Normal alcohol habits?

[TwoBakedOnes]

When do you know if healthy, normal alcohol habits are turning into unhealthy habits?

I don't think I have a problem but I'm drinking more.

The past decade, I have had two gins every Saturday with DH. That was it.

But now it's two gins on a Friday and Saturday. And then Tuesday I'll have half a bottle of wine, and finish it on Wednesday. And then a couple of glasses of Prosecco with friends/family once a week.

So drinking 4 or 5 nights out of the week - not even enough to get tipsy, let alone drunk, but enough to feel it relaxes me.

I do crave it now - especially if I've had a stressful day, and I've noticed I'll have a gin or two even if DH is out, so I drink alone.

Normal, or slippery slope?

If you're not drinking every day, there's something very wrong with you IMO. Gin o'clock every day for me after midday. In the mornings I'll have peach schnapps served with ice.

This was something I've slipped into over the years. Helps.me.fall.asleep at night, plus wouldn't be able to tolerate DH otherwise.

I do test my alcohol level with home kit if I have to pick up DC.

slippery slope. believe me.

Take a break now - I'd say 30 days. Then go back to your usual habits if you want to.

Alcohol is a good servant but a poor master.

You’re probably drinking over the 14 units a week “limit”, if that bothers you.

But this would concern me more than the actual unit count:

I do crave it now - especially if I've had a stressful day

If you’re starting to crave it, or rely on it for stress relief, it’s probably time to think about alternatives to manage stress.

We use the term ‘alcohol use disorder’ these days, because it’s all a spectrum - rather than the old, binary alcoholic/ not alcoholic.

A good question to ask is if your drinking is causing a problem for you or anyone else.

I hadn't thought about the units - added it up, and I drink at least 6 every week, but never more than 12.

But as you say - it's the craving that is concerning?

There is nothing that helps my stress more than alcohol - it's such an immediate 'fix'.

I wouldn't say it's causing any problems at all, for me or anyone, I've just noticed it has definitely increased.

Probably over thinking it!

Yes slippery slope. I often go through this cycle. I only drink on weekends, then weekend becomes Friday Saturday AND Sunday. Then I need a mid week drink on a Wednesday. Then I realise I'm drinking more days in a week than I'm not drinking so I'll dial it back. Then summer comes or Christmas or something and bad habits re emerge

I think it's a slippery slope which is very easy to slide down.

But you do seem very self aware OP and that's a good thing.

You know yourself that reining it in at this point would be wise.

I found myself in the same situation during the first lockdown to be honest, and decided to go back to weekend drinks only.

Slippery slope if you are starting to crave it. It might not seem to be causing any problems but it won't be doing you any good. Could you try and do without the midweek bottle of wine?

The slope got a bit too slippery so I reigned it in. I'll have a drink on a Friday or Saturday. But not always.

Try a clean gin with tonic and some berries and ice. I found it was the ritual I needed rather than the alcohol.

It’s just not good for your liver or your skin. In reality no alcohol is a good amount and I say that as an enthusiast. I’d take it back to Friday and Saturday and try 0% beer to kid your brain

I don't think you are counting your units properly ,OP ?? 9 in a bottle of wine alone .
I assume 2 in each home poured gin.
And at least 1 to 1.5 in a small glass prosecco .

You’re definitely underestimating the units

If you're not happy with it, it's not good for you.

As a pp said you're over the guidelines anyway - depending on how generous your gin pour is, you're drinking at least 15-17 units a week.

I think you are probably hugely underestimating the units. I'd cut out the midweek drinking. Find some nice soft drinks to have instead.

As much as anything, that's a lot of empty calories every week

And of course the units are meant to be an "upper limit" not a target to aim for

the puritanism in the replies on this thread is both ludicrous and amusing. OP, your alcohol intake is very low, nothing to worry about in the slightest, and please continue to enjoy your mild 'buzz' four nights a week 🥂👌🏾🙂

Is this a joke? I hope it is.

I used to be like this. Going from once a week to multiple days a week. Now I don't drink at all. You don't realise how much you're relying on something until you take it away and have to learn to self regulate all over again. I might have 1 glass of something at a party or special occasion but very rare. I love not drinking now though and would never go back x

You are probably drinking well over twice the units you think. You have miscalculated the equivalents, and also may be using home measures instead of pub measures. Next time, pour your usual gin. Then measure it with a pot from a medicine bottle, an accurate kitchen scoop or something. A unit is only 25ml. If you like the ritual, get a nice set of jiggers (spirit up to wine size at least). You can enjoy using them while regulating intake.

You’re drinking more than 12 units a week if you’re having; bottle of wine, 2 proseccos (and if small ones), 4 gins (measured out I hope) that’s 15 units. IF you’re hand-pouring the gin and having Prosecco in normal wine glasses, say at friend’s house, then it could be more like 20.

I don’t drink much, a few a week, but recently stopped for 3 months to reset. I was craving it, and I didn’t like it. If I don’t feel in control of it then I would rather be tee-total.

What puritanism? People leap to this response straight away on Mumsnet when people advocate any kind of moderation with alcohol. Puritanism would be advice to stop drinking altogether. Nobody on here is advocating that.

It's not puritanical to moderate your alcohol intake any more than it would be puritanical to avoid eating takeaways every night.

Anyway op, sounds like you probably could do with cutting down a bit. I try and stick to NHS guidelines on units and avoiding binge drinking. Try being the operative word as I got drunk with a friend on Saturday night!

Ignore this, it's not puritanism, it's health advice. Your alcohol intake may or may not be on the high side depending on measures, but if it is increasing and you are noticing cravings and are concerned enough to seek advice it's time to put that into reverse.

I think it can definitely be a slippery slope. I tracked my units for a while and found I was drinking more than I realised.

I've now completely cut out the mid week drinking at home, although I'd still have alcohol if I happened to go out with friends. But I mainly keep it to weekends. I have a self imposed rule to have more alcohol free nights a week than nights I drink and to not have more than two alcoholic drinks at home in one evening....often it is one.

@TwoBakedOnes You say you have a bottle of wine over Tues/weds? That’s 9 to 10 units. Before you even add in the gins and other drinks.