Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Original poster
flossie72 · 06/11/2025 08:31

daffodilandtulip · 06/11/2025 08:15

It's also adding up to an extra day's worth of calories each week...

Yes this is very true. I think I’m one of those people who has never really given much thought to my diet, exercise, alcohol intake and general lifestyle. I’ve just done what I felt like. I’m now approaching 40 and thinking I probably need to invest a bit more in my long term health.

OP posts:
dottiedodah · 06/11/2025 08:26

I think it's quite a bit really OP.Maybe see if it's just weekends or something like that? I think its best to give your liver a rest,its easy to slip into bad habits without realising

theressomanytinafeysicouldbe · 06/11/2025 08:23

I can do a bottle a night when I have stuff going on. I try and get lower alcohol.

daffodilandtulip · 06/11/2025 08:15

It's also adding up to an extra day's worth of calories each week...

piratesparrot · 06/11/2025 08:13

Tryingtokeepgoing · 06/11/2025 07:18

And yet…

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/red-wine/art-20048281

For the OP, one glass a night is clearly better than 2 or 3, but I’m not sure I’d enjoy that little and often approach…I’d rather have a couple of glasses with a meal a few times a week, and skip it the other 4 nights. A bit like intermittent fasting, but for alcohol ;)

Show quote history

Red wine is "good for your heart" because of the grapes in it, not due to alcohol. You could get the same benefit eating grapes.

One glass of wine a day increases your risk of multiple cancers so eating grapes is a far healthier way to keep your heart healthy.

Original poster
flossie72 · 06/11/2025 08:10

NearlyDec · 06/11/2025 08:00

You clearly have no intention of doing anything other than arguing why your drinking isn’t so bad and you will continue. Lots of people on AIBU do this so for a MN behaviour thing this is standard so it’s not a big deal but I’m leave this thread. But it’s your life so it should be a big deal to you and I think you need to think carefully about why you’re asking this question only to argue back with anyone who disagrees with you.

Stay healthy.

I’m not arguing. I am not going to go along with someone calling me an alcoholic when I’ve seen alcoholism and I know my drinking doesn’t match the volume, behaviour or consequences that true alcoholism generally means.

I have posted not for people to diagnose me and accuse me of being defensive, but to gauge opinion. It’s a discussion. But if I respond in any way I’m told I’m minimising and arguing.

I do think I drink too much and probably need to reframe my habits. Ordinarily I would at least have a Monday and Tuesday sober but due to half term and being away etc it’s ended up being pretty much most nights for about 2 weeks which has definitely made me think that daily drinking for prolonged periods is not good. My routine will be back to normal next week.

OP posts:
MyLimeGuide · 06/11/2025 08:09

Absolutely fine IMO.

soupforbrains · 06/11/2025 08:08

Medical research actually shows that drinking a glass a day is SIGNIFICANTLY less harmful that drinking the same amount in one go or split only into 2 days.

my parents consumed a glass of wine with dinner every night for their entire married lives. Neither of them have ever had any drink related illness or issues and are mid 80s now.

Thepeopleversuswork · 06/11/2025 08:07

I mean its over the guidelines, but not disastrously so.

For me the issue isn’t so much the amount of alcohol consumed its the habititualisation.

You’re probably not (yet) at the point of irreversible organ damage but you associate a glass of wine with relaxation and its part of your daily routine.

Thats when it becomes problematic. I think you do need to look at why its become a default and train yourself out of it. Find other ways to unwind.

Goditsmemargaret · 06/11/2025 08:07

That's not a glass and you keep insisting it is. That's the concerning bit. You're very defensive. Also (and tone gets lost here but I really do mean this kindly as I'm very sorry you've grown up with alcoholics) alcoholism comes in many versions so your perception might be skewed by your experience.

MajesticWhine · 06/11/2025 08:06

You should have 3 days off per week. If you don’t think it’s a problem try to have some alcohol free days to prove it.

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.

user2848502016 · 06/11/2025 08:02

I don’t think it’s that bad, fairly normal in a lot of European countries.
You could get smaller glasses or get a wine measuring cup so that it’s a small glass rather than a massive one!
One bottle of wine should do at least 4 glasses

NearlyDec · 06/11/2025 08:00

You clearly have no intention of doing anything other than arguing why your drinking isn’t so bad and you will continue. Lots of people on AIBU do this so for a MN behaviour thing this is standard so it’s not a big deal but I’m leave this thread. But it’s your life so it should be a big deal to you and I think you need to think carefully about why you’re asking this question only to argue back with anyone who disagrees with you.

Stay healthy.

2GreatFatSquirrels · 06/11/2025 07:57

Just FYI OP, I’m a recovered alcoholic, in AA, and you drink more weekly than I ever did regularly. That doesn’t mean you’re an alcoholic, of course, but it should make you stop and think.

2GreatFatSquirrels · 06/11/2025 07:57

Just FYI OP, I’m a recovered alcoholic, in AA, and you drink more weekly than I ever did regularly. That doesn’t mean you’re an alcoholic, of course, but it should make you stop and think.

2GreatFatSquirrels · 06/11/2025 07:57

Just FYI OP, I’m a recovered alcoholic, in AA, and you drink more weekly than I ever did regularly. That doesn’t mean you’re an alcoholic, of course, but it should make you stop and think.

2GreatFatSquirrels · 06/11/2025 07:57

Just FYI OP, I’m a recovered alcoholic, in AA, and you drink more weekly than I ever did regularly. That doesn’t mean you’re an alcoholic, of course, but it should make you stop and think.

2GreatFatSquirrels · 06/11/2025 07:57

Just FYI OP, I’m a recovered alcoholic, in AA, and you drink more weekly than I ever did regularly. That doesn’t mean you’re an alcoholic, of course, but it should make you stop and think.

2GreatFatSquirrels · 06/11/2025 07:57

Just FYI OP, I’m a recovered alcoholic, in AA, and you drink more weekly than I ever did regularly. That doesn’t mean you’re an alcoholic, of course, but it should make you stop and think.

2GreatFatSquirrels · 06/11/2025 07:57

Just FYI OP, I’m a recovered alcoholic, in AA, and you drink more weekly than I ever did regularly. That doesn’t mean you’re an alcoholic, of course, but it should make you stop and think.

2GreatFatSquirrels · 06/11/2025 07:57

Just FYI OP, I’m a recovered alcoholic, in AA, and you drink more weekly than I ever did regularly. That doesn’t mean you’re an alcoholic, of course, but it should make you stop and think.

2GreatFatSquirrels · 06/11/2025 07:57

Just FYI OP, I’m a recovered alcoholic, in AA, and you drink more weekly than I ever did regularly. That doesn’t mean you’re an alcoholic, of course, but it should make you stop and think.

SoftPillow · 06/11/2025 07:56

As an impartial bystander OP, I’d say you are minimising.

You’ve come here to ask a question for a reason. I wonder, what is it that you’re looking to achieve by posting? Validation that it all is ok? If so, why do you need that, if you’re sure it’s ok?

Original poster
flossie72 · 06/11/2025 07:53

NearlyDec · 06/11/2025 07:39

You’re asking on here which shows that you’re concerned but then you’re minimising how many unit you’re you are drink and how bad this is. This part is concerning.

I’m not minimising at all. Clearly a glass varies. But in my op I said 2.5 bottles which is a lot clearer.

OP posts: