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Original poster

Wine every night

182 replies

leopardprintanduggs · 07/02/2025 16:16

I'm currently on maternity leave and have got myself into a routine of a glass or two of wine a night. I know this isn't ideal health wise but I feel like I need something to 'look forward to' in the evening and separate the night from the day. Anyone else in the same boat? I'm not a big eater so this is my treat. I've not bought a bottle of wine today as a concerted effort to have a night off and already feeling like there's nothing much to look forward tonight!

OP posts:
Whoarethoseguys · 07/02/2025 16:39

leopardprintanduggs · 07/02/2025 16:29

I think the thing is I know I can stop and replace with alternatives - I stopped drinking for 9 months while pregnant with no issue or difficulty at all, I just don't really want to as it's my down time! I love having a glass of wine while cooking and then another while watching tv after. I have real guilt around non-healthy choices. My mum was a very heavy drinker (two bottles a night to drown her sorrows) and I don't want to end up like that, but should I feel guilty for winding down as I am?

The problem is that dependence creeps up very gradually and you may think now that you can replace it but that can change.
I have a friend who became an alcoholic by thinking the same way. She started drinking wine every night to relax. She though because she didn't have any until the evening she was ok. Sadly that wasn't the case.
Have at least a couple of nights a week when you don't drink . Can you do it every other day?

JimHalpertsWife · 07/02/2025 16:34

The Aldi own brand "no"secco is a fantastic non alcoholic fizz (the others all just taste like apple juice to me), so I'd recommend buying a few bottles of that. As someone who bloody loves an evening wine, it's a decent alternative.

Original poster
leopardprintanduggs · 07/02/2025 16:29

I think the thing is I know I can stop and replace with alternatives - I stopped drinking for 9 months while pregnant with no issue or difficulty at all, I just don't really want to as it's my down time! I love having a glass of wine while cooking and then another while watching tv after. I have real guilt around non-healthy choices. My mum was a very heavy drinker (two bottles a night to drown her sorrows) and I don't want to end up like that, but should I feel guilty for winding down as I am?

OP posts:
TheFunHare · 07/02/2025 16:26

It becomes a habit very quickly and easily so definitely something to be careful of even if your overall weekly consumption is not too much. It also probably has an impact on your quality of sleep which isn't great with small kids.

nutbrownhare15 · 07/02/2025 16:24

Can you replace it. I buy really nice herbal tea. Luxurious hot chocolate? You could also try non alcoholic drink options with the same taste but no alcohol.

HedgeSplodge · 07/02/2025 16:23

I like a treat in the evenings too. 2-3 nights a week it's a glass of wine. Sometimes it's a couple of squares of chocolate with my cup of tea. Sometimes it's a TV programme I've been looking forward to. Sometimes it's a back rub from DH! The thing doesn't have to be food/drink.
I think it's important to have a couple of days minimum every week without any alcohol to give your liver a rest. Can you think of enjoyable activities instead? Yoga/meditation? A really gripping book? You may just need a month to break the cycle and 'normalise' alcohol-free evenings again.

ClassicalQueen · 07/02/2025 16:18

I did the same until just before Christmas when I realised it was becoming a problem. It goes from a little treat at the end of the day to the first thing I look forward to the second I got in the door. It also went from one bottle to two. Please be careful and make sure you have at least a couple of nights off each week.

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