Choosing between cigarettes or alcohol

Well done, but cutting back on caffeine intake is not as hard as getting off nicotine or alcohol.

Some of the major factors which will determine how successful he is with quitting include a couple of fundamentals. If you have a good work life balance and are reasonably content with your 'career' and your family life then the chances are you'll find it easier to quit. If you're on the dole without a steady relationship and not many prospects, life loses it's purpose and urgency, so giving up the vices like drink and smokes becomes incredibly hard.
Having said that the OP should go and seek professional help. Now. Otherwise he probably won't see his 50th birthday.

Was visiting home a few weeks ago and my sister quit smoking (because it's so expensive, she got a cut in pay etc) but she continues to put away 1.5 liters of vodka every 3 days. That's about a half liter a day just at home. That's in addition to what she drinks when she meets her friends out. She's 55. Anyway, I wished she would have kept smoking because she's one mean drunk. It poisons your mind and thoughts and she's not the only alcoholic I know whose life seems hopeless and health is getting worse because of it.
Unlike her, please quit the booze first. You can always work on the smoking later.

From a personal point of view that doesn’t surprise me. I think smoking is the lesser of the two evils to be honest.

Oh yea I forgot to mention that I ( used to ) drink enough coffee to keep an elephant awake all night but I have cut that back and now only drink about half a jug before 12.00 when it used to be two jugs

Spirits are Evil ( no pun intended ) only ever used to drink them if I was out and only when in the UK and not in MUC as it’s a fooking rip off here.

Anyway as an update I have had one day without a drink since I started this thread, I have however switched from 2 bottles of wine per night to about 4 or 5 bottles of beer, which I think is a step in the right direction. Still smoking like a fooking trooper tho tbh

Yes, my grandfather for one. He used to roll his own, had a sort of clever tin that rolled them. That was one of my favourite things to do as a kid. But he actually sort of drowned in his own lungs when he died of emphysema. Not a pretty way to go, in fact about as disgusting as it gets. So it isn't always cancer, you could have the "easier" option.

I used to smoke 60 a day, one pack in the morning, one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Drank a good bit too. I gave up the smoking one New Year when I couldn't stop coughing anymore, couldn't taste anything, and the drinking when I had children. Still could put it away but it has really slowed down over the years.

I think you might try the visit to the doctor as Sara suggested. Find out just what state your liver is in Boy and work from there. It's impossible to give up smoking if you're drunk anyway. You need to have your head set to really give up smoking and it won't work if you are drinking too. Too much temptation and no will-power.

The fact that you posted sort of shows that you can see that it is all a fairly shitty way to live. Take the first step - surprise yourself.

I wondered what became of you. I totally concur with others' recommendations you get help; both professional and community support. I'm sorry but I don't know if going from wine to beer really makes any difference. Except it makes you believe you're more in control, perhaps? Another case of "out of the frying pan and into the fire". When you have another bad morning I hope you will use the pain to motivate you to ask for help. Good luck and God bless.

Well, I dont quite understand why you want to quit only ONE of those things?
Its both not good for you ... these are addictions and they will kill you sooner or later.
Get professional help and quit both!
Good luck.

I imagine he knows that austriana. But sometimes you need a crutch to get you through whatever's stressing you - he probably reckons it might be easier to throw away one crutch at a time.

If you try going the "health" route Boy, ie first check in with a doctor, maybe a "kur", then taking up some sort of training - gym plus something where you are together with other people who are keen on it, mountain walking, tennis, a martial art.

If you do sport, apparently you get a high from the endorphins secreted when you are exercising. They make you feel good and keep you wanting more! Better for you than booze and fags, AND you meet people AND you look good too.

"When person runs, swims, cycles and performs any other strenuous exercise, pituitary gland releases endorphins: chemicals that release feeling of euphoria and that block sensations of pain. Endorphins are very closely linked to addictions, they were even discovered by accident when scientists were carrying out research on addictions and drugs." http://www.steadyhealth.com/articles/Stren...ns_a599_f0.html

It doesn't have to be running if that makes you shudder! But anyway, good luck.

how can you give up alcohol when jagermeister is only €10...

TBFB above quote reminds me of this cartoon.

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