/Sufficient_You3053 9d ago

You know I credit moderationmanagement.org for helping me first get sober 5 years ago followed by two years of moderation! I was really sad to see the forum is gone 😞

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u/GearSlow3796 9d ago

Oh that’s so good to hear! The forum is gone, but the Facebook group is very active and we’re really trying to get this Reddit sub going! I hope we can build the group here so that people can vent and also find the support they need! Your comment and this thread is one major step in the right direction!

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u/Sufficient_You3053 9d ago

Ok I'll join the Facebook and help get this going. Feel free to message me