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Original poster

How much do you drink, honestly

187 replies

Cluelessat33 · 20/04/2023 10:49

As a child from an alcoholic home, I've always been a bit aware of this and my own drinking. But I think it's really easy to be qushonest with yourself. When I lived with my ex and during lockdown, I'd probably have a bottle of beer most nights. I cut that a few years ago because living on your own I think its a slippery slope. I generally don't drink during the week. If I'm at home on a weekend I may have 3 or 4 at most over the course of a weekend. If I'm with friends or family I probably hit the recommended weekly unit limit. I enjoy the taste of it but rarely drink to get drunk. But of course it us something probably more aware of than others.

Among my friends I generally have two extremes. Some people who drink most nights and some who rarely have a drink at all. So what is normal?

OP posts:
ISpyCobraKai · 20/04/2023 15:21

leatherchaps · 20/04/2023 15:05

A thimblefull at Christmas.

I'm trying to cut down.

Same, especially as I also sniff the sherry.

dimpleton · 20/04/2023 15:39

Not much tbh. I don't have a very good constitution for it and tend to feel sick quite easily. I enjoy a drink but it tends to be one glass of wine with a meal, or a couple of G&Ts when I'm out, I don't drink to excess and it's probably only every other week.

DH on the other hand drinks at least 3 nights a week and is the type that once he starts he can't stop, so will drink until he's ready for bed. I find it a bit depressing really, as I quite often think "a glass of wine would go nicely with this meal" but can't bring myself to open a bottle because it will start him off on a whole evening of drinking.

Lakeyloo · 20/04/2023 15:59

seratoninmoonbeams · 20/04/2023 15:07

I don't think drinking is for getting drunk. I really enjoy finding a lovely red wine to go with a meal with steak or a baked Camembert and cold meats/olives for instance. I would have a glass and really enjoy the taste that compliments the meal. I don't have it to get drunk. Same with a crisp white with a chicken or fish dish.

Show quote history

@seratoninmoonbeams totally agree, and this is the difference between my drinking now and my drinking 20 years ago. I know what I like and I drink it because I like it, I now know when to stop (normally!)

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Stomacharmeleon · 20/04/2023 16:06

Nothing. Not once for over a decade. Loved a drink but it's not compatible with my atrocious health.

AmazingBouncingFerret · 20/04/2023 16:21

Only drink if I go out nowadays. Grew up with my dad being a functioning alcoholic and drinking every single night and now watching him in end stage liver disease kinda puts a dampener on habitual daily drinking.
I want to also say hangovers seem worse nowadays but it’s occurred to me that when I do go out, I usually knock back the cocktails which are usually cheap and full of sugar so I reckon next I’m out I am going to stick to the Pinot!

DanceMonster · 20/04/2023 16:44

seratoninmoonbeams · 20/04/2023 15:07

I don't think drinking is for getting drunk. I really enjoy finding a lovely red wine to go with a meal with steak or a baked Camembert and cold meats/olives for instance. I would have a glass and really enjoy the taste that compliments the meal. I don't have it to get drunk. Same with a crisp white with a chicken or fish dish.

Show quote history

Same. I drink, but I haven’t been ‘drunk’ for years. We like choosing good wines to go with nice food at the weekends.

GeriKellmansUpdo · 20/04/2023 16:46

About once a month. Don't drink at home except for the rare cider in summer.

ving · 20/04/2023 16:48

You might not drink to get drunk but, well, you will be at least tipsy after half a bottle of wine.

Nounoufgs · 20/04/2023 16:49

Not a drinker, never have been. I have an upbeat personality without alcohol could get very loud with it!

ving · 20/04/2023 16:53

Creepyrosemary · 20/04/2023 14:02

Maybe 3 glasses of wine per year. DH drinks more, he tends to go for a beer with a friend once a month and he'll drink 2-3. We're middle aged and drank more when we were in our twenties.

Posts like this make me lol "3 glasses of wine year", it's so specific.

PrinnyPaupersPurse · 20/04/2023 17:04

I'm from a long long line of alcoholic publicans. I'm also bipolar, an ex coke addict and a survivor of CSE. I used to drink a LOT more than I do now. In my early twenties I would drink 6/8 cans of lager every night and bother off vodka over the weekend. And go to the pub in between. Probably about 70-80 units a week and that's being honest. Since I've had a diagnosis, done therapy, tried all the legal prescribed drugs, I still drink far too much. Probably about 6-8 cans of lager a week and half a litre of vodka. Sometimes I might swap the later for a bottle or two of wine. In the summer it might be cuter instead. Or some weeks it might be a litre of vodka. Or 20 cans.

