To drink a bottle of wine...

[ApricotArcade]

All to myself

I know this isn't great, but it's just at weekends.

I've had some serious family issues going on in the last couple of years and this is something I do to relax and unwind.

I would say that otherwise I'm pretty healthy. I exercise, eat sensibly and and am in the normal range for my weight/height.

I'd be interested to know if there's anyone else who does the same (or is it just me?)

It’s classed as binge drinking -due to the amount of units in one session-so not great health wise even if it is one bottle a week.

I also used to, due to stress, drink one bottle of wine in one night to help me relax and unwind. It crept up to more than one bottle a week. That’s all I’m saying.

I don’t but lots do.
A bottle of wine to yourself once a week doesn’t sound horrifying to me.
I love a drink but hate wine and tend to only really drink when I’m going out. Dh likes a few beers at home on a Friday and Saturday night. When I do drink it would be far more than a bottle of wines worth of units.
I think you’ve identified though that it’s a pattern and a habit you’ve got yourself into during a period of stress. And no, I’m sure you’re aware that it’s not healthy to lean on alcohol as a crutch but are you planning on stopping? Do you need validation? Do you care what others think?
What I’m trying to say is, don’t compare yourself to others, ask yourself if you’re planning on cutting down or stopping, and be honest with your answer. And then carry on with your life!!

Actually it's two or three times a week! Friday, Saturday and the occasional Sunday.

Dh and I share a bottle most Fridays, again on Saturday, and usually one night in the week.

@ApricotArcade - I do this as well, two or three nights a week for same sort of reasons. It's not great and I'm working to reduce it but it hits the spot for me and I have no other vices. Am dry the other 3/4 nights always.

I do dry January every year and that resets my habit a little and I really enjoy it every year, much better sleep and lack of negative thought about myself was fantastic. I just don't seem to be able to remember that at 6pm on a Friday!

Currently trying to moderate a little more and take my intake down. It's a work in progress and I'm going to add in other dry weeks/months of the year. For some reason the framing of it helps me resist!

Very occasionally I might get through a whole bottle but only I get involved on late night MN. Maybe once or twice a year.
2 or 3 times a week seems quite a lot

I think you have to be careful. My wine consumption crept up to an unhealthy level and I’ve had to take myself in hand to limit how much I’m drinking.

I used to do this but it crept up during covid times. Working plus homeschooling meant at teatime the cork was out. I stopped drinking in September had a bottle of prosecco at christmas and one at new year but it hasn't started me on a downward spiral as I've gone back to teetotal since.

I think I might save drinking just for big celebrations.

I do this regularly and have done for years. I like wine and I like being tipsy. And you know what, I’m sure it will affect my health eventually but right now I can run a sub 3-hour marathon, I squat 1.5 times my body weight, and I am the happiest person I know: so I’ll stick with what I enjoy and think about the “what ifs” later.

But in your case, I think the crux of it is that you acknowledge you use alcohol to de-stress, and this is often where problem drinking begins. I have a policy of never drinking alone and never drinking when I’m sad - so whilst I can get through 100 units or more in a particularly sociable week, it isn’t about trying to regulate my mood or enjoyment. I think that aspect of your drinking is worth keeping an eye on, so that when you reach for the wine you always recognise He reason and don’t get into a habit of depending on it.

I used to drink 3-4 bottles per week, often 1/2 a bottle or more on weekend nights. I'm now 11 months sober and looking back now I'd say its too much.

That amount of alcohol per sitting will really affect the quality your sleep and creates anxiety/lowers your mood, as well as have many other negative effects on your body. It may relax you initially but the other side effects aren't worth it.

I feel so much better both mentally and physically now I don't drink. Look into the information yourself - William Porter's Alcohol Explained book is a good place to start.

I've drunk a bottle in a night on my own before and been tipsy but not drunk (natural ability to handle alcohol). So it depends I guess. Maybe one bottle makes you as drunk as a 'lightweight' having two glasses?

But whatever it makes you feel, the key thing is can you stop? Can you easily have a weekend night in and not drink anything, and enjoy it without wishing for wine? If not I'd be very careful to avoid developing an alcohol problem. Once you've got one it's with you for life and you'll never be able to have an uncomplicated glass of wine again.

I'll have a bottle to myself most weekends (either Friday or Saturday). But generally alcohol free at least 5 nights a week. Think my glasses are just too big.

I have, I would. Easy to do. Sometimes like to start with a lager or whisky based cocktail.

I've been totally off the booze for two weeks and it's been awful.

I do this regularly and have done for years. I like wine and I like being tipsy. And you know what, I’m sure it will affect my health eventually but right now I can run a sub 3-hour marathon, I squat 1.5 times my body weight, and I am the happiest person I know: so I’ll stick with what I enjoy and think about the “what ifs” later.

Snap.

My situation is identical apart from the marathon running.

OP I can easily drink 2 to 3 bottles of white per weekend and it does worry me. I’ve cut it to one recently and started making cocktails for myself which I only tend to have one or two of. Not on the same nights as the wine!

A nicely made margarita with some spice or a martini with 3 olives can really hit the spot in terms of satisfaction and takes time and effort. Wine is extremely moorish and it’s so easy to keep filling up your glass. It’s not easy to down a well made cocktail.

This has become a habit of mine. I'm aware that it's becoming a problem. I love wine, use it as a reward, a treat at the end of the week. But I do not live the hangover, the anxiety, the horrors basically. I quit smoking a good number of years ago and that used to be my reward/treat. That was one of the hardest things I ever did. I'm dreading this next step now as I have a feeling this will be worse. (Also I don't want the fall out from my next reward of choice, which will most likely be food 😪)

*I do not love