Can’t stop!

Not if it’s every night it wouldn’t. It’s a glass of wine.

You’re drunk on a glass of wine?

maybe it’s more but a third of a bottle would absolutely make me tipsy and definitely unsafe to drive.
Just because some of you can (or think you can) drink more isn’t really relevant. The OP is drinking habitually enough to notice and feels she needs it.

Try kombucha or those CBT drinks for a change ?

The OP has already explained that she is a small build and that she hadn't eaten all day. Plus she is clearly not drinking to the extent that she is raging drunk, because her DH isn't even aware of her drinking.

I'm not sure why people keep getting stuck on this point. The fact is, if the OP is drinking a third of a bottle of wine every day, that is too much. The fact that she is hiding it and worried about whether she can stop is also indicative of a problem. Maybe she is drinking more than she said, or maybe she is telling the truth. I'm not really sure that it makes much difference.

What is important is that the OP has taken a positive step today to avoid the drink. That's brilliant. What's the point of everyone questioning how she could be drunk on what she had yesterday? How is that helpful or constructive in any way.

That’s one large (250ml) glass of wine a night.

But you’re already drunk, according to the time of your post, by 6pm?

You are clearly drinking a hell of a lot more than you’re admitting. If you drink every night, you wouldn’t be drunk on one glass of wine. You’re either lying or massively in denial.

Congrats OP. For posting here and for taking the first step to reducing.

Why not give these people a call. Just to get some advice. Drinkaware.
https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice-and-support/alcohol-support-services/support-lines

Good luck x

On a third of a bottle of wine? Equivalent to a large glass. I wouldn't be drunk on yhwt and I don't drink daily

Come on, how much is it? One third of a bottle wouldn't make you feel drunk or, not drunk enough to post like this. How much exactly are you drinking?

Wow! So no drink? That's amazing, well done! 👏 👏 👏

A nice collection of teas and a long bath sound lovely. I'm glad you're feeling OK.

From what you've said, weekdays are likely to be stressful because of work, and you're likely to want to reward yourself for getting through the day when you're done. Could you perhaps spend a bit of time tomorrow planning a lovely way to transition to the evening after work on Monday?

You're doing brilliantly. Remember, this is for your own health and for the family that you love. We will be here cheering you on!

That’s really good-I think the fact you’ve recognised that it’s an issue for you is brilliant xxx

How did you get on today, OP?

I think you missed my sarcasm.

It’s not sexist, it’s just reality that women on average can’t drink as much as men - it’s not just size (and the OP is tiny), it’s differences in metabolism too.
I’m 5’1 but heavier than her and a third of a bottle would be Xmas dinner with a lot of food territory.

You asked whether it's too much, so just going on bare number crunching:

• 1/3 a bottle of 13.5% wine is 3.375 units a night.
• The NHS recommend a weekly maximum consumption for men & women that averages to 2 units a night.
• So you're 68% over the NHs' recommended limit for both men & women.

If you are average height/build for a female, the same amount of booze will do you a bit more harm than if you're average height/build for a male , but it's sexist to point out that women are on average smaller, and should therefore drink a bit less, so you can do you're own risk assessment on that, based on your dimensions.

If you struggle to go a couple of days without feeling deprived that you're not getting a drink then you have a problem. The real tell here is that you're hiding it. There are a couple of addicts in my family, so trust me when I say that your children will notice at some point.

firstly, dont buy it in the house
secondly, try to distract yourself during the danger time eg if its between the time you finish work and dinner. Idk go for a walk, play with the kids, go in the bath.

OK so you need to eat properly, please make an effort to eat breakfast, or if not then you eat as soon as you finish work. Your "pick me up" can be nice food. Also buy nice soft drinks, maybe learn how to make "mocktails". And think about taking up yoga, just 10 or 15 minutes a day can make a real difference to stress levels and your mood.

You've been really brave and taken that first step of admitting it's a problem! Look after yourself lovely 💐

It's not ridiculous, I think you are taking the first step in recognising there is something not right. There's no definition of how many units of alcohol a week makes you an alcoholic. It's more about your relationship with alcohol and your need for it.

You say you are drinking about twice the recommended weekly limit. It's easy to underestimate or overlook your actual consumption. What you think and what you do don't always tally. The fact that you are reaching out on MN is a sign that you know something isn't right concerning how you use alcohol.

If you can't wait for a drink or you're finding yourself midweek stealing a pre-drink during the late afternoon before DH gets home, then you have a problem. I know this because I'm a recovered alcoholic. I knew I was a heavy drinker but as I came from a family of heavy drinkers my usage didn't seem necessarily unusual. I recognise now that I was actually a high-functioning alcoholic. For me the signs were that my DH and DC didn't like me later on in the evenings when I became outspoken, slightly loud and on a couple occasions quite bitchy. Another sign was finding myself in the drinks aisle in supermarkets and not sure why I was there when I had other things on my list. On one occasion, I got quite tipsy during the week in the middle of the afternoon, I didn't even plan to have a drink, I just reached for it for no reason. If any of these resonate with your experience then you need to seek help.

I reached out to my DH (he knew I drank heavily). I explained the signs and that I wanted to make that change, to stop. I joined a virtual AA meeting via Zoom (non-secular). I drew strength from their non-secular step programme which I adapted for my needs. You won't be the only person in a stressful job who uses alcohol.

That was 4 years ago, I did it, so can you. You've already recognised that something isn't right and you are reaching out. That's the first step.

Just to show how this can escalate...

Pre-2020, I drank two bottles of beer or similar on a Friday and a Saturday night. 4 bottles in total.

2020-2022 this increased significantly with lockdowns, bereavements, redundancy, divorce and a house purchase. I still think, fair enough. It was a shit time. But that increase became a bridge that led to...

2025: I have been drinking every day, and consuming, on average:
30 bottles of beer
3 bottles of wine
10 double Jack Daniels and coke
Per week. On average, that's nearly 8,000 calories. I've gone from a size 10 to a size 18.

It IS a slippery slope and it comes with secrecy, shame, compulsion and misery. You could be having a thimble of whisky or something, I don't think the amount should be the focus. It's the feelings around it that need to be looked at and that need some support.

If you were having a little glass of wine of a night when you fancied one and there was no shame or secrecy attached and it wasn't problematic, that's different.

I’d say it’s more an issue of getting rid of the stresses in your life and then the drinking will resolve itself probably. But easier said than done.