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Original poster

How bad is a glass of wine per night?

159 replies

flossie72 · 05/11/2025 21:24

Roughly 2.5 bottles a week - over the recommended units by quite a bit. But isn’t a significant amount per night. Just habitual at this point, and enjoyable over dinner.

OP posts:
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supersonicginandtonic · 07/11/2025 20:14

@queenmeadhbh your dad has problematic issues with alcohol and alcohol use disorder. There is a difference. Somebody who is a proper alcoholic has alcohol dependance and needs alcohol to get through the day. They'll suffer from withdrawal symptoms when not drinking and stopping suddenly without a drink down plan will be dangerous.
This is why we are trying to steer away from the term "alcoholic".

queenmeadhbh · 07/11/2025 16:05

supersonicginandtonic · 07/11/2025 15:48

Somebody who drinks a glass of wine per day is not an alcoholic.
Somebody who is alcohol dependent needs alcohol. I pretty much doubt the OP needs alcohol when she is drinking such small amounts.

My father is an alcoholic but is not alcohol dependent in the sense that he does not drink every day and has long periods of abstinence where he “proves” that he is not dependent or addicted.

he is still an alcoholic. Once he starts he cannot stop, he drinks x3 in secret what he drinks publicly, when he is not drinking he thinks about drinking, he minimises the volumes he drinks, he denies being drunk or hungover, he spikes his wine with vodka or whiskey to take in more alcohol than others realise.

im not saying the OP is definitely an alcoholic but just to debunk that an alcoholic is always dependent in the way most people would think.

supersonicginandtonic · 07/11/2025 15:48

Somebody who drinks a glass of wine per day is not an alcoholic.
Somebody who is alcohol dependent needs alcohol. I pretty much doubt the OP needs alcohol when she is drinking such small amounts.

Original poster
flossie72 · 07/11/2025 15:32

MidnightColours · 07/11/2025 12:52

I would like to apologise, OP. You are right, my comment was very unhelpful and petty too. I wish you all the best in finding the balance that works for you. Take care

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Thank you I appreciate that. Not very often people apologise on here! X

OP posts:
BackinGodsOwn · 07/11/2025 13:00

MidnightColours · 07/11/2025 12:52

I would like to apologise, OP. You are right, my comment was very unhelpful and petty too. I wish you all the best in finding the balance that works for you. Take care

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MNHQ, can we ban this poster from AIBu for having grace, kindness and decency?

MidnightColours · 07/11/2025 12:52

flossie72 · 06/11/2025 19:08

Is there any reason to be so petty? Thankfully there have been some sensible posters who have offered useful perspective without resorting to such childish, pointless comments. Why waste your time?

It’s clear that once a MN stranger has labelled you an alcoholic you have to accept that you are one because if you disagree then you’re just defensive about being an alcoholic 😂

Very grateful to the posters who’ve offered sensible input, it’s given me a lot to think about.

Show quote history

I would like to apologise, OP. You are right, my comment was very unhelpful and petty too. I wish you all the best in finding the balance that works for you. Take care

SunnyDolly · 06/11/2025 21:17

ihatethewordhubby · 06/11/2025 20:28

I think the comments using the word " alcoholic " are really unhelpful and unnecessary. I wish you luck OP with cutting down your intake. Take it slowly as making small changes will work best. Medical evidence around harms of alcohol has changed rapidly over the past 10 years. What we do know for certain is;

  • alcohol raises cancer risk
  • there is no amount that is good for you .The red wine is a myth.
  • alcohol makes menopause symptoms worse
I love love a glass of red wine and Im not giving that up. So I have cut down to a few glasses a week - sometimes a bit more if Im out and I make sure it's a good one and really enjoy it. Best of luck

Yes to all of this. I was diagnosed with cancer at 39, very unexpected, I actually didn’t drink much at all. Alcohol is a grade 1 carcinogen. I went sober overnight. There is no safe limit with alcohol.

By all means enjoy a glass or two but it seems you know you’re taking in quite a bit amount. I can highly recommend M&S Merlot grape juice as a dreamy AF option.

leftsock · 06/11/2025 21:10

Nutmuncher · 06/11/2025 20:39

It’s perfectly fine if you don’t really care about your looks, long term health, aging, mood and energy levels.

Exactly. That whole red wine is "good for you" garbage has been completely debunked. Although, people still desperately hang onto that due to cognitive dissonance.

It's so true- alcohol really does affect your looks. health, energy levels and mood all entirely negatively.

Nutmuncher · 06/11/2025 20:39

It’s perfectly fine if you don’t really care about your looks, long term health, aging, mood and energy levels.

Original poster
flossie72 · 06/11/2025 20:36

ihatethewordhubby · 06/11/2025 20:28

I think the comments using the word " alcoholic " are really unhelpful and unnecessary. I wish you luck OP with cutting down your intake. Take it slowly as making small changes will work best. Medical evidence around harms of alcohol has changed rapidly over the past 10 years. What we do know for certain is;

  • alcohol raises cancer risk
  • there is no amount that is good for you .The red wine is a myth.
  • alcohol makes menopause symptoms worse
I love love a glass of red wine and Im not giving that up. So I have cut down to a few glasses a week - sometimes a bit more if Im out and I make sure it's a good one and really enjoy it. Best of luck

Thank you x

OP posts:
Original poster
flossie72 · 06/11/2025 20:36

GehenSieweiter · 06/11/2025 20:32

How would you feel if you couldn't have it? The answer to that will tell you if it's a problem or not. It would feel too habitual for me, but I don't really enjoy alcohol these days anyway.

