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?

Yes, see I don't see that as bragging, just people saying that actually lower consumption can be normal, not everyone drinks alcohol most nights, that sort of thing. My idea of normal has changed over the years, I used to drink regularly several nights a week in my 20s and 30s but as I've got older I've found I don't want to do that, I don't tolerate it as well and a lot of my friends similar, so normal now is a lot less than it used to be, it does depend on your circles too.

Bragging is possibly not the correct word, but they are very eager to talk about how little they drink or how they don’t drink at all. And that it’s the best possible way to live.

It’s a bit like ex alcoholics who become incredibly preachy and patronising to drinkers about how they pity them for still having alcohol in their life. I think some people don’t understand that alcohol can be enjoyed safely and responsibly, not everyone will become a problem drinker or experience health issues. Although I can also see how it’s an emotive topic for someone who has struggled.

It’s all subjective really isn’t it.

If you are having a couple drinks 4-5 days a week and you can stop after a couple, you don’t have an alcohol problem.

But this is how occasional drinking turns into unhealthy drinking. It’s good you’re recognising it now when you can still rein it in. Cut out the Tuesday/Wednesday wines and switch the few glasses of prosecco with family to tea or have a weekend when you have no drinks with Dh.

I'm a happy social drinker but I keep it to the weekends, sometimes not even that if I'm not going out. Very rare for me to drink during the week. The no-alcohol gin from Sipsmith is pretty good and 0% beers are improving (still fine low-alcohol wine bogging though).

Just updating, I haven't drunk any alcohol since this thread started - definitely the longest I've gone without at least one drink for a long time!

I'm sleeping better, I've dropped 1kg and I'm not missing it at all.

I really enjoyed an alcohol free beer at the weekend with a takeaway - I was amazed but it really was enjoyable.

I was talking with a newish friend about how I'm going without alcohol for the foreseeable because of how easy it is to slip into bad habits; she admitted her once a week glass of wine turned into two glasses twice a week, then drinking most nights, until she realised with horror she was getting through 5-6 bottles a week.

She agreed it's a slippery slope. She said she only ever has a glass of wine with a meal now, when out in a restaurant, never at home - I might well do similar.

Thanks for the update @TwoBakedOnes that all sounds really positive, well done!

I wasn't drinking much more than you when I decided to give it up. It was the caving in to the craving that worried me. I also drank to deal with stress but the alcohol actually causes the stress as it washes vitamin B out of your system. Giving up is a personal thing but you would do well to take vitamin b complex to deal with the stress

Not that anyone is likely interested but just to say I still haven't had any alcohol, none at all!

I'm feeling much better and actually dealing with stress in a healthier way. I feel more myself than I have in a long while.

Never say never, but I can't see any reason I'd want to drink again.

I'm glad I took stock and thought about how much I was drinking - it wasn't necessarily the amount but the fact I'd crave it and it was creeping up, albeit slowly, but in the wrong direction.

Alcohol free beer has been brilliant - especially with this warm weather, still feel like I'm having a treat and 'joining' others drinking socially, although much less keen on the no alcohol gin and prosecco I've tried.

0% beer is brilliant and my go to also. Well done

Yay! I agree, alcohol free beer is really good now, but wine, gin etc not so much.