How do you control your drinking?

[BecomeStronger]

I enjoy a drink, I enjoy having my inhibitions removed/reduced. I'm very rarely staggering drunk but I do often have a hangover and I don't want them.

I don't think I have a drink problem as such, I only really drink on Friday nights, never during the week and we're probably talking 2/3 a bottle of wine. Not, I don't think, truly excessive but I do often have a sore head on Saturday and it makes me cross to spoil the weekend. However, I'd miss it on a Friday if I didn't share some drinks with friends (DH ATM)

I'm not really sure what I'm asking. I suppose I need to stop early enough to not feel bad in the morning and/or find a better way to have fun.

I can't control it. If I have one I have ten. That's why I gave it up because I hated feeling like shit the next day. I don't think you are drinking too much from a health perspective but hangovers suck and the only way to avoid them is to either drink a miniscule amount (which is pointless in my world) or skip it all together.
I did miss the Friday night relaxation routine but now I just appreciate getting home and not having to get up for work on a Saturday and thats enough for me. I love being hangover free too much to ever go back to drinking.

Drink with a pint of water next to you. A hangover is usually die to dehydration. Keep sipping water all night and the hangover will be reduced.

Did you lose friends? I can think of one friend, the one I often have most fun with, that I don't know what we'd do together if we didn't drink together?

Can you swap your poison? If wine gives you a headache try a G&T or a Spiced rum and coke.

It doesn’t sound like you’re drinking that much.

If you’re worried that you’re becoming dependent on your regular Friday night drink, then definitely try to cut down and try skipping a week every now and then.

If you just don’t like the hangover, then maybe only have half the bottle and drink a pint of water before you go to bed. Or swap to G&T.

Personally, I just stopped drinking- I was only ever a moderate drinker but I'd crave a glass of wine and it was terrible for my anxiety. I didn't lose any friends.

Could you try just drinking every other Friday, or limiting to 1 drink every other Friday just to see how you feel on a Saturday?

Waking up feeling fresh on a weekend morning is an amazing feeling. I get so much more out of my weekends these days.

I don't drink at home. So the time I spend travelling to and from wherever I am going to drink reduces the amount. None at present given Covid 19 restrictions.

If you're hangover prone, I think they would creep in even if you do reduce. I can share a bottle of wine with 3 people and wake up tired, headachy and irratable. I use to be able to far more.

I do enjoying having a drink, and by that I mean 1 or 2 at the weekend, especially in the summer or mulled wine at Christmas but I just don't think I can anymore. Water doesn't help.

if you're not concerned about the quantity or dependency, just the hangovers, then try switching to vodka and soda or tonic, or prosecco as it's a bit lighter than other wines. Also intersperse drinks with water and have a large glass before bed.