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 think most people tend to socialise with like-minded, similar people. My social group definitely drink less than they used to and a few of my friends will just have one drink or none and drive. But we’ll also still have the odd really boozy night too...

I don’t know that many people who are completely teetotal other than if they were in marathon training or something.

I think having a glass of wine with dinner is more acceptable than smoking. I don’t know anyone who smokes..

I only know one person who's completely teetotal for reasons other than medical/religious. However many of my friends are like me, will have a couple of glasses of wine on a night out, rarely if ever drink at home and can't remember the last time they had a hangover.

I know one person who is completely teetotal for non medical/religious reasons.
She says it’s because she’s so busy with her career that she can’t risk not being completely alert and on the ball at all times.
Her career? She’s an MLM bot.

I've been thinking about this. I know a couple of people not drinking due to medical reasons. I know one who is a recovering anorexic and hasn't drunk for years because of the calories. I know various people in recovery or religious. I used to know a woman who's husband wouldn't let her drink (she's left him but no idea if she's started drinking!). No regular people who wouldn't have a couple of glasses of wine with me!

Don’t think I’d find it a problem.

Having said that I usually have a small glass of wine while cooking the dinner. VERY small glass, inherited from MiL, from an era when wine glasses were way smaller than is usual now.

(We do have much bigger glasses but I like the mini one.)

I would probably miss that glass, but there was never much chance of my being alcoholic - I’ve had strict limits since my teens, owing to anything over not very much - long before being actually drunk- would make me throw up over and over and spend the night with head horribly spinning and running to throw up yet again.

Probably a blessing in disguise.
I won’t be doing dry January though.
If nothing else, all being well I’m hoping to be able to wet a new little Gdd’s head with fizz any day now.

Not virtuous, I just don't really like the taste of alcohol any more. If I have more than one I get a pounding headache and feel it for the next few days. I genuinely do prefer a cup of tea

i think nerves have been touched on this thread.

@FruitcakeOfHate

I’m out of the loop these days but isn’t vaping prescribed by the NHS as an anti smoking aid? Which says to me that it’s been decided (by qualified health professionals) that it’s a lot less bad than smoking. I must admit I don’t like the smell of smoke these days but I don’t mind vape, it smells a bit like air freshener to me.

Everyone has some vice, it might not be drinking, over eating or drinking too much (and I don’t think there are many true alcoholics on this thread, just those that have a habit of over indulging). It might be overspending on the credit card or it might be enjoying gossip, at someone else’s expense, a bit too much.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss

The only people I know who never drink are religious or in recovery

IceCreamAndCandyfloss

Not religious and certainly not in recovery. Why is it so hard to believe that people don’t need or want to drink alcohol? Just like some don’t smoke.

So do you know the above poster then as she’s clearly stated the person she knows not your circumstances or experiences

I drink some evenings and not others. Some weeks it might just be 1 gin on a Saturday night, some weeks I'll open a bottle of wine on a Friday then have 1 glass a night fri/sat/sun/Mon. Other times I'll have a koppaberg on a weds night while watching tv with husband. sometimes i don't have any that week. Just depends if I fancy it

I don't know any personally as I've said.

@Trewser

"The only people I know who never drink are religious or in recovery."

I don't drink and I'm neither religious, nor in recovery! I don't like it and it makes me fat anyway, so would much rather have the odd chocolate bar than a glass of wine (I'm not keen on). Also it triggers headaches for me.

@KindnessCrusader I'm with you there, alcohol definitely triggers headaches for me too. Just not worth it for me.

I used to be a big drinker in my youth. Don't think I had an alcoholic drink last year....oh no, I had one at my work do.
It's not something I have to watch.
Unlike smoking (just quit), eating (constant battle), overspending.....

Only drink down the pub on a Friday. Never drink at home.

I probably average one alcoholic drink a week over the year, so no, I don't have a drink every day. It wouldn't bother me doing dry January because aside from a glass of wine last weekend, its been pretty much that!

I was a big drinker in my teens/early 20's then stopped when the kids were babies. From my early to late 30's I drank a lot - it built up over time and seemed a similar amount to my friends. I honestly thought it was not a problem but really it was. I think an awful lot of people don't realise how messed up their drinking is as everyone else drinks so much. I had a year off drinking which reset me and I never drank at home again. I barely drink now even when on nights out as I can't be arsed with hangovers and in all honesty I'm not that fussed. So for me dry Jan is pointless as it's likely i won't drink anyway. I have several friends who couldn't do it and they definitely need to reassess their booze intake but that's for them to decide I guess. Personally I don't think a month is long enough to sort people's drinking habits anyway so although it might help some people generally it doesn't do much.