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Original poster

How much alcohol is unreasonable?

116 replies

CrazyFoxLady · 21/02/2021 00:11

So... I've just nearly finished my 2nd bottle of wine and wondering how unusual that is? Not a regular event but quite standard for a Saturday night.
By rights, should I be unconscious by now? Or is this something we are all doing right now?
Quite impressed that I can still type tbf... sending love and hugs to all that need it right now. Albeit slightly alcohol induced ones Thanks

OP posts:
NoSuchThingAsTooMuch · 21/02/2021 09:44

I drank a bottle on Friday night and felt atrocious all day yesterday. Headache wouldn't shift. I can't drink more than one bottle though, the desire just leaves me after that last glass and I often won't finish it anyway.

Sometimes I long for the floaty, happy feeling of being drunk, but the consequences the next day aren't usually worth it.

mummyof4kids · 21/02/2021 09:53

I can drink a bottle of wine and be fine the next day but if I drunk 2 I imagine I'd be violently ill the next day.
I drink wine more than I should and need to cut it out. I'll drink a bottle on fri/sat nights and probably a bottle midweek.

crossstitchingnana · 21/02/2021 10:02

Two bottles! That's 20 units if you finish the second one. Even if you have built up tolerance, and it sounds like you have, the damage can still happen. It's a myth to think you're ok because you don't get drunk or have a hangover. Your liver doesn't care.

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KitKat1985 · 21/02/2021 10:13

I'm definitely drinking more after the past year, and drink most evenings now - used to be only 3/4 evenings a week, but it's rare that I have more than 1 drink. I've always been a bit of a light-weight and would struggle to drink more than half a bottle of wine, or 3-4 single measures of a spirit based drink.

2 bottles of wine is a lot in one evening sorry. Depending on the strength of the wine that's between 20-30 units for 2 wine bottles. Whether other people also are drinking that much is to some extent irrelevant in that you will undoubtedly be doing your liver harm drinking that much on a regular basis, whether other people do it or not. I'm not trying to sound judgemental by that - just being realistic. If you find it hard to stop drinking once your start can you buy less wine each week so you have less to drink. I have to do this with certain food items because if they are in the house I can't stop eating them, so better that they are just not in the house!

Jumpalicious · 21/02/2021 10:26

@CrazyFoxLady you can drink what you like, no judgement here. However, like you, I felt I was overdoing it. Thought I enjoyed it, that it was fun, relaxing, sociable, stress relief, a treat (expensive wine!), etc etc, but didn’t enjoy feeling a bit rubbish in the morning. I now have a completely different perspective because I read (as recommended on here) the Alan Carr Easyway book about drinking aimed at women. I now feel so SO much better... hadn’t quite appreciated the trade off, which for me has meant feeling loads better every single day, more productive, even better skin (haha). Have a read, it might resonate with you?

pinkearedcow · 21/02/2021 10:57

I do find myself tutting (inwardly) when people say I only drink on Fridays/Saturdays or 'special occasions' I want to scream BUT YOU DON'T NEED ANY AT ALL. Fortunately I know to keep my gob shut

Can you come round my house and scream this at me on a regular basis please @Northernsoullover (at a social distance of course)? My wine consumption has crept up during lockdown and I am a bit sick of myself.

@CrazyFoxLady yes it is far too much, but you know that I think!

VinylDetective · 21/02/2021 11:03

@TwirpingBird

I had a glass of wine, and 2 (very strong) rum and cokes last night, and I am ashamed to say I slept so deeply I didnt hear my baby beside me stir until she was crying at 3am for a feed. That's not unusual for me at the weekend.

I am feeling horrendously guilty this morning. I am thinking I need kick the habit completely.

Please don’t beat yourself up. As a very heavy sleeper I never woke until mine was bawling. Babies cry 🤷‍♀️
MrsMaryClausFace · 21/02/2021 11:03

No judgement here but genuine question, those of you drinking a bottle of wine a night in the week and maybe more at weekends, is it safe to just stop and go cold turkey?

Fagey · 21/02/2021 11:03

I'm a lightweight. One bottle would knock me out and make me so I'll all night that I wouldn't risk it again.

But I'd go by what's advised as a healthy number of units for your size.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 21/02/2021 11:04

It’s a huge amount of units and certainly not good for health.

Why not just not buy any?

VinylDetective · 21/02/2021 11:05

@MrsMaryClausFace

No judgement here but genuine question, those of you drinking a bottle of wine a night in the week and maybe more at weekends, is it safe to just stop and go cold turkey?
Yes, it’s safe even (especially) for alcoholics.
Cam2020 · 21/02/2021 11:06

Not shocked or disgusted, but that is a lot.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 21/02/2021 11:07

@TwirpingBird

I had a glass of wine, and 2 (very strong) rum and cokes last night, and I am ashamed to say I slept so deeply I didnt hear my baby beside me stir until she was crying at 3am for a feed. That's not unusual for me at the weekend.

