Drinking Habits

[Lightning020]

Does anybody exist practically teetotal like I do?

Why do people rely on booze so much? I know nobody except myself who rarely drinks.

I do understand about stress as I too am stressed as my business is really struggling at the moment. That said I literally only drink say two glasses of wine a month. I buy those one glass wine bottles you can get.

I am on the spectrum and take meds so booze will only stop these from working. It is also a depressant plus I cannot justify the calories as I seem to really struggle with my weight since the menopause. It would also stitch up my blood pressure meds.

If I go out socially I notice especially men are hooked on drink. You can see it in their eyes. Whereas in general women seem to keep substances more under control. It is the same for men whether they are married or not.

This isn't supposed to sound judgy or smug in the least but I seem to be a really unusual person to only have 2 glasses of wine a month.

I get stressed same as everybody else but there are many other coping mechanisms eg exercise and music to name but two.

Any thoughts?

Where I live, people are bored and don't have much else to do.

Pretty much everyone around me drinks.

As I lived with a raging alcoholic for 7 years in my twenties I have a huge aversion to drink. I think that is the primary reason for not drinking. The secondary reason is meds plus calories.

I very rarely drink. DH drinks occasionally, but can go months without.
There is lots of social pressure on people to drink.

I have really cut back since April when I had a (non alcohol) related health issue. Now I drink 0% beer and fruit juice (Schloer and stuff like that) largely, with a very occasional glass of wine or G&T. To be honest I don't miss it. I've lost over a stone and my skin is way better. As a pp said there is a lot of pressure to drink in today's society.

You do sound judgy and smug to be honest! I drink. Regularly. And give no shits what anyone else thinks. It relaxes me, it tastes nice and being tipsy is fun.

I enjoy drinking and there’s a great beer drinking culture where I live, lots of festivals. For me it is a social and fun thing. When stressed I prefer not to drink as I find it doesn’t help.

If you choose not to, OP, of course that is fine and nobody should ever pressure you.

I enjoy drinking. I go out once or twice a month and it usually involves pints, shots and live music with my friends. We have fun 😊 fortunately I don't get horrid hangovers and it doesn't affect the family so I just do whatever!

Out to see a band tomorrow night then I'm booked in for silent disco in August 👍 I've spent many years looking after small children now they are old enough to look after themselves I going out!

Why do people rely on booze so much?

Given that you lived with an alcoholic for 7 years I'd think you'd be better able to answer that question than most.

I guess if it didn't stitch up my health so much I would indulge more. It is after all a very quick aid to relaxation.

I have a couple of glasses of wine on a Friday/Saturday night as a ‘treat’ at the end of the week.
I don’t have take-aways, or go out to the pub, so I don’t feel guilty about it.

I'm with you OP, I also lived with an alcoholic partner for 7 years, my children remember that daddy spent a lot of him time sleeping and was hardly ever home in the evenings. So I also rarely drink but feel like I am judged as being the boring one because of this.

Everyone around me drinks loads and enjoys it which is fine, but suddenly I'm seeing friends in their late 40s being diagnosed with diabetes, gall stones etc after years of drinking a lot and winder what their future health holds for them.

Not everyone who drinks relies on booze. Not everyone does it because they are stressed. People who drink aren’t all overweight. People who drink also do exercise.

I don’t think drinking a couple of glasses a month is unusual but neither do I think a couple of bottles of wine per week is unusual or out of control either.

You are projecting because of your “aversion”. Sorry you experienced that.

This thread will go the same way all others on MN do about drinking.

Thanks for the replies everyone.

Yes no doubt my baggage is the predominating factor.

We are like minded then! Yes hopefully our very light drinking will help our health.

A close friend of mine used to drink heavily for years anyway she finally gave up the booze a few years ago. Now recently discovered she has epilepsy. She has so many regrets.

That said I do understand why people drink. Stress plus social pressure.

Lots of people don't drink. You're not that special.

I don't drink because of stress or social pressure 🤷‍♀️ I rarely drink at home.

I deal with stress by running which is a very social activity for me. I meet friends and drink and dance as another social activity. I don't suffer from beer fear and never regret my nights out.

Often I combine running and drinking. Do a race then spend the afternoon in the pub with my running friends.

Life's all about balance 😊

I don’t drink often these days although I’ve never been a big drinker anyway.

My DF always drank too much, thought nothing of driving drunk, with me in the car, absolutely terrified. I still remember the car swerving all the time but he never got caught until I was about 30 and he lost his license for 6 months which he thought was hilarious. He also left me at home (primary age, parents divorced) for long periods of time while he went off drinking. He made a lot of dubious decisions including being pissed off when he was dragged out of the pub when my DM almost died on the operating table and the hospital wanted him to come back urgently. It was this that my DM never forgave and she filed for divorce.

DH doesn’t drink at all as he thinks alcohol tastes vile which tbh suits me as I could
never be with someone who kept getting drunk regularly, so I think my childhood experiences have affected my alcohol consumption and what I would tolerate with a partner.

I don’t judge others before anyone gets offended, except when you behave like my DF did and then I absolutely judge.

I used to be a bottle of wine a night person. It did me no favours whatsoever, I got anxious and fat.

Now I might have a few drinks at the weekend or if I'm going out but I can take it or leave it. For me it's the hangovers the next day. I just can't function. I look and feel gross and I'm not present like I would be if I hadn't had a drink which isn't fair when you have young kids.

I still enjoy the feeling of being tipsy but on balance, I enjoy the feeling of being fresh the next door more which is why I've cut back so much and only really have a significant amount to drink if I know I can chill the next day.

Have you ever spoken to a professional about being the victim of an alcohol abuser?

That said I do understand why people drink. Stress plus social pressure.
You forgot the main reason, 'because they like it'.

I very rarely drink and so have very little tolerance. I enjoy a nice cider on occasion but have to make sure I've eaten beforehand or I'll be plastered.
My DP drinks every day, he used to drink himself silly but has calmed down a bit, but still binges once or twice a week and to me it's a day wasted when he can't function the next day.
His life, his choice but it does affect me too when he's up and down half the night to the loo and wakes me up.
Also annoying if we've got plans and not fit to drive. (I've got disabilities that prevent me driving long distances).

Yes I had a few months of really good therapy after the break up plus time is a great healer.

I know nobody except myself who rarely drinks.

I would think that's quite unusual, most of us will know people who don't drink?

To me, someone who rarely drinks is someone who drinks once or twice a year. If you drink half a bottle of wine a month then that's not too rare is it?

Myself, I only drink socially when out with friends and it would be 2-4 flavoured ciders or the like. I would have had more when I was in my 20's, loved clubbing and was child free but I'd never have been someone who would drink at home just to unwind or whatever.

I don't because I'm stressed. I drink because I enjoy it.

If I'm upset or stressed I don't tend to drink.