Disappointed but not debilitated. The same as if someone told me I could never have chocolate again. It isn’t necessary but it’s enjoyable. I’ve never given it much thought but as I’m approaching 40 I definitely feel like I need to look after my health more.

OP posts:
GehenSieweiter · 06/11/2025 20:34

Knockonw00d · 06/11/2025 08:03

I’m child free and so are all of my friends. We socialise on a night out every week and yes we drink a lot on the nights out. So I’m no advocate against alcohol. But it’s once a week and I can’t imagine drinking every day. Even if it’s just one glass of wine. I simply cannot understand having alcohol every day.

Binging is no better, but I presumee you know that.

GehenSieweiter · 06/11/2025 20:32

How would you feel if you couldn't have it? The answer to that will tell you if it's a problem or not. It would feel too habitual for me, but I don't really enjoy alcohol these days anyway.

ihatethewordhubby · 06/11/2025 20:28

I think the comments using the word " alcoholic " are really unhelpful and unnecessary. I wish you luck OP with cutting down your intake. Take it slowly as making small changes will work best. Medical evidence around harms of alcohol has changed rapidly over the past 10 years. What we do know for certain is;

  • alcohol raises cancer risk
  • there is no amount that is good for you .The red wine is a myth.
  • alcohol makes menopause symptoms worse
I love love a glass of red wine and Im not giving that up. So I have cut down to a few glasses a week - sometimes a bit more if Im out and I make sure it's a good one and really enjoy it. Best of luck
BackinGodsOwn · 06/11/2025 19:23

I think you will notice a marked improvement in your sleep, skin amd energy levels if you gave up this habit for a bit.

Original poster
flossie72 · 06/11/2025 19:13

DierdreDaphne · 06/11/2025 19:06

That does suggest you are quite habituated op. Even 1 x 250 ml is around 3 units and would leave me pretty woozy. If you did mean two that's over half a bottle and most people would be pretty drunk after that.

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Definitely habituated. Willingly accept that. Half a bottle is 375ml so I guess a large glass and a small glass, which yes I could easily enjoy over a few hours on a Saturday with a film and takeaway. I still don’t think it’s horrendous when I think about the binge drinking culture from my youth. Quite often there would be full bottles of wine and shots before even leaving the house!

To reiterate, I don’t usually drink every night. I usually have 2-3 nights off per week but because of school holidays/being away/a change in routine it has been more frequent over the past couple of weeks. I will definitely be getting back to normal and possibly cutting back on top of that.

OP posts:
Original poster
flossie72 · 06/11/2025 19:08

MidnightColours · 06/11/2025 18:52

OP knows she is sliding into alcoholism but wants MN to tell he she can go on. Well: it's fine, OP, nothing to see here!!

Is there any reason to be so petty? Thankfully there have been some sensible posters who have offered useful perspective without resorting to such childish, pointless comments. Why waste your time?

It’s clear that once a MN stranger has labelled you an alcoholic you have to accept that you are one because if you disagree then you’re just defensive about being an alcoholic 😂

Very grateful to the posters who’ve offered sensible input, it’s given me a lot to think about.

OP posts:
DierdreDaphne · 06/11/2025 19:06

flossie72 · 06/11/2025 07:28

I would probably do half a bottle at the weekend. Two glasses of wine over Sunday lunch doesn’t feel like a lot at all. A 250ml glass is classed as a large glass and that’s a third of a bottle.

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That does suggest you are quite habituated op. Even 1 x 250 ml is around 3 units and would leave me pretty woozy. If you did mean two that's over half a bottle and most people would be pretty drunk after that.

GAJLY · 06/11/2025 19:04

Half a bottle of wine is 2 glasses, surely? Everyday is bad. Why not save it for Friday-Sunday? So you've had a rest in-between?

Lastfroginthebox · 06/11/2025 18:59

StokePotteries · 06/11/2025 18:54

Is that how to work it out? 12% = 12 units in a litre bottle; 14% =14 units etc? I had no idea it was that simple.

Edited
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Yes - it is that simple! And as most standard bottles are 750ml, it's just three-quarters of the number of units in a litre.

Gentlydoesit2 · 06/11/2025 18:55

Respectfully, you have a problem

StokePotteries · 06/11/2025 18:54

Lastfroginthebox · 06/11/2025 18:43

Not quite. A bottle is 750ml. One litre of 12% wine is 12 units, so one bottle is 9 units. 2.5 bottles would be 22.5 units. 11% wine would be slightly less.

Show quote history

Is that how to work it out? 12% = 12 units in a litre bottle; 14% =14 units etc? I had no idea it was that simple.

Dawnb19 · 06/11/2025 18:52

I would say that's a lot. Maybe next week go 7 days without alcohol and see how you feel?

MidnightColours · 06/11/2025 18:52

OP knows she is sliding into alcoholism but wants MN to tell he she can go on. Well: it's fine, OP, nothing to see here!!

waitam · 06/11/2025 18:44

@Dzer They have to blame it on something, and I'm not sure that it's small amounts of alcohol alone. Anyway....

So once again men can drink what they like, although I know they can get BC also, but in minimal numbers. Does alcohol contribute to prostate cancer or any other cancers in men?

We'll be in chastity belts next!