I am feeling horrendously guilty this morning. I am thinking I need kick the habit completely.

I’d be more worried about something happening and not being alert enough to deal with it.
GobbieMaggie · 21/02/2021 11:08

2 bottles is excessive and unhealthy but you know that.

Diddumz · 21/02/2021 11:10

I hate to be the voice of doom, but I was a bottle of wine and two gin and tonics drinker and recently had to stop completely as blood tests showed my liver is struggling.

Two bottles of wine is a lot. Even if it's just once a week.

pinkearedcow · 21/02/2021 11:13

VinylDetective it is NOT safe to suddenly stop drinking if you are physically addicted to alcohol, it can be dangerous if you don't have the right support.

Original poster
CrazyFoxLady · 21/02/2021 11:13

Ok what's more worrying is that I feel fine today. Didn't actually finish the 2nd bottle btw - I know that's not the point, but just thought I'd add that in Blush

Definitely going to read the books that have been recommended thanks.

I think I'll just try not buying it in the first place and see how I go. Now the evenings are getting a bit lighter, I'm going to go for a nice long walk instead, might even run a bit too 🏃‍♀️

Also going to brush my teeth mid evening as that should stop the temptation.

Let's not beat ourselves up about it, I think if you recognise you have a problem, that's half the battle isn't it.

Off to peel veggies for a roast now, and put another coat of paint on the skirting boards. Told you I feel fine (not proud).

Thanks folks x

OP posts:
Princessdebthe1st · 21/02/2021 11:18

@TwirpingBird

I had a glass of wine, and 2 (very strong) rum and cokes last night, and I am ashamed to say I slept so deeply I didnt hear my baby beside me stir until she was crying at 3am for a feed. That's not unusual for me at the weekend.

I am feeling horrendously guilty this morning. I am thinking I need kick the habit completely.

Twirpingbird guilt is not a helpful emotion if you want to make changes so let it go.

Just to check as it wasn't completely clear from your post. When you said your baby was beside you I assume you mean in a cot/basket next to the bed? If you were cosleeping then drinking alcohol is very dangerous.

AlexaShutUp · 21/02/2021 11:18

OP, it's great that you're thinking about cutting down. You know it's the right thing to do. Try to see it as a positive step that you're taking to look after yourself, rather than as something that you're denying yourself. My vice is food, especially sugar, and I find it much easier to regulate what I eat if I frame it in terms of positive changes that I'm choosing to make rather than negative habits that I have to give up.

Eckhart · 21/02/2021 11:40

@VinylDetective

Yes, it’s safe even (especially) for alcoholics

This piece of advice that you are doling out is deadly. Alcohol withdrawal can kill. If a person is dependent, they need to cut down gradually, and by far preferably, seek medical advice and psychological support.

What made you say it was safe?

VinylDetective · 21/02/2021 11:42

What made you say it was safe?

Alcoholics Anonymous.

Chicchicchicchiclana · 21/02/2021 11:50

It is not always safe for problem drinkers or alcoholics to just stop drinking cold turkey! I can't believe you posted such a dangerous untruth @VinylDetective. What do you think detox means? Why do you think alcoholics gave to go through managed detox before rehab?

Eckhart · 21/02/2021 11:50

@VinylDetective

What made you say it was safe?

Alcoholics Anonymous.

That's not really an answer to the question. That's the name of an organisation. Did they tell you that? Can you find a link to their website where they say that? Because if you can, they'll be terminated.

It is deadly advice. Alcohol withdrawal can kill. There are no two ways about it, and if AA have told you it's safe, they were wrong.

youvegottenminuteslynn · 21/02/2021 12:17

@VinylDetective

What made you say it was safe?

Alcoholics Anonymous.

They are wrong and that is dangerous advice. To make a factual statement that going cold turkey is 'especially' safe for alcoholics is wildly misinformed, if someone told you that then they are not properly informed on the implications of withdrawal. It should be a managed process for alcoholics who are physically dependent. Have a quick google and you can read up on it, I understand you may have been misinformed and have good intentions but please do not make the claim that it's especially safe for alcoholics to go cold turkey as doing so can have serious consequences.
Hangingover · 21/02/2021 12:45

No judgement here but genuine question, those of you drinking a bottle of wine a night in the week and maybe more at weekends, is it safe to just stop and go cold turkey

Only healthcare staff can give the definitive answer. I was at about 90 units a week when I stopped and I didn't need a detox but I assume everyone's body is different.

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