How much do you really drink?

Not all those that drink alcohol end up screaming. The vast majority enjoy a few drinks sensibly.

Because the question is ‘how much do you really drink’ - and my answer is nothing, because I am teetotal. 0 is an answer!

Why post on here if you don't drink alcohol? I drink a bottle of wine a week.

That’s my plan too. I got a wake up call when I saw that drinking 2 bottles of wine a week being described as a “heavy drinker”. I don’t want to be a heavy drinker (for medical reasons, obviously)

Much more than most on here!

None at the moment as I do dry January to reset from my heaviest drinking month - December. In Dec, I drink 2-3 (large) glasses of wine every day. I drink at home while cooking or eating dinner (don't go out much due to young family)

In a more normal month, I'll drink 2 glasses of wine 4-5 times a week. I want to reduce this to 2-3 times a week due to weight and health reasons

I'll drink more on holidays including cold lager and cocktails but that's only 3-4 weeks a year

I just wanted to add this for the one or two people who think of non-drinkers as some sort of beacon. Some of us really have been built NOT for alcohol.

I used to work in France and my boss used to take us out for dinner on a regular basis with some very nice (expensive?) wines. It was torture for me. Each glass I had only the tiniest sip out of and every time it was like vinegar. Having to flatter a beaming boss that he'd chosen just right, every time, was hard work.

I've got a health issue now that means I can't drink, even if I wanted to. It doesn't work with the medication. For me, that is a 'get out of jail free' card.

It is not an indictment of strong willpower or anything like that. That's the point I'm trying to make. I smoked for 20 years and liked that just fine!

My drinking crept up in the last year - I was probably having about 3 bottles of wine a week. I nearly completely stopped for years after having children but it steadily increased over time (particularly since lockdown).

This year I’ve cut back a lot - I bought a bottle on Thursday and had a large glass Thurs to Sat and that was a nice level which I’m aiming to stick to moving forwards.

All of those things are 'props' and some people get hooked. The lucky ones manage to stop taking them - and the luckier ones still never took them.

The point I've been making on this thread is that berating people for their 'poor choices' has never, ever helped anybody to stop making those, it just makes them feel shitty. I won't do that and likewise, I won't keep quiet if others do it.

I'm really pleased for you that you've managed to get yourself to a place where life is calmer for you, that's tremendous, it really is.

Thanks for explaining. You didn't mean it as mocking but that is always how it comes across and it is seriously annoying.

Neither drinkers nor non-drinkers need be defensive about their lifestyles but I don't see that non-drinkers should be proud either, it's just a state of being.

I've never had an issue with alcohol apart from drinking horrible cider and black as a teenager before it was legal - and then lost interest having never liked the taste. Nothing to be proud of for my abstinence there, it just was what it was. I didn't actively do anything to stop drinking I just didn't like it, if you see what I mean?

Best wishes to you in your decision to cut down, and whatever you drink or don't, it's fine with me.

LyinWitchinTheWardrobe sadly alcohol & drugs can seriously affect those around the person who is taking them. DH worried about me terribly when I was drinking & often told me that he was terrified I would end up in an early grave. If I’d continued as I was, it could very well have happened. It had a huge effect on DD16 too. My moods were all over the place & I used to end up screaming at her. I can’t remember the last time I yelled & things are generally so much calmer.

You didn't read the whole article, did you?

Teetotallers don’t live as long as moderate drinkers.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-almost-last-word-on-alcohol-and-health

I drink 6-7 times a year. Usually 2 drinks or so and get drunk fast.

I also use weed (Canadian) every day for 7-10 days per month, plus another once or twice for fun. I think a lot of people my age shifted over to weed when it legalized.

Me and dh drink at weekends we do drink a good 10 beers each and a bottle of wine and quite honestly don't care what mumsnet thinks we have no children!

I only referred to the thimble of sherry at Christmas as literally a type of drinker, that people can understand. I wasn’t doing it to mock or say people ‘aren’t cool’. I don’t think it’s cool to drink, I’ve met some very interesting people who have completely given up!
People that don’t drink shouldn’t be defensive about it, they should be proud. As I said I need to drink less! I hope to join the people on this thread that only drink every so often.

Probably to highlight they are functional, even if they have problematic alcohol use!

Reading the responses makes me wonder if drinkers
gravitate to other drinkers, and same for minimal drinkers. MN is very representative of my social circle. Very few people I know drink regularly/heavily, and at social events people typically bring 0 alcohol drinks. We are all at a stage we can’t afford the health cost of heavy drinking, or to have to juggle family responsibilities feeling worse for wear after a bottle of wine. Most of my social circle is financially comfortable, but spending on alcohol would be a really low priority.

I am a heavy drinker but only when I choose to be
I love the taste of alcohol - particularly neat spirits or strong cocktails
I could easily get through a bottle of say vodka in 2 evenings
Dont drink in the day at all - even on holiday might manage a glass of cava with lunch but just makes me sleepy
During the week I might have a few after 9pm (bearing in mind I go to bed around 10!)
At weekends usually share a bottle of wine with DP on a Saturday night and then move on to the harder stuff
I have a lot of IBS type issues and am trying to diet so limited options mainly tequila, gin and vodka
Am just about to do dry February as just been on holiday so didn’t want to do dry January
I know I drink too much according to NHS guidelines but I am not diabetic, apparently my liver function is very good and know im
not addicted as can stop drinking very easily
The main reason I want to cut back is it’s empty calories and since menopause I’m finding it harder to keep my weight under control
By MN standards I am definitely a raging alcoholic who is in denial about it!!!

Why do people mention their high pressure job? Is that how they justify their drinking?

I also have a high pressure job and I cope with the pressure much better now I don’t drink

Yes - I think when someone is a heavy drinker (as I was) they tell convince themselves all drinkers are like them. It was when I stopped drinking I noticed that people drinking as I did was actually pretty unusual

Between two to four bottles of wine/prosecco/champagne a week, however I'm having nothing for the next three weeks because I'm on a crash diet for my holiday 🍾🏖

I drink 5 days a week, average 4 bottles of wine and half a litre of spirits a week. Work full time in a high pressures job, age 61 and I enjoy drinking. Husband drinks around 6 litres of cider and maybe 3/4 small whiskies a week, he also enjoys it!

I think most people who drink a lot aren’t on MN 😅😅 certainly all the people I know who drink a lot aren’t on here

I’m 53. I don’t drink Mon to Thurs. I will have around a bottle of wine over the weekend, sometimes a bit more , sometimes less. This is normally a mixture of at home in the evening or out for a meal/ lunch. This weekend I had one glass of wine on Friday night( with dinner) and one at the pub on Saturday and one tonight with dinner too.

I think big drinkers must feel threatened or defensive when they realise so many, many people are small drinkers or non-drinkers.

Or we're just not in the cool club so should piss off 🤷

Agreed, the question is 'how much do you really drink?'. So nothing is a perfectly reasonable answer. The question is not - those who drink alcohol how much do you drink. Honestly, if people have an issue with how much they drink they should deal with that rather than getting shirty with those that don't drink.

I barely drink and I was surprised at how many people don't drink much, I thought I was very much in the minority and while this isn't a representative sample it's still interesting to see how many people don't or barely drink.