I don't take any bipolar drugs though as none worked and I am brutally honest with my DRs and consultants etc. They aren't delighted but it's a damn sight better than it was and at least I'm not a drug addict anymore.

I don't drink every day. Normally every 3 days but it can be 4-5. Occasionally I go for 2-4 Weeks without touching anything just to show myself I can.

TL:dr. Used to be 80 a week now it's 30-40

seratoninmoonbeams · 20/04/2023 17:21

ving · 20/04/2023 16:48

You might not drink to get drunk but, well, you will be at least tipsy after half a bottle of wine.

If that's directed at me a glass isn't half a bottle.

SallyWD · 20/04/2023 17:23

A couple of glasses of wine a week. In my youth I was a binge drinker. Can't think of anything worse now.

EustaceTheMonk · 20/04/2023 17:37

Four, maybe five, pints of bitter/Guinness over the weekend (in pubs). Nothing the rest of the week. No alcoholic drinks at home, wine only with a meal out and I can't recall the last time I had spirits.

WhisperingAutistic · 20/04/2023 17:44

I drink either a cider or a wine on a Thursday while I wait for my son to finish an after school activity and I have a wine or a vodka with a meal after church on Sunday.

I used to drink a lot more but alcoholism is in my family also. My Nan died of it, as did my Aunt.

DanceMonster · 20/04/2023 17:56

ving · 20/04/2023 16:48

You might not drink to get drunk but, well, you will be at least tipsy after half a bottle of wine.

I can assure you that half a bottle of wine over the course of an evening with a meal does not make me tipsy.
And even if it did, that’s still different to ‘drinking to get drunk’. That would mean that your aim is just to get drunk, nothing else. Getting ‘drunk’ is never my aim. I drink wine because I enjoy the taste of it.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 20/04/2023 18:02

I don't drink. I couldn't be arsed with the hangovers, hangxiety or anything else anymore.

CordyLines · 20/04/2023 18:29

Sorry to say it but I only believe those who have admitted to severe over indulgence or to being teetotal.

As the doctor said, double your perceived (low) intake. They do.

YerAWizardHarry · 20/04/2023 18:32

I’m very all or nothing classic binge drinker. Don’t drink at all during the week or the weekends we have our kids (they’re with other parent EOW) however have a big night out once a month where I probably drink the monthly recommended units …

DanceMonster · 20/04/2023 18:39

CordyLines · 20/04/2023 18:29

Sorry to say it but I only believe those who have admitted to severe over indulgence or to being teetotal.

As the doctor said, double your perceived (low) intake. They do.

You can believe what you want, doesn’t make it true 😂

YerAWizardHarry · 20/04/2023 18:39

kitsuneghost · 20/04/2023 15:12

once a week. Typically
at home: 1 bottle of wine and 3-4 double mixers
in pub: 5-8 pints cider
so maybe around 20 units a week

I think your maths is slightly off there…

EllaPaella · 20/04/2023 18:44

I have fallen into the trap of drinking too often to 'relax' after work before like many people probably have. January this year I stopped drinking at all during the week and only have alcohol on weekends and lost a stone in weight within 3 months (i found I had more energy to exercise and didn't reach for the snacks as much as when I was having a glass of win). I drink half a bottle of wine on a weekend evening if at home (me and DH share a bottle) and if I go out with friends it will be more. I don't really pay much attention to how much I drink when I go out but I know when to stop so I don't feel ill the next day.
If I go to a significant event where there is alcohol then I will just enjoy myself and have what I want. I am very rarely 'drunk' and hardly ever get a hangover so I'm happy I am drinking in moderation.

joan12 · 20/04/2023 18:54

Pretty much exactly 14 units a week, spread over 3 days. I track it accurately and religiously on the drinkaware app and measure out my glasses of wine. I enjoy the taste of it, enjoy feeling relaxed and a bit tipsy and it's my only vice.

Guardian12 · 20/04/2023 19:43

Pregnant right now but in normal times I’d have a bottle of wine spread out over the weekend and maybe a few gin and tonics or negronis during the week if I was out to dinner or at work drinks. On holidays, at weddings or over Christmas I’d drink a lot more.

I do like a drink and wondered if I could ever develop a problem but I’ve been through some devastating times and actually had no interest in drinking. It seems to be something I associate with happy / celebratory times.

BridieConvert · 20/04/2023 21:14

I don't drink in the house, never drink during the week and rarely go out. But when I do go out, I enjoy a good drink

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