Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is drinking a bottle of wine four nights a week a problem?

330 replies

Dersnannienow · 16/09/2026 14:10

If someone drank a full bottle of wine to relax 4 nights a week every week would you consider that a drink problem? Even if they functioned properly still worked still took care of their family etc. Would they be kidding themselves to think that this is a normal and acceptable way to relax?

OP posts:
Luvaplan · 16/09/2026 14:12

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Original poster
Dersnannienow · 16/09/2026 14:13

It's me and someone has said something I don't want to give too much information. I'm just wondering if its a problem when there's no problem

OP posts:
Campanulaceae · 16/09/2026 14:14

Is a good for you? No.

Is it a problem? More nuanced. Is it just routine, or could you stop with no bother at all? What happens if you have half a bottle, or a single glass? Do you feel like you need it?

ArseSkinForAFriend · 16/09/2026 14:14

How do we vote?

Not sure which is which.

Either way, yes I’d say they had a drink problem.

Bobbie12345678 · 16/09/2026 14:14

Yes. It is a problem.
Not as big as some alcohol problems. It is great that you have some nights off in the week.

Original poster
Dersnannienow · 16/09/2026 14:15

ArseSkinForAFriend · 16/09/2026 14:14

How do we vote?

Not sure which is which.

Either way, yes I’d say they had a drink problem.

Sorry it wasn't clear

OP posts:
user1471554720 · 16/09/2026 14:15

Is it one bottle over 4 nights or a bottle a night?

If a bottle a night, could you cut down gradually to drinking 2 bottles a week. I used to drink a lot and cut down gradually. I think anything over 2 bottles is not good long term

Lmnop22 · 16/09/2026 14:15

You don’t have to have vodka on your Cheerios to have an unhealthy relationship with alcohol.

I would be worried that using alcohol to relax and consuming that much weekly is very unhealthy and is a lot more than the recommended units per week. It also will be affecting you - you might not be stumbling around or vomiting but you’d be altered and unable to drive if needed etc.

Would you easily be able to stop drinking the wine if you had to?

Lougle · 16/09/2026 14:15

Well it's about 40 units, and the recommended maximum is 14. So it's not 'normal'. Do you feel like it's a problem?

Yesitsweird · 16/09/2026 14:16

It's 40 units a week.
women are supposed to drink 14 max.

That's almost 3 times as much

It's harmful alcohol use that may lead to alcohol dependence.

If you don't stop you will soon be drinking a bottle a night - 70 units and hazardous drinking that may kill you

NavyNorris · 16/09/2026 14:16

I think it's a lot, yes. Do I think it's a problem? Can you stop today or would you struggle to give it up? If you would then I'd say it's a problem. I don't know how many units a week we are supposed to have. I think if you'd feel like you'd have to play this amount down when asked by your doctor then I'd say it's probably a problem.

MrsMorrisey · 16/09/2026 14:16

Yes that is a problem. It may not seem like it but that amount of alcohol catches up with you eventually. Especially if you’re a woman.

stayathomegardener · 16/09/2026 14:16

I would say so yes and that’s as someone who flirts in the same direction.

I regularly stop drinking completely for a few weeks and then limit my self to two glasses of wine on a Friday and Saturday.

I feel much better for it.

Morecoffeeneedef · 16/09/2026 14:17

That's a drink problem and bad for your liver.

TeeBee · 16/09/2026 14:17

That's way too much alcohol in one week. The fact that you can drink a whole bottle of wine and still say you're functioning should tell you something.

AttachmentFTW · 16/09/2026 14:17

A glass or two to relax. Sure.

A full bottle, no, I'd say that's a drinking problem

That's at least 40 units a week, and would be more if they ever have anything on top. The recommendation is 14 units a week, so less than half.

You may not think it's geting in the way of anything you're respondible for but it is probably impairing things in a way you might not have noticed but clearly someone else has.

Just because you don't see it as a problem doesn't mean there isn't a problem.

Luvaplan · 16/09/2026 14:18

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

backformoreofthesame · 16/09/2026 14:20

One bottle over 4 nights would be ok

a bottle in one night - you are damaging your health and whilst you may feel it has little impact that’s probably because you never hit “normal and fully refreshed “

DangerousLesions · 16/09/2026 14:20

The recommended units of alcohol for both men and women has gone right down to 14 a week. I think it used to be as much as 35 units for men and in other countries where it was higher, like Spain. So you could be on about 35-40 units with 4 bottles of wine. Is it consecutive nights or a day off in between? Either way it's not good. One problem is you're high-functioning so you're not getting terrible hangovers and side effects. Longterm you could be in trouble. Another issue could be the cost of keeping up that habit, and another would be the time you're dedicating to alcohol when that could be spent more with loved ones and healthier activities. AA is a good option. You need to want to stop though.

ArseSkinForAFriend · 16/09/2026 14:20

If you didn’t already have an inkling it was a problem OP, you wouldn’t have started a thread.

So listen to your inner self.

iamnotalemon · 16/09/2026 14:21

I think it’s a lot and would definitely consider it a dependency issue, yes.

Ineedanewsofa · 16/09/2026 14:21

It’s not going to be good for you long term from a health perspective. As someone who has had to consider their relationship with alcohol due to liking it a bit too much I can see how easy it would be to slip into a pattern like you have but it will be doing hidden physical damage

BCBird · 16/09/2026 14:21

I would say this is a lot OP.

backformoreofthesame · 16/09/2026 14:22

You need better ways to relax - hard exercise might help , getting away from your normal
routine

it is an addiction though so you probably need help

Swipe left for the next trending thread