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AIBU?

To ask how many nights a week you drink alcohol?

186 replies

BlondeOnATreadmill · 19/02/2016 20:34

I have cut down, but I'm not sure it's enough? I think my thinking may be skewed?

I was drinking wine every night. For quite some time! And not just a glass either. Generally a bottle, or even more, every night.

For the past few months, I have cut my drinking back to 3 nights a week only.

The other 4 nights a week, I have no alcohol at all. I have lemonade with dinner and a few decaff coffees later on.

Is this ok? Is 3 nights of drinking still too many? Or do you think this seems ok?

I have lost all perspective.

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sunnydayinmay · 19/02/2016 20:36

I consider myself a very moderate drinker - once a weeks usually, and no more then two glasses of wine. My friends drink a lot more.

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MrsTerryPratchett · 19/02/2016 20:37

One glass on three nights or one bottle each night still? Because that makes all the difference! One bottle would be 10 units for three nights = 30 units a week. Too much.

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ThroughThickAndThin01 · 19/02/2016 20:38

I would say you are a light drinker, sunny, that can't be more than 4 units a week (medium sized glass).

I'm trying for 4 nights AF OP. Don't always manage it though.

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BlondeOnATreadmill · 19/02/2016 20:38

Oh good point. The latter I'm afraid.

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coffeeisnectar · 19/02/2016 20:38

Are you still drinking a bottle on those nights?

I'd say that was too much. I rarely drink and am quite happy with coffee or juice.

A friend of ours was drinking a pint or two every evening or having a bottle of wine. Quite often followed by a whiskey. Every night. He's just had a liver transplant. He wasn't an alcoholic, or a binge drinker but it had become a habit and it destroyed his liver.

If you feel your drinking is getting to be a habit or worse, a necessity then maybe seek some help.

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MrsTerryPratchett · 19/02/2016 20:41

So what is it? Habit, stress, you like feeling drunk? Worth working out what your motivation is...

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ZanyMobster · 19/02/2016 20:42

I would say a bottle 3 x a week is way too much. One or two glasses at most I would say that often.

I have a ridiculous number of alcoholics in my family so I get twitchy about any sort of regular drinking.

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elQuintoConyo · 19/02/2016 20:44

I'd guess 2 glasses of wine per month, maybe 3-4 cans of black beer, again per month. I went right off alcohol after having DS 4 years ago and can now barely touch the stuff.

coffeeisnectar I'd say your friend who drak a bottle of wine per night plus whiskky was an alcoholic. Can't back that up with evidence though Grin

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HicDraconis · 19/02/2016 20:44

I drink most nights, but only one or two glasses. Over the course of a week I will get through more than one but less than two bottles of 9%. Some weeks I will drink less, some weeks I will drink more, but I will always have one or two no-alcohol nights.

3 nights a week is reasonable in terms of times but agree that it depends on how much you are drinking those three nights. A bottle would be excessive but half a bottle each night would be fine.

There is increasing evidence that long term drinking is causing liver and other issues in later life, probably as drinking at home is becoming increasingly normalised.

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MadisonMontgomery · 19/02/2016 20:45

Honestly, I probably drink once a month, if that - I only drink at social occasions, not at home. I just don't really see the point of it, I can relax by watching TV or reading a book - I don't need alcohol. Maybe try going for a week or two without drinking and see how you feel?

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Junosmum · 19/02/2016 20:45

When I'm not pregnant/ bfing I drink maybe once a week or fortnight, usually 2 units. But I am also a binge drinker in that once every month or 2 I'll have 10 - 20 units in a night, usually a night out but could be in with friends.

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Ineedtimeoff · 19/02/2016 20:45

I go out for a drink maybe once a month and will have a bottle of wine. I will have a drink at home maybe every second weekend and that will be max glasses of wine a night.

I think 3 bottles of wine plus a week is still too much.

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edwinbear · 19/02/2016 20:46

I used to drink like you OP, a bottle and possibly a couple of gin & tonics on top on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. I had a liver function test 2 yrs ago as part of a work medical and my liver enzymes were raised. It took 2 months of total abstinence to get them back into the normal range, so in my experience, it's still too much.

