Drinking all weekend?

This is fairly standard in my group pf friends but I'm trying to move away from it as it is not healthy.

Like you OP, I am all or nothing with alcohol. I haven't drank this weekend (after a very boozey one the previous weekend), I did meet up with friends but stuck to one AF beer as I knew what would follow... I met my pals at 3pm today and I can guarantee that they are still in the pub now! Part of me thinks fair play to them as they are child free/have grown up kids and have successful businesses/careers. It is totally normal in the circles I mix in.

To be honest, I have been trying to give up for years and I do take regular breaks. I also can't just stop at one. Perhaps try out Dry Jan and see how you get on?

Can't relate at all as I take strong painkillers daily so they don't really go with drinking alcohol. The older I get the less bothered I am about alcohol. Really happy with my "sleep" teabag drink each night - old fart alert!🤣

Can't relate at all as I take strong painkillers daily so they don't really go with drinking alcohol. The older I get the less bothered I am about alcohol. Really happy with my "sleep" teabag drink each night - old fart alert!🤣

No we don't.

From what you say you are drinking in huge excess and could be causing yourself long term health problems. You may or may not be an alcoholic.

I would be worried about what damage you’re doing to your body OP, with two bottles of wine in one night, that’s a heck of a lot to put your liver through.

It’s normal in my social circle. I don’t drink at all during the week and due to probably being peri menopausal I’m shattered so I’m cutting right down at weekends. Friends of mine are still going for it though.

I think it really does depend who you’re hanging out with.

I'm 66 days sober so by no means an expert but can honestly say I've never been happier. For some people moderation just isn't possible. Cutting alcohol out altogether really helped me. Meant there was no indecision around it and the sense of failure of not being able to have just one went overnight. My husband also quit which has helped immeasurably.

Ha ha I'm so not the weight police!

I drink fri/sat/sun evening usually around 12 units a week. I can happily have one or two and can have none although I do enjoy it. I tend to drink more on a group as opposed to me n dh.

Plenty of people do drink through the whole weekend. It's "normal" in many circles in the sense that everyone does it. It doesn't make you an alcoholic. But that also doesn't mean it's healthy.

Part of the problem with alcohol is that people take cues from the people around them as to what's "normal" and "healthy". If the people around you are heavy drinkers they may be giving you a false sense of security.

I drank every weekend night without fail for about 25 years and thought it totally normal because everyone I knew did it. I now drink almost nothing because I got to a point where I didn't want all my social life to revolve around it and because I was worried about the impact it would have on my long-term health. It's one thing in your 20s/early 30s. It's quite a different matter when you're approaching middle age and have children and a demanding job. And I lost some friends in the process.

If most of the people in your social circle think drinking steadily through the weekend is normal you will have to work harder at this and you will have to be quite determined about your own boundaries. But it absolutely can be done. You will probably find that some of the people in your life meet you half way and the rest will sort of fall away.

I would stop describing yourself as being able to ‘take it or leave it’ if you can’t stop at one. That’s most definitely not being able to ‘leave it’. Sounds like ‘all or nothing’ mentality, which is very unhealthy.

Cutting down isn't an option, I know I couldn't just have one.

Sorry, OP, I love a drink as much as the next person but this is BS. Of course it’s an option, you just choose not to. If you truly feel it is not an option then you are most definitely addicted to alcohol and are an alcoholic.

You're drinking 40 portions of Baileys in a weekend. Of course it's not normal. I hope you are able to get some help

Although a litre of baileys and I’d vomit from the sheer richness of it!

I don’t think what you do is a problem. It might not be ‘healthy’ but then lots of things aren’t. Enjoying the weekend with sociable drinks is a pleasure.

If you’re in your 40’s then you may find that you go off alcohol soon. I just don’t fancy it anymore really apart from the odd glass of wine.

I don’t do this and never did. I can have gin and tonic or Baileys with coffee on some weekends or a bottle of wine to share with DH but it won’t be each weekend.
The criteria for me is that you can’t have one drink and then stop. It’s worrying.

Have a read of This Nakd Mind or The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober.

Your body, your choice.

I love a drink but then saying that on mumsnet means you are an alcoholic.

No it doesn't. That's just something people say to make themselves feel better about their drinking habits, by making out that it's the moderate drinkers who are not normal. It's perfectly possible to love a drink but not be someone who can't stop until they've drunk two bottles of wine. If the OP thought it was fine, she wouldn't have posted.

I think its very common to drink like this in this country, but no, it’s not healthy, obviously. Not just physically unhealthy, but bad for the soul. Who needs hangovers, wasted days, not being able to have fun without a substance once you’re in your 40s? It’s a bad look.

I gave up drinking a few years ago and am amazed by how much more fun life is now it doesn’t revolve around drinking at weekends.

Just reading through the thread. I also have around 1.5-2 bottles on a Friday and Saturday night and regularly pass out.

You are drinking too much OP.

No judgement here, though - I was drinking too much at one point and eventually (it took me a few goes) stopped.