Is 3 units a night OK?

[ThespianTendencies]

I worked out by drinking my normal amout last night, and then measuring the remaining wine this morning in a jug then calculating the differerence (I know, I know - anal or what..!) then going on an alcohol calculating thing that I had 25cl of wine last night which equalled 3 units - which is standard for me and rarely deviates unless I am out out. I mean that's OK isn't it? I have the odd night off - not regularly but when I feel like i want a night of soft drinks and ovaltine etc. I recently had full blood/urine tests done and everything was fine, liver, cholesterol, kidney, insulin levels, iron. I was delighted of course. I told the Doc my alcohol intake and she didn't even raise an eyebrow so can it really be doing me any harm? I question it because there is so much stuff said about drinking and it freaks me out. My Mum is 84 and has drunk wine every night for as long as I can remember and she is in fine fettle. I also walk an hour daily wiht the dogs and workout 3-4 times a week. Does this impact bad habits positively?

I thought you had been on Thespian. Hop back over x

temporaryanonymity I know more people who do than don’t. It’s also the line of work I’m in. It’s part of the gig almost! Very sociable.

And it’s hardly as if I’m rolling around drunk from dawn until dusk. For 22 hours of the day I am alcohol free

I think there is value in having regular alcohol-free nights even if you were drinking within the recommended number of units, which you aren't. I don't think there's any evidence that the level at which you're drinking is particularly harmful, but drinking less is definitely not harmful. (I used to be a very heavy drinker, at an extremely harmful level, and have been sober for nearly 7 years).

I'd also recommend everyone have prolonged periods of not drinking, whether Dry January or other, in order to see the benefits of not drinking, and think about ways to get through occasions where ordinarily it would be 'mandatory' without it. It gives you an opportunity examine and tweak your relationship with alcohol - which can't be a bad thing. It's perfectly possible to be sociable without drinking.

tribot you speak a lot of sense. I have never done dry January on the basis that there are 3 family birthdays in Jan but it would probably be a good move to do it then so I can get rid of the 'obligatory' drinking days. In fact, some of my happiest memories haven't included alcohol anyway. When I am working I have to be at my most sociable and that is not a time when I can or would drink so I don't use alcohol to make me more sociable (I think... It is definitely a habit in the evenigns when I am with my dd and ds and no one else to chat to.

I think that's worth exploring further, this view that alcohol makes you more sociable. It clearly isn't the case for many people (and I do drink!) so it's interesting to me that you seem to suggest that you would be less so without it.

I have an alcoholic exH btw. I have met lots of problematic drinkers. I'm not saying you are at all, but it isn't a magic potion that makes people into something more than themselves. Worth thinking about. And of course, having a few alcohol free nights will do you plenty of good.

Drinking more or less every night seems like a lot to me but I don't move in the professional/social circles you do, I will have 3 units a couple of times a month on days when I don't have work the next day.

It sounds like you are more or less okay but having a couple of booze free nights a week would be better for you and help you be sure that you haven't developed an addiction.