two bottles of wine a week

[LoveMyWine]

I have a long and varied drinking career (have had periods of drinking too much) but have settled into a routine which I'm reasonably happy with. I drink two bottles of wine a week, never more, but tend to do it alone and have a bottle on each occasion. I live with DD and don't go out much and am perfectly happy with this as have good friends who I see from time to time. If I am going out and drinking I make sure I stick to my overall limit.

I like my wine very much, it relaxes me and puts me in an extremely good frame of mind and it's hard to tell I'm not stone-cold sober. I don't suffer the next day and my intake hasn't increased over the years. I do have a problem though in that it makes me feel a bit guilty; it's over the government weekly recommendations and officially I'm a binge drinker. Also I'm unclear as to why drinking this way is worse for my health than say spreading it over the week. I have 5 alcohol-free days a week on average and certainly don't get into any situations where I might have an accident. Does anyone else have a similar drinking pattern?

[BackforGood]

As you've already stated yourself, to regularly sit and drink a whole bottle of wine on your own, is something that I would be worried about if I knew anyone who was doing that. That's a LOT of alcohol.

[AMumInScotland]

Honestly, I'd say that the pattern of your drinking shouts "problem" to me. You are binge drinking. You are capable of drinking a bottle in a session without showing signs of being drunk. You are drinking alone.

I agree it's slightly better that you only do this 2 nights a week rather than doing it every night, but your relationship with alcohol is not a healthy one.

Would you be able to not drink anything for a week? For a month?

I like a glass, and I would miss it, but I would not struggle to get through a month without it.

[tribpot]

Have you thought about reducing it to one a week, which would bring you inside the guidelines?

I think among other reasons, the new guidelines about only having 2-3 units in a single day are about not shocking your liver with a large quantity to deal with all of a sudden. I used to drink much much more heavily than you do so you'll find no judgement in my post about your overall consumption.

What makes you not stop before you get the end of the bottle? Have you tried maybe only drinking half, or alternating with water so you're not drinking just because you're thirsty?

I honestly recommend to anyone, whether worried about their drinking or not, a month off. It helps you understand your triggers and have a chance to assess whether you actually do feel better without it.

[LoveMyWine]

Thanks for replies. Have abstained for long periods in the past, it hasn't been difficult. As for drinking alone, I don't understand the stigma about this - I'm the only adult in the household but would happily drink with a partner/friend! Tribpot, yes I have thought about cutting down to once a week and may well try to do that. I must be a bit concerned or I wouldn't be posting.

[CityTiliDie]

Have you thought about the possible danger you are putting your DD in? Should anything happen to her od the house when your are pissed what would happen?

I'd say you have a drink problem but then any one who NEEDS alcohol has a drink problem.

Never understood the appeal of poisoning yourself.

[tribpot]

It doesn't sound like the OP is falling unconscious or forgetting she's got a pan on or anything like that, City. After a number of years of drinking too much (by her own admission) her tolerance is probably pretty high. She has also confirmed that she has had long periods of abstinence, so this doesn't suggest she needs alcohol.

I do think the two bottles a week is probably a habit, but in the non-addiction sense of the word. It's always worth taking stock and deciding if you've got the balance right for you.

[DrRanj]

I am similar in that I can quite happily drink a bottle of wine in one sitting, but I only do this one night a week. I do feel guilty sometimes, but if I have a glass I tend to fancy another and I find it hard to leave any in the bottle! I know it technically makes me a binge drinker, but I really don't feel my health is suffering, and whilst once upon a time a bottle would have made me blind drunk, nowadays it only seems to make me moderately tipsy with a minimal hangover.

I think it's fine as long as your health or your life isn't suffering. It is only a little over the weekly limit, and trust me the average student probably drinks far more - but then they do have youth on their side!

The wisdom now suggests that having a few days off for your liver to recover is better than spreading it on and having a little each day...

[DrRanj]

For instance, I might not eat chocolate for a week, but if I opened a big bar of dairy milk I might find it hard to leave any!

I could happily go a month without chocolate (I went a month without booze for January), but I wouldn't like to give it up forever. And I might relax and reward myself after a long week with a bar of chocolate, and even crave it sometimes.

But I don't think that makes me a problem chocolate eater!

[paddyclamp]

I have a similar drinking pattern - 5 days off, 2 days on ..... Only really drink wine (unless i'm in the pub where i drink vodka) ... There could be beer in the fridge for weeks and i could happily leave it there ... I'm probably addicted to wine, i enjoy it and as i have 5 days where i abstain completely i don't really worry :)

[LoveMyWine]

DrRanj I'm very similar and find it hard to stop at one. I'm aware this is considered a danger sign but after many years of drinking, I think I know my limitations. I think only drinking a bottle once a week is a very good idea and would make me feel less guilty so I'm going to set that as my goal - I'll view it as a weekly treat. I do sometimes have one or two when I'm out socially and don't consider that a problem. I don't think 9 or so units a week is going to worry me, even if I drink them all at once. And I still don't quite understand why it's considered worse to drink 9 units a week in one go rather than 1 and a bit units a night for a week. Especially as in the first case you're having 6 out of 7 days off but in the second you're drinking every day. Very confusing, all this government advice!

Paddy I don't like beer either, it goes untouched. How much do you drink on your drinking days? City I attempted to explain that I don't get pissed - as the others have said my tolerance has built up over the years.

[paddyclamp]

I probably get through best part of a bottle too, usually leave enough to throw in the cooking later in the week! ..... I think i'm definitely a binge drinker tbh .... If i was out and say having a meal on a school night i'd rather have a soft drink than just have 2 or 3 as i'd feel that was a waste of units :S

[phoebeb9]

I don't agree with the people suggesting that you drink too much or, that you have an addiction. Addiction comes in many forms, but as long as you know your limits, stay (relatively) healthy and don't endanger anyone, you're fine.

[NanTheWiser]

Let's hope OP has resolved her issues by now @phoebeb9, this thread is over 6 years old!