Drinking wine each evening

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves Thanks for that. I have a decision to make I think. Reading more about this this evening, I am high risk for throat cancer (so in that sense should not drink at all, according to cancer research), but also high risk for high cholesterol and resulting vascular dementia (genetic not lifestyle, so in that sense, maybe I should drink a very little).

I'm going to really try to cut down further or stop completely. I have a private prescription for medical cannabis but I rarely order it so perhaps I will use the oils but again not every night.

@JanglingJack I am so sorry to hear about your situation. Please don't feel bad about it being self inflicted, it's so so common and normalised in society. To the point my family were up in arms at me about me not being happy for my DC to have their 'first drinks' on their 18th birthday! I hope you can get some treatment which helps you, hopefully research will come up with something more effective. I think I may have some neuropathy, nowhere near as bad as you, but when I was drinking a lot, I would get like phantom burning feelings in my feet, lower legs and wrists, as if someone was spilling too hot water on them but nothing was there. Also aching calves and wrists. It's calmed down since I cut down thankfully, but I still get the aching calves the next morning sometimes if I drink.

I think it's OK as long as your drinking stays at this level and you don't feel any ill effects.

How would drinking wine make you more healthy?

How would drinking wine make you more healthy?

Just out of curiosity how large is the measure?
Some pubs in UK are serving 175ml of even 250ml.
When I went to Slovenia 100ml was standard
So a glass can mean something very different to different people.

Medical advice is not to drink alcohol at all. It adds nothing positive to your body and is literally a poison. I know I’m being a killjoy, but 2 glasses of wine for a woman each evening is unhealthy. I’m not judging - I’ve done the same at various points in my life too. Now I’m older I have an eye on future health and longevity so minimise alcohol consumption to an extent I never thought I would. I do feel much better for it.

OP, if you are drinking healthily and in moderation in the first place, it really isn't unhealthy to stop for a month.

Honestly, it sounds like you're a little more attached to it than is ideal.

@soupofpasta, you can access the summary by searching for the UK Chief Medical Officer's Alcohol Guidelines Review, or you can download the pdf via this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/489795/summary.pdf.

I think you protest too much OP.

Who on earth would drink half a glass??

Why? Why are you asking if it makes you so happy and DH is on board? If you want a sensible biological answer, talk to your GP? Is it only wine that makes you so happy? What really makes you happy?

Where have I said that I have not met people who drink a lot? I know lots of them. Excessive drinking is certainly very common. That doesn't necessarily make it "normal" or healthy.

I don't think I'm the silly one here.

I read the start of this thread s couple of days ago, where you said you drink a couple of glasses of wine a night and are quite happy with that. But now you are talking like someone who drinks a bottle of vodka a night. Which is it?

Only if you’re an alcoholic and reliant on it. Having a glass or 2 or night isn’t reliant although it is a bad habit.

@Mamabear2424 It's definitely not bad to stop drinking. What are you on about? As long as you're not seriously dependent with a very large regular intake. In which case, then yes detox can be dangerous without medical help. But I'm assuming from what you've said that this doesn't apply to you?

@Mamabear2424 why is it bad to do it that way? I mean I know if someone is heavily reliant on alcohol the advice is to cut down gradually as it can kill them. I've read a lot of people who do dry January say it completely resets their relationship with alcohol and others don't go back to drinking at all

I'm not sure that you're quite at the cut down gradually level yet.

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves I'd be interested to see the link as to where they got the 14 units advice from please.

OP, just my opinion, and you'll likely dismiss this cause I have a problematic relationship with alcohol - but I think that every day drinking, no matter how little, is a slippery slope. It creates a habit, and an association with drink=relax, also your tolerance always raises so that one glass isn't enough eventually.

I barely drank at all until in my 30s. Just nights out and occasions, the very odd weekend at home. I started drinking one glass of wine in the evening in my 30s, progressed to 2 (half a bottle ish), then crept up to 1 bottle a night - 70 units a week. That's when I really felt the health problems start.

Eventually ended up on over 100 units a week and looked and felt like utter shit.

Cutting down seemed so difficult, but I decided that no more than 10 units every other night was do-able. My reasoning was it's only one night. I managed that and actually started being fine with my not drinking nights, enjoying no hangover. Still 35 units a week though.

Now I'm down to between 10 and 30 units a week, depending. Longest I've gone completely without is 2 weeks.

I'm concerned about the reported cancer risk, but what I've read about it is so conflicting, depending on who you listen to. There is credible evidence saying no level is safe, and credible evidence saying that a small amount is beneficial for health, especially heart health. Want to become healthier but not sure which advice is correct.

I've also seen good evidence that your liver is at very bad risk on 35 or more units per week, which a hell of a lot of people are on.

It's better for your sleep and liver if you do a night on, a night off. Maybe try drinking zero alcohol wine every other night? It might be the habit of relaxing with a glass rather than the alcohol. If you find the zero alcohol wine isn't giving you the necessary ability to unwind then I would say your habit is actually an addictive problem. I greatly enjoy a zero alcohol gin and lemonade as a chance to relax or socialise which made me realize I didn't need alcohol for these things.

@Mamabear2424 can I ask why you don't agree with Dry Jan? Do you think you could do it?

@Cannyapper 1 and a half bottles a week

Why are we acting silly?

In non-mumsnet real world this is completely normal. sorry you’ve not lived to meet any normal people yet. Take care. X

How long ago though? I can't imagine a Dr doing that now 😅

For a doctor's take on it, please refer to @smileyface123 's earlier post.

Following a heart operation my mum was told by her consultant to drink a glass of red wine every day: just adding that in to the mix!