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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:
TherealmrsT · 21/04/2023 13:53

I started using the drink aware app earlier this year (after medical advice to cut back) and now have 6-10 units a week.

The scary part reflects what a pp said about their doctor doubling what they were told as everything apart from spirit measures comes out at more than I estimated.e.g. a 175ml glass of my favourite white wine is 2 units.

Oldnproud · 21/04/2023 14:09

In a normal week, I probably drink either two-thirds of a bottle of wine or a whole bottle, spread across Fri, Sat and Sun. A lot more at Christmas, yes, and on special celebrations, but those are few and far between.

My DH either lies or deluded himself on this one - on one occasion, I was actually with him when he was asked by a doctor how many units a week he drinks, and the reply he gave was closer to what he drinks most evenings!
I didn't want to make him look silly, so didnt say anything there and then, but asked him about it later, and it seems that it really was part lie and part not realising quite how much he really drinks.

CornishGem1975 · 21/04/2023 14:14

MN is like some alternate universe when it comes to drinking. Most people I know in real life would admit to drinking more than the majority on here.

I probably drink about two bottles of wine per week - normally each one is spread over 3 days. But some weeks it might be more if we're going out out, some weeks it might be less.

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SirChenjins · 21/04/2023 14:24

Most people I know in real life would admit to drinking more than the majority on here

That's probably because we tend to mix with people similar to us. If alcohol plays a large part in your life then the chances are that's how you and your friends socialise.

CornishGem1975 · 21/04/2023 14:30

Maybe @SirChenjins but it amazes me that the majority of people on threads here say they only drink once a month or once a year and yet alcohol sales are booming and pubs and bars are full...I guess they're just not on here!

DanceMonster · 21/04/2023 14:31

TherealmrsT · 21/04/2023 13:53

I started using the drink aware app earlier this year (after medical advice to cut back) and now have 6-10 units a week.

The scary part reflects what a pp said about their doctor doubling what they were told as everything apart from spirit measures comes out at more than I estimated.e.g. a 175ml glass of my favourite white wine is 2 units.

DH’s best friend is a GP so I asked him about the whole ‘doubling’ thing. His answer was basically… why would they bother? He said while it’s likely a lot of people underestimate how much they drink, from a GP’s perspective they’re only really interested if it is (or could be) causing health issues. And that’s something that usually comes to light with a full examination and conversation with the patient anyway. If someone says ‘I drink 4 units a week’ and they don’t have any health issues that are likely to be related to drinking, they don’t care if you’ve been 100% accurate in your answer or not.

SirChenjins · 21/04/2023 14:49

CornishGem1975 · 21/04/2023 14:30

Maybe @SirChenjins but it amazes me that the majority of people on threads here say they only drink once a month or once a year and yet alcohol sales are booming and pubs and bars are full...I guess they're just not on here!

Alcohol consumption is falling, esp amongst younger people, so the pubs and bars will probably be serving less alcohol and lots have closed. Alcohol sales from supermarkets etc have fallen, I think?

blockyder · 21/04/2023 15:12

CornishGem1975 · 21/04/2023 14:30

Maybe @SirChenjins but it amazes me that the majority of people on threads here say they only drink once a month or once a year and yet alcohol sales are booming and pubs and bars are full...I guess they're just not on here!

Mumsnet are notoriously pious about most things so it doesn't surprise me that threads like this being out the "only a sherry at Christmas" brigade.

SirChenjins · 21/04/2023 15:20

Does not drinking alcohol = pious in your head?

Doliveira · 21/04/2023 15:22

I like alcohol and I like being tipsy and I like being drunk too. But I don’t drink at all and haven’t for a decade or so. There’s alcoholism in my family so I don’t touch it, it would be too easy to get reliant.

itsserendipity · 21/04/2023 16:10

I don't drink any more. Grew up with an alcoholic parent and after I had children I found myself hyper monitoring and worrying about what I drank to ensure I didn't turn out like that parent. I didn't drink much at all (though I binge drank like nothing else in my student days and early 20s, and made some terrible decisions!)

One day I realised it is much easier to just not drink - then there's zero risk of my children going through what I did. Never been happier, and I'm proud. My parent still drinks, still periodically tries to give up. I live in hope. A sibling seems to have inherited the alcoholism. For me, it's just not worth the risk, and I wanted to feel like the cycle ends here.

There's a great podcast called Sober Awkward for anyone considering giving it up!

blockyder · 21/04/2023 18:14

SirChenjins · 21/04/2023 15:20

Does not drinking alcohol = pious in your head?

Not inherently but I think some people feel pious about it yes.

