When a doctor asks how much you drink, what do you say?

[Sheamie]

You know the usual questions when you’re at a medical appointment- do you smoke/if yes, how heavily, do you drink/if so to what extent etc.

If you drink alcohol, how do you answer, and what does your drinking pattern actually look like?

Well apparently GPs double what you say anyway so there is a point in not being honest. If I was honest, their assumption would be incorrect, so I might as well halve it 🤷🏻‍♀️

Never been a heavy drinker so when peri menopause struck I told the doctor my craving for alcohol was off the scale.

This was noted. I was then refused life insurance due to them misinterpreting that as drinking everything in the house including anti freeze.
The point was my CRAVING was noticeable, previously I'd been very one and not bothered.

So whatever you say, just get it recorded properly, your medical notes can be scrutinized by work or finance things so sadly not as confidential as you'd wish.

I tell the truth. I don't drink alcohol very often, probably once every 6 weeks on average. When I do, it's around 3 medium glasses of wine.

My husband drinks more and more frequently than I do, he tells the truth too.

No point in lying about it. HCP are there to give you advice appropriate to your situation. If you are lying to them, you are ultimately doing yourself a disservice.

I find that so strange! They must know some people are teetotal. I don't drink at all, why lie? If I was a problem drinker lying, I wouldn't say I don't drink, I'd say a smaller amount.

I was always honest about my smoking back when I smoked, and about my diet.

And thats why they don't believe anyones answer and double it.

I tell the truth but I don't drink often so it's not something to be concerned about. I have a few glasses a wine with dinner when with friends or family so around 3 times a month.

"GP's double what you say"

what a load of old nonsense. It may be noted if the clinical signs suggest someone may be downplaying their drinking but routinely doubling is utter scaremongering nonsense.

I’ve wondered that too.

I tell the truth. We have a bottle of wine between 2 of us once or twice a month, and I have less than my husband as I can only manage half a glass. Can't tolerate alcohol since menopause and don't miss it.

Well I would usually have agreed, but whenever there is a thread on here about this subject loads of people confidently come on asserting that their best friend’s uncle’s guinea pig is a GP and they always double whatever answer you give!

Well then it's definitely true

I drink 3-4 bottles of wine a week.

Fudge it to 2 bottles a week.

Pretty much the only thing I ever lie about upon reflection!

I guess that was my point really, I was being a bit facetious when I said I halve it! It’s obviously bollocks that they routinely take what you say and double it, but if they did they surely everyone could just halve the actual amount they drink when they respond!

Zero, because it’s the truth

Very rarely, one cocktail at SILs this weekend, before that it was two drinks with lunch a couple of months ago when we got the train rather than driving, will probably have a couple mid November on a weekend away.

This is me

Couple of glasses on a Friday. Sometimes a glass on Saturday or Sunday. Apart from that only if we go to celebrations but they are usually at weekends and I never have more than three glasses at an event. So probably about 10 to 12 units a week.

Step said a glass of wine very day. It was more like a bottle. The Dr did a wide ranging blood test that included liver function. Step was .

Be sure your sins will find you out.

I’m honest 20-25 units a week, trying to cut back and healthy in all other regards… but yes I drink too much. Always honest at the Drs, as my dishonesty on any medical question could be a missing piece of a puzzle one day.

I once paid for a private liver scan (I was mainly worried about any damage done in my Uni days)… it came back very healthy. Dr scanning me said my units were no where near problematic and Dr friends of his regularly drank 30+ units a week! I guess it’s a stressful job.

If you are lying it’s because you drink too much. Stop drinking so much and then you don’t need to lie.

This is me as well. I answer honestly when asked.

I think people who don't drink much tell the truth. Some love to tell everyone as demonstrated here. People who have more than the recommended units probably lie most of the time. They will be advised to drink less but they already know they should drink less or they wouldn't have bothered lying in the first place. The questions only really useful for those that don't realise they're drinking too much although perhaps it makes others think regardless of whether they tell the truth.

Too much!

That drink 2 or 3 drinks on special occasions, because that's how much I drink.

Pretty much this. If I open a bottle of wine then I will finish it over a week which is 8 units but then I won't open another one for quite a few weeks.

I tell the truth as I don’t drink alcohol daily, let alone weekly!

I do have gin and premixed cans in the house but can go ages without drinking them. If I do drink those it’s if I fancy it and usually with snacks. Or if someone comes over. Seeing friends this Friday for dinner so will drink as it’s at a restaurant.

When I was younger (20s and 30s) we had Friday drinks then yes, I did drink much more but often was out during the week as well as on Fridays and Saturdays. We’d sometimes go to gallery openings/previews, to get free wine!