to ask how much alcohol is 'normal'?

Why do you bother having a sip if you don't want it? Why does the bottle go down the drain, don't the guests finish it between them?

Everyone’s normal is different. As a PP has mentioned you will get people who drink a bottle a night and that’s their normal and others who drink a handful of times a year and that’s a normal for them.

And then invariably you get all the histrionics from posters who claim that Mumsnet is full of people who think a “thimbleful of sherry once a year makes you an alcoholic” (always an exaggeration and almost always from people who know they drink too much).

It doesn’t really matter what’s “normal”. A lot of people drink more than is good for them but because alcohol is normalised in our society it is tolerated. That doesn’t mean it’s not harmful though.

I average about a bottle of wine per week. Almost always split between two days (usually Friday and Saturday). Almost never during the working week unless I am out.

We are probably unusual here as we rarely drink at home - Mr Monkey never and me very sparingly. But we do drink when out. If I am out during the week (increasingly rare these days) I may have one or two pints of beer or a glass or two of wine. Weekends a little more. Mr Monkey drinks more than me as he goes out more and is just a bit of a bigger drinker, but he exclusively drinks session type strength beer.

This last week and this weekend just gone, I drank nothing Monday to Thursday, was in Friday night and had a smallish glass of white wine with my dinner. The weekend was typocl with perhaps slightly more drinking than normal as Saturday I went out for the day with friends for a birthday and had an Aperol Spritz at lunch, four GnTs and a pint of beer in the pub in the later. Sunday we went to an afternoon outdoor music event and I had four pints of beer.

A normal weekend one of those three days might be alcohol free or more limited amounts of drinking.

I definitely drink less than I did in the 20s and 30s - a combination of going out less and large amounts of alcohol not agreeing with me as I have got older.

Most people I know (in several different countries) all in good jobs with DCs, drink roughly a bottle of wine a night or equivalent. (50s)

This tends to be the same for our friends too. And us, if I'm honest. We can easily share two bottles with no hangover and get up fine the next day. I'd say that the only nights when I don't drink are those when I'm on call and generally stay at the hospital overnight.

We're both in good health so 🤷‍♀️

Clearly no one from my real life is here

I don’t drink alcohol at all for health reasons.

Like others, what’s normal for me has changed over time. Early 20s with a fair amount of money, few responsibilities and a young body, half a bottle of wine on a work night and at least double on a weekend evening wasn’t unusual. Now in my 50s, a bottle of wine shared with DH every other weekend and no drinking mid-week is my normal.

There are lots of different normals.

They aren’t all good. I somewhat regret those early 20s, though they were a lot of fun.

If I am honest I am a binge drinker. I’ve actually had a couple of beers this weekend, one Friday, one yesterday. Prior to that I had lots of cocktails last bank holiday weekend, I’d like to do the same again this bank holiday. That’s pretty normal for me and my friends, and always has been, we just know our limits and what to avoid a bit better now.

From last Friday to Sunday me and my husband bought 7 bottles of wine (I'm drinking the 7th now).
My husband also drank some cans of cider (I can't drink it anymore, gives me heartburn).
I know most people on mn will judge but I'm not too fussed, we are never roaring drunk and it is relaxing drinking wine late into the evening with a film etc.

I like reading these threads! I'm a recovering alcoholic of many (thankfully) years but in those days I would easily drink three bottles of wine a day.

Not necessarily on this thread but I know from AA that there are people who drink much more secretly than they would ever admit to - I was certainly one of those.

I drink on Friday & Saturday nights only (alcohol really interferes with my sleep so I keep the number of days I drink to a minimum). Probably a bottle of wine over the two days, plus three cocktails or two cocktails and an extra glass of wine.

About a bottle of wine each a week in my house

In our household, we generally have beer about once a month, ditto cooking with wine (and remainder is drunk), plus a drink or two when out about once a month, so not a lot!

No idea what normal is.

I sometimes drink a beer or cider or g&t tin a day, with dinner or lunch, more likely in summer.

Other times I don't drink anything for weeks or months.

Every once in a while I get mullered.

Have previously had a drink problem and was teetotal for nearly 20 years

Normal for me was 100units pw. Now no units since September last year. I don't judge what others drink, none of my business, but it's interesting hearing what people's 'normal' is.

Usually a bottle of wine over the course of a week and maybe a few G&T's. I probably go over 14 units but not by much. I try to have at least 2-3 sober days per week. Life is stressful, a drink at the end of the day helps me relax. I wish I could get on board with more healthy forms of relaxation like running or meditation or something but meh, booze does it better for me.

Definitely not the norm. Maybe for the minority. Mumset is full of people who only have a thimble of sherry at Christmas or, as is my new line, a beer twice a year after a long summers walk.

I drink a bottle of wine over a weekend, so Friday to Sunday. In the summer there may be an extra cold beer in there somewhere as it's refreshing. So probably about where the NHS weekly limit is. I don't often go over that.

My partner has a whisky most nights, but he doesn't have much more than that a night, even on weekends.

I would say we both drink more in the summer when the weather is nice, less so in the winter.

I'd rather not drink at all, but I look forward to relaxing with a glass of wine at the weekend.

I love wine and certainly enjoy some every evening

This was the one that made me think I have a problem haha

What's normal for me now, aged 50, is very little alcohol. I love a glass of white wine (fizzy or otherwise), but at this stage of life it just makes me fat and it makes me fall asleep in front of the telly! I'm okay if I'm out - I'll have a glass or two in company, but I don't want to be one of those lairy, 50-somethings who stumble about, slur their words and embarrass themselves. Edited to say: Also, I grew up with an alcoholic, which makes me very sensitive to this last part. I've seen how it wrecks relationships and friendships.

Reading these posts makes me feel like an alcoholic! We both love the taste of wine and beer so would have a couple of bottles of wine a week and a few beers too but we are rarely drunk. We drink in the house but also enjoy a walk to the local pub for one or two with the dog. Looks like we are the minority! Which is fine - each to their own and all that.

Alcohol's a touchy subject in my home, what DH and I consider 'normal' when it comes to alcohol is very different..

DH grew up around alcohol and has struggled with binge-drinking in the past. If there's drink in the house, he won't stop. There's been a lot of serious talks between us over the years because of it. Personally I don't drink unless in a social setting and even then, I don't like being too drunk.

I've never got to the end of the week thinking "cor I could have a glass of wine". It's more cigarettes for me 😬

If I’m off and at home, I’ll have a couple of beers, probably no more than a pint or two. Or a couple of glasses of wine. Socially, I drink much more. But don’t go out that often so that might be once a month or so. Maybe twice, as I watch my football team, and it’s part of the culture there.

I can go without and don’t crave it. I’m TTC from next month so will stop before that.

I don’t think there is a normal or average. I’ve been through phases where I’ve drank quite a lot, uni/ young professional. Times where I had a glass a night. Times where I’ve stopped pregnant/ breastfeeding. Currently teetotal as peri and it just doesnt agree with me anymore.