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?

Reality is that most weeks I will have 1x 500ml bottle beer on a Saturday night but won't usually finish it. About once every 3-6 weeks I'll go to some event where I will drink 3 or 4 times that amount. Occasionally I will have a G&T.

At the doctors I will say "about a pint a week, occasionally two, rarely 3" which isn't very different as my "normal" intake is a lot less than a pint.

The truth...

A couple of glasses of wine or gins a month.

I rarely drink - a couple of glasses of something a month at most - so tell the truth.

I used to lie about smoking and say I didn't smoke. In reality I had a daily weed addiction and I was covering it up and lying to protect all the shame I felt. If you're lying to a doctor, you have to ask yourself why, surely?

This whole 'mummy's wine time' thing is really corrosive. Fine if you drink (I drink too) but be honest about it. You're only kidding yourself otherwise.

I think you are only going to get none or low drinkers answering you here OP!

The truth - none

The truth. But I rarely drink.

I tell them the truth because I don’t give a fuck what they think tbh.

I have a drink maybe once a month, maybe twice - but there are some months when I don't drink anything. Dh doesn't drink, and I don't see the point of drinking on my own.

I’m a doctor. I haven’t ever doubled what people say, I’d just write down what they say. It’s only one piece of information that I would triangulate with other pieces of information.

If I’m asked, I do find it hard to answer as I don’t drink regularly but if I go out (out), I probably drink more than I should. Do I average it out or say I binge drink??? So much judgement!!!

Tell the truth. No point lying.

I tell the truth, that I drink way too much, way too often.

I just tell the truth:

„I occasionally smoke (about twice a year). I unfortunately can’t drink as often or as much as I would like.“

I quite enjoy a glass or two but I need to be really careful with hangovers as I get older. And I’m becoming a bit of a light weight, tbh😅😅

Do you drink?

No. Less then once a Month. Very occasionally, I’ll have a bottle or half a beer.

Good to hear that!

I do like a drink and on a normal week enjoy a bottle of wine over 3 or 4 separate evenings and a couple of g and ts on a weekly night out. So around 14 units a week. It would irritate me if doctors and nurses inflated this and assumed I was lying - I can’t see any point in doing this.

I remember a time when the recommended limit for women was 21 units a week, and a period in the 80s when we were all urged to drink red wine every day for the good of our health. I used to follow the guidelines then as well. 😊

I agree.
There are a lot of half a thimble of sherry at Christmas posters on this thread.

I drink about 6 large glasses of wine a week which is the maximum weekly recommended number of units, and I am honest about it. it's pointless lying.

Yeah, this. I don't drink at home at all, usually drive when we go out, and even if I'm not driving I'll probably only have a glass or two of wine.

Never lie to doctors. They ask for a reason.

I admit I’m a classic binge drinker… don’t drink a drop at home, or if I go out for a meal, but once every two months or so my friends and I will go out for birthday drinks, or a party, or day drinks, and then I’ll have a fair bit and go all out. Nothing too wild, just a few vodka and cokes until I’m nicely merry!

I just tell the truth. About 10 drinks a year.

That's a terrible thing to do
It could end up with things being missed if the doctor assumes you are drinking more than you tell him.

I went for my NHS health check this morning. For the first time since starting Mounjaro in June I have answered truthfully!

Gosh there are a lot of virtuous people on this thread.

I'm not one of them. I'm actually cutting down because I can't drink like I used to any more, and now it makes me too tired and fat, but probably have drunk the full 14 units a week most of my adult life, if not more on special occasions/holidays. I lie to the doctor like a normal person and say 7-10.

Not very often - socially, special occasions. No more than a couple of cocktails or glasses of wine/prosecco once a month or couple of months.

Reading this I am surprised there are any pubs or wine shops left open. When the alcohol tax goes up the Government are going to make almost nothing extra.

2 glasses of wine if I go out. I probably go out 2 -3 times per month