Do most people drink alcohol every day?

[Fingernail]

My FB is full of dry January; mostly people lamenting how awful/difficult it is

I drink very rarely, so it’s not a thing but made me wonder if most people would struggle with an alcohol free month?

I'm the same, drink v rarely. Have the odd cold g&t in summer, and about twice a year go out out and get er, smashed
There's gin and wine available in the house but I tend to just make a brew

It’ll vary massively. But I should imagine most people have at least one drink in a month. Even just a glass of wine at a party / pub lunch / birthday / wedding. Some will obviously drink more frequently.

It confuses me too OP. It’s really not that difficult and if it’s hard for someone then they really should be seeking proper help

No not most people but I would think a lot of people wouldn’t go a whole month.
Wouldn’t bother me but for some it’s a social thing.

I drink more days than not but then again I work in a bar so it’s always there. Not to say I get drunk a lot, but I will have a drink after a shift. One of my colleagues is doing dry January and is worried because it’s the lifestyle we are in, a lot of everyday drinkers. Not all to excess I should add. More of a social thing

Nope, stuff left from New Year will probably last until next new year!

Interesting fact, last dry January and veganuary both meat and wine sales increased

People don’t like being told what to do!

Most people I know would find it a noticeable change to go a month without any alcohol.

Doesn't mean they drink everyday, doesn't mean they are out binging every weekend. It just means alcohol is very, very ingrained in the lives of many of my close friends and family.

I have one friend who is teetotal, one a rare drinker (once every few months) and a few who are pregnant but other than that I'd say people I know wouldn't usually be alcohol free for a month at a time.

For me, crisp free January would be one hell of a challenge. Alcohol free...I can take it or leave it. I didn’t drink over Christmas, because I just didn’t fancy any, but I’m out tonight to get nice and merry. I guess that different people have different vices, but alcohol is the most socially accepted drug, therefore more people will try to give it up (as opposed to my prawn cocktail crisp overindulgances).

I rarely drink and never drink to the stage of being drunk. I believe if you drink everyday you have a problem with alcohol.

I don't drink very day but I do enjoy a drink at the weekend, and occasionally midweek I may share some wine with dh. I never drink to excess and I can't remember the last time I got drunk at all.

I wouldn't do dry January as it isn't something Im interested in doing. I enjoy the odd drink and don't feel I drink too much or too often.

We have some nights our planned for January where we would both have and enjoy a drink. Whilst I could manage not to drink on those occasions (I have had periods of time where I haven't been able/not wanted to drink for different medical reasons) if I wished to, the nights out will, for me, be better by being able to share some wine and/or have the odd glass of gin.

I don't drink every day (only at weekends and then just a glass of wine with dinner) and although I don't drink to excess I wouldn't want to go a whole month without wine anymore than I'd want to go a whole month without cheese or chocolate.

So if people ‘don’t drink too much’ why would they feel the need to even do dry January. Surely, you only give something up if you have too much of it

(I could not have been dry for a month in my 20s. Wouldn’t have wanted to be though!

I could do a year without alcohol and have before. But don't take my cake, tea or chocolate

@Aragog exactly!

If your drinking isn’t excessive you wouldn’t feel the need for dry January. If you need dry January surely you have a probably, bigger than a months abstinence

Dry Jan is utterly pointless.

• It's only meaningful if you have an alcohol problem.

• And if you do have an alcohol problem then gritting your teeth and going without for 4 weeks out of 52 achieves nothing.

• If it's easy for you to do dry jan then you don't need to bother doing it.

I go out once a week that’s the only day I drink on and being honest I do drink a lot on that one night, but if I don’t have enough money it doesn’t bother me to go without a week or two.

So if people ‘don’t drink too much’ why would they feel the need to even do dry January. Surely, you only give something up if you have too much of it

Well I agree with that, I have never done Dry January because I don't think I need to. So maybe the people who do Dry January are those who know they drink a bit more than they should and that was worse at Christmastime and respond well to going cold turkey.

I suppose it could help others. I drank a lot in my 20s. If my friends had done dry January then I would have felt the need to join in and would have realised sooner how out of control my drinking was. Maybe it’s a greater good thing?

I tried dry Jan and failed last night because a.) It makes it more tempting and b.) I needed a drink after Day 12 of school holidays!!! When the kids go back to school I won't be so desperate for alcohol in the eves 😂

I went sober for October and found it really hard! I rarely drink in the week and never drink in the house. Maybe once a month I’ll go for a drink after work. But I couldn’t go out of a weekend and be around drunk people. I had to go to a bottomless brunch and drink water it was horrible!

I’m doing it because I’ve had a hectic few months with social gatherings/trips away as well as Christmas and New year. I’ve eaten and drank a lot and barely exercised and I feel a lot rounder as a result.

I wouldn’t say I drink ‘loads’ normally but I do enjoy a few glasses of wine or G&Ts on a Friday night after I finish work (so I’m a bit ☹️ I can’t have one today!). It just feels like letting my body have a bit of a break, coupled with healthier eating and exercising of course.

I don’t find it THAT hard although I will miss my wine tonight. I’ve certainly not got a drink problem.

I have a glass of wine with dinner.

On MN that makes me a raging alcoholic.

Over December I have drunk more than usual. I do enjoy a wine or beer at the weekend and sometimes midweek. If I go out with friends or for dinner I will drink. I don't drink every day. I have done dry January a couple of times after ahem busy Decembers.

I’ve done dry Jan before now (and gave up booze for lent once). It was in the days I drank a bit more often than I do now and whilst I didn’t find it particularly onerous, it was noticeable. I haven’t bothered the last few years because as pps have said, the amount I drink is not even close to a problem and it’s not unheard of these days for me to go a few weeks, a month or more without a drink without really noticing - that’s if there wasn’t much on socially, I’d definitely notice a bit more if I was out at ‘drinking’ type occasions.

I’m pregnant now so will be doing it by default. I missed having a drink over Christmas and New Year because they’re occasions I associate with having a drink and would have enjoyed a couple, but it wasn’t a huge ordeal more just a ‘sigh - a glass of fizz would have been nice, oh well I’ll have a hot chocolate instead’.

I don't drink every day but I'm definitely a problem/binge drinker.

I can go 2 weeks without, but can't open a bottle of wine without drinking the whole thing - and sometimes opening another.

I'm making some big changes this year. I can't keep being the idiot I've turned into every time I drink.