Axlcat · 21/04/2023 18:27

Nothing. Gave up 6 years ago. It used to be a huge amount - a bottle of wine a night. More at weekends. Could easily get through a bottle of gin in a night. It would kill me now. So glad to be free of it!

Mumma · 21/04/2023 18:28

Il buy a bottle of wine roughly once a month and that will last me three nights of a glass a night... i go out about once a month or every 2 months and will have a bottle of wine maybe

U2HasTheEdge · 21/04/2023 19:01

I have a Tia Maria most nights, which doesn't add up to many units. I measure them.

If I am seeing a friend or have people over I tend to drink a bottle of wine and maybe a Cider or a shot. How often that happens varies on what is happening. Some months I might not go out, and other months I might have a few social events to go to.

Sometimes I will have a couple of glasses of wine with a meal. That probably happens once every few weeks or so.

So it really varies.

EssexMamisoa · 21/04/2023 19:09

Nothing. Went tee total by accident four years ago, realised I liked it, not looked back.

DH drinks heavily socially on a night out, but would not have a beer with a meal. He probably has his big night out once every month or two.

Rainydaysgetmedown · 21/04/2023 19:26

I drink a glass on a Thursday sometimes and a bottle of wine over Friday and Saturday. I’m absolutely rigid in this and have done it for years. Nothing the rest of the week and even on holiday nothing before 6pm

SirChenjins · 21/04/2023 19:44

blockyder · 21/04/2023 18:14

Not inherently but I think some people feel pious about it yes.

Show quote history

So you’re just throwing about claims of widespread piety on MN and comments about one sherry at Christmas based on nothing more than ‘I think’.

GeriKellmansUpdo · 21/04/2023 19:48

blockyder · 21/04/2023 15:12

Mumsnet are notoriously pious about most things so it doesn't surprise me that threads like this being out the "only a sherry at Christmas" brigade.

Show quote history

Not pious. I am just at that age where I have to choose my vice, otherwise I bloat up. My vice is carbs. White rice better than white wine anyday.

Mogginsthemog · 21/04/2023 20:30

One night a week nothing. One can or bottle of beer or a small g and t on mon to thurs. Friday and Sat will have wine . On social occasions with booze, more - but those are quite rare as I'm not out lots, a few times a year.
Comes to between 20 to 25 units a week I reckon. I am cutting down over the years. Drank more 10 yrs ago, and a lot more 20 yrs plus ago.

Beetrootlover82 · 21/04/2023 21:16

CornishGem1975 · 21/04/2023 14:30

Maybe @SirChenjins but it amazes me that the majority of people on threads here say they only drink once a month or once a year and yet alcohol sales are booming and pubs and bars are full...I guess they're just not on here!

Because if you drink more than you should and you are aware of this fact and you’re sticking your head on the sand about it…you’re hardly likely to be drawn to select this thread title are you?

whereas posters such as myself - who drink very rarely, will select the thread because on mumsnet at least - it seems like every poster turns to wine and gin.

so it’s actually a relief to realise that there are infact many out there who are also a bit 🤷‍♀️ about alcohol and may just have the odd one socially

Erex · 21/04/2023 21:41

I will drink a bottle of wine over the weekend - as in it'll last me Friday evening - Sunday. Will sometimes also have a bottle of beer/can of fruit cider on some or all of the weekend evenings. I don't drink during the week, so I guess my usual maximum would be a bottle of wine and 3 (at most) 330ml bottles of beer or cans of cider.

HuggingtheHRT · 21/04/2023 21:50

Rarely drink at home. Occasionally have a wine in the garden if we have friends over in the summer.

Go to our local pub a couple of times of month.

Find as I get older that I'm less interested in alcohol tbh. (Wish to god I had the same relationship with food tbh.)

daisymoonlight · 21/04/2023 22:32

blockyder · 21/04/2023 18:14

Not inherently but I think some people feel pious about it yes.

Show quote history

Nope. Not pious. Drank loads in my 20s/30s and it made me feel and look like shit and increases the risk of multiple cancers so now I don’t drink at all. If not wanting to feel bloated, puffy faced, tired and headachey makes me pious then so be it. I could equally argue that those who are so easily triggered by others choice not to drink, which doesn’t affect them one bit, have themselves a problem with alcohol.

TooOldForThisNonsense · 22/04/2023 00:30

blockyder · 21/04/2023 15:12

Mumsnet are notoriously pious about most things so it doesn't surprise me that threads like this being out the "only a sherry at Christmas" brigade.

Show quote history

When I was drinking heavily I would never have posted on a thread like this as I was too embarrassed and ashamed. However now I do. Maybe I’m pious but I don’t think so. I used to drink 60 odd to 70 units a week so I have no place to be. But I’m not ashamed any more is all

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