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Original poster

Anyone think 14 units a week is really low?

181 replies

Bunnylady54 · 27/01/2020 16:35

The average bottle of wine is I believe about 9 units so 14 units is less than 2 bottles a week. I drink more than that! Does anyone think it’s pretty hard to stick to 14 units?

OP posts:
DefinatelyAWeeGobshite · 27/01/2020 18:58

I drink very rarely, only a few times a year if that and it doesn’t sound a lot to me at all, two bottles of wine per week is fine

YappityYapYap · 27/01/2020 19:12

Look at it in the larger sense. 1.5 bottles of wine a week is 78 bottles a year and if someone drinks this from perhaps age 25 to 70, that's 3,510 bottles of wine that has gone into your system. That is a lot. This is apparently safe, god knows how.

I probably have a glass of wine 2-3 times a month. I intend to have 1 glass on a Saturday night every week but sometimes I just can't be bothered so I probably have one glass every other Saturday night

Heymacarana · 27/01/2020 19:20

that's 3,510 bottles of wine that has gone into your system. That is a lot. This is apparently safe, god knows how

It’s safe because there is no reason for it not to be. I reckon two or three times that wouldn’t see any negative for the vast majority of people.

How many pints of milk, coffees, biscuits etc do people have in the same period. Doesn’t make them dangerous.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 27/01/2020 19:24

It’s easy to justify it and convince yourself that it’s not a lot. But the guidelines are there for a reason.

Since last summer DH and I had slipped into sharing a bottle of wine most nights. Never enough to feel hung over, but cumulatively quite a lot over the recommended 14 Units.

I’m doing dry January and can honestly say that I’ve not missed it. That’s reassuring for me that I’m not dependent on it, it’s something that I enjoy. Saying that, I will definitely cut down compared to my pre- Christmas drinking level.

Crockof · 27/01/2020 19:27

Sarahlou63 😂

Despite what MN like to say there is a massive difference between being an alcoholic and enjoying alcohol.

Freddiefatpants · 27/01/2020 19:30

Seems a lot to me, but then I don't drink regularly anyway, only special occasions etc, and no that's not me being sanctimonious and saying anyone who drinks more than that is a raging alcoholic, it's me saying I'd struggle to hit 14 units. Complete lightweight when I do go out (cheap date 😆) but it's probably because I work strange shift patterns and don't fit in with the 9-5 have a few glasses after work pattern.
Everything in moderation really isn't it, most things we like to indulge in are bad for us, in large quantities. So it's about self regulation I suppose.
Though I do get a bit 🤨 at people who do drink a fair amount and regularly and then get on their high horses about other people's vices like sugar or smoking. Hypocritical really, especially when you consider the downright shitty and entitled attitude some people have when they're refused alcohol for any reason.

Lobsterquadrille2 · 27/01/2020 19:31

@Crockof I would go further than that and say that the majority of alcoholics I know don't enjoy drinking alcohol. I hated the taste.

I still find these threads interesting.

Crockof · 27/01/2020 19:39

@Lobsterquadrille2 I agree, there are lots of complicated issues surrounding alcoholism and there is always an underlying issue.

Aragog · 27/01/2020 19:41

It's only in UK where people think it's normal to drink a whole bottle

Seriously? Whenever I have been out for a meal abroad - be it elsewhere in Europe, in America, etc - its been very much the norm for a couple, even those who are not British(!), to order a bottle of wine to share between them, and for it to be finished between them, and then them to have a drink to finish.

And no, 14 units isn't loads!

But on MN having 14 units a year is deemed to be too much these days.

MoonlightMistletoe · 27/01/2020 19:41

Seems a lot to me however my parents are alcoholics so I don't drink the stuff.

Delatron · 27/01/2020 20:16

@YappityYapYap Do you do the same calculations for chocolate? Sugar? Pizza?

The body can process alcohol fine as long as it’s in moderation.

YappityYapYap · 27/01/2020 20:20

If someone starts a thread about those things then yes I could but this thread is about alcohol 🙄. We are talking about whether 14 units of alcohol is too little or too much, we aren't discussing chocolate or whatever

Delatron · 27/01/2020 20:23

Yes but who adds up the bottles over the year? It doesn’t stay in your system. Ridiculous argument. The body will process a few glasses of wine a couple of days a week.

MrsJBaptiste · 27/01/2020 20:45

I think it's pretty low but then I love a drink! 🥂

Chocolate, I can leave it.
Crisps I quite like.
Biscuits, hmm, lovely with a cuppa.

An icy cold glass bottle of white wine or prosecco... you've got me!

Roll on February 😁

whereishappyat · 27/01/2020 21:10

It's far lower than is normal to me and my circle. Last night me and hubby had 4 cans each and then a whiskey and coke, that would be my 14units done yet here I am with a lovely cold bottle of San Miguel and I may even stretch to a 2nd tonight and we are only on Monday Shock

Peoplearemiserable · 27/01/2020 21:13

Pre DS that would have been very low for me, we used to go to the pub 3/4 nights per week. Now I have a toddler I don’t drink except a binge every 2/3 months. I feel very boring now I don’t drink to be honest...

Westworld · 27/01/2020 21:27

It’s very low!! But wine is just so easy to drink and so high in alcohol - I think I’m better off with vodka on a night out - much lower units on a night overall!

drivingtofrance · 27/01/2020 21:49

It's low in my opinion.

I like a drink. Not to get drunk but I enjoy the taste of a good wine or a local beer. Usually enjoyed in a social setting or whilst having a nice meal at home.

Therefore I don't feel the need to count up my units. Some weeks I'll have way more than the 14. DH the same. Other weeks I'll be teetotal.

I don't eat chocolate or junk foods, nor do I smoke. I exercise a lot and eat healthily.

So ill continue to enjoy my drinks unless I personally feel I'm overdoing it and can't control it.

Heismyopendoor · 27/01/2020 21:52

Seems pretty high to me, I don’t drink at all though.

newbingepisodes · 27/01/2020 21:53

Seems a lot to me. I don't ever drink in the week - and then probably one weekend every other month.

cologne4711 · 27/01/2020 22:00

Not RTFT but yes I think it's low. I probably drink around 10-12 but have to work to keep at it. DH and I share 2 bottles of wine a week between us which is already 9 (?) units each so any more and we're getting close to 14.

It wouldn't bother me if I couldn't have a glass of wine in the evening and I don't drink alcohol every night, but I'm not sure what I would drink instead. Twice DH has had medication which meant he couldn't have alcohol for weeks (once it was about 4 months) and I'm not in the business of drinking alcohol alone, so drank quite a lot of diet cola during that time. Not sure it was that great for me. Fizzy water doesn't really cut it. I did lose a couple of lb though though but we drank more then, so it made a difference. By the second time we didn't drink as much, and it made no difference at all.

cologne4711 · 27/01/2020 22:03

It's only in UK where people think it's normal to drink a whole bottle

It seems quite normal, both in the UK and overseas, for a couple to have more than one bottle of wine with a meal. Not sure how they can get up the next day, to be honest. More than one large red glass and I get a horrible headache. I can have a bit more white.

Fluffycloudland77 · 27/01/2020 22:33

I read something that said they keep lowering because the brits drink too much & they want to stop that.

Liver disease is very common and on the rise when other illnesses are decreasing.

I believe Japan sets their safe limit at 0.

Bluewater1 · 27/01/2020 22:36

I never drink anywhere near this amount if I'm honest

Jesz · 27/01/2020 22:37

Who gives one what the recommended is? When your smashed you can hardly read the warning Grin