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helenahandbag · 19/02/2016 20:46

I have a drink or two when out with friends (every few months) but am happy to meet for coffee or else stick to soda and lime when others are drinking. OH and I will occasionally have a couple of bottles of fruit cider in the house with takeaway and Netflix.

Three bottles of wine a week sounds like a lot to me.

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NickNacks · 19/02/2016 20:46

I don't drink at all at home unless it's a special occasion. Don't even drink on nights out as a rule maybe 50% of the time.

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confusedandemployed · 19/02/2016 20:51

I drink twice a week usually. Sometimes once, sometimes twice but rarely more than that.
My with-alcohol days are usually: 1/2 days of maybe 1-2 cans or bottles (I usually drink stout). 1 day several, probably 6-7 minimum. I enjoy alcohol, I eat well, exercise loads and I'm not overweight (or carrying visceral fat).
I'm sure I drink too much according to the government but my body seems more than capable of dealing with it.

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confusedandemployed · 19/02/2016 20:52

I meant to say sometimes once, sometimes 3 times...

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Strokethefurrywall · 19/02/2016 20:52

I would consider myself a moderate drinker. I fast every other day so don't drink on those days and perhaps will drink a couple of glasses on other nights except Friday/Saturday when I'll put back a bottle or so each night if I fancy or if I'm out with friends.
Sometimes more, sometimes less but I struggle to function with a heavy head so try to restrain during the week.

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SquidgeyMidgey · 19/02/2016 20:52

I've had one pnt of beer this week and I could easily have not had that. Most weeks I drink nothing. If I'm stressed I will drink. Over Christmas we had a nightmare with idiots neighbours, family... I drank every day for about 6 weeks and it gets me through without resorting to slaughter. I only have a ma x of 2 small glasses of wine at a time though, one is enough really as I'm a lightweight. 2 glasses and I'm wasted Blush

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BlondeOnATreadmill · 19/02/2016 20:53

MrsTerry Erm, I don't know. I used to have maybe 2 glasses of wine every Fri and Sat. If that. Then I found out my ExH was cheating (a lot) and my drinking increased, I suppose to cope. Then it became a habit. Both my Mum and Dad are alcoholics, so that's maybe not great foundation, although they have been like that for decades before I drank myself. I think I'm doing well now to have 4 alcohol free days (at least I hope so).

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LittleLionMansMummy · 19/02/2016 20:58

Once or twice a week - maybe a couple of glasses each time. I can't tolerate alcohol like I used to anyway and dh and I are much, much happier having both cut down considerably. Our arguments are virtually non existent. I too get twitchy around heavy drinking, but more so since having ds.

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MrsTerryPratchett · 19/02/2016 20:59

You are doing well. Star

So, it was a painkiller, now it's a habit. And you have the added incentive of the example of your parents.

If you want to get healthy (and your MN NN implies you do) some things you could try...

Get on the MN dry thread. They are awesome.
Try a dry month. We do Dry Jan and Sober October in this house!
Write down your drinking. Knowledge is power
Talk to a counsellor. Work with someone who gets alcohol issues.
Little changes... Start later, finish sooner. Water things down. Get lower alcohol alternatives. Make dates with friends for non-alcohol stuff.

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MaidOfStars · 19/02/2016 21:01

Special occasions aside, I don't drink anything Monday-Thursday. Friday is my night for after work drinks, then meet with husband for more booze + food. We get trollied, TBH (means different things to different people - maybe four pints then a couple of large G&Ts). Then Saturday, maybe a glass or two of wine. Sunday depends how I feel - maybe a G&T when I'm having a bath.

I don't sweat it. Tonight, I've had two pints and that's it. It's not a routine.

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PassiveAgressiveQueen · 19/02/2016 21:01

I would say 0.25 or once a month

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Muskateersmummy · 19/02/2016 21:03

I only drink at home when we have guests over and even then it's one glass of wine. Mostly because we co-sleep so I prefer to have not had anything to drink when she's with us.

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