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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think a large glass of wine a night (sometimes two) isn't too much?

109 replies

RainbowSheep · 14/12/2011 18:31

Clearly by government guidelines it is too much. I usually get through 3 bottles of 11% cava per week. I don't get drunk, don't binge & always feel fine the next day but am worried I'm diung myself harm. I love the buzz I get from a large glass while cooking dinner, aibu?

OP posts:

2BoysTooLoud · 14/12/2011 19:00

Oh I do understand a love of cava [would have nightly champagne if I could afford it!].
Probably better drinking like you than binging 2-3 bottles in one night.
I am no medical expert though!

Original poster

RainbowSheep · 14/12/2011 19:02

I really don't think I am down at all, I just really like the way it makes me feel! Admittedly I am worried about my intake, I can't really do smaller glasses, I just find I want more, my limit is 3 small glasses or two large ones.

OP posts:

Original poster

RainbowSheep · 14/12/2011 19:03

What do you guys thin my doctor would say or could do to help me?

OP posts:

BarkisIsWillin · 14/12/2011 19:04

I love cooking with a glass of wine in hand, but I do try to keep 3 nights a week alcohol free. I find it very relaxing.

tanfastic · 14/12/2011 19:05

I don't think you are an alcoholic but I do think it's a teensy bit too much .

2BoysTooLoud · 14/12/2011 19:06

Do you know rainbow it would probably depend on which Gp you spoke to. My mum admitted to gp she drank approx half a bottle of cava a night and Gp said 'fine. Don't worry so do I'. The nurse in room looked very disapproving though!

Thinkingof4 · 14/12/2011 19:07

I would try only drinking every other night, so only 3 or 4 times a week if you don't fancy having smaller glasses. The risk ( apart from dependance) is that your liver never gets alcohol free days and this can lead to permanent damage.
Your GP might do some blood tests to see if you liver is ok at the moment

Choconellie · 14/12/2011 19:07

3 bottles works out to be approx 27 units per week. Guidelines did state for women not to exceed 14 units per week. However this changed fairly recently to no more than 1 or 2 units per night and including factoring a few no alcohol days into the week.

A small glass of wine is about 1.5 units with a large glass probably double that. So for you, your one glass is already exceeding the daily limit. If I were you I would probably try and have more non alcohol days in the week and you'll soon find that you've dropped the consumption of an entire bottle.

Try that and take it from there. If you struggle however perhaps you are more dependent than you think.

tanfastic · 14/12/2011 19:08

By the way my dad was a functioning alcoholic who died from liver cirrhosis. He drank every night but I swear I hardly ever saw him drunk.

MistletoeAndFlump · 14/12/2011 19:12

Three bottles a week sounds too much to me. If I had that much I would spend the week pished - but then I don't have a tolerance as I don't drink much - which is the point really I think.

IMO you need to be very careful - and preferably cut it down a bit.

2BoysTooLoud · 14/12/2011 19:12

I sometimes buy mini bottles of wine if I feel my consumption gone up. More expensive though and danger of drinking 2 which defeats the purpose!
I would try to make each bottle last 3 days ie smaller glasses if you want to cut down. Perhaps a glass of sparkling water between 2 x small glasses of cava?

BarbieDahl · 14/12/2011 19:13

I used to drink like this as my dh doesn't get in from work until at least 8pm and i liked to drink a glass of wine and nibble something whilst waiting for him.I am now trying to keep to weekends only and i find drinking a glass of water first helps reduce my consumption. I was also concerned with the calorie intake. TBH though i don't feel any different - still knackered at the end of the day.

2BoysTooLoud · 14/12/2011 19:13

I also heard somewhere that 'limits' when put together were pretty arbitrary.

MixedClassBaby · 14/12/2011 19:14

Goodness me, have I wandered into a temperance movement meeting? I hardly think this is excessive, OP and given your current circumstances, why shouldn't you have a moment of whatever makes you happy every day. I say this as someone who did used to drink far too much and had to reign it in. OP, it sounds as if you're aware of the line and respectful of it. You are also allowed to enjoy yourself occasionally in your own lifetime.

JosieZ · 14/12/2011 19:14

Sorry to be a spoilsport but alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer as well as frazzling your liver.

A year or two ago I heard some professor talking on the Today programme - he had developed a chemical we could take which mimicked the pleasant effects of alcohol but without the downsides. I keep looking out for news of it but he has probably been bought off by the drinks industry.

One way to reduce evening drinkies is to plan something for later in the evening that requires real attention and concentration (something you enjoy doing) then you'll Want not to have a drink.

moondog · 14/12/2011 19:16

I don't think it makes you a piss artist but it will mean you function less optimally than you could, and have less energy.

That might or might not be an issue.

I don't drink much these days becasue it slows me down and I can't afford to slow down.

2BoysTooLoud · 14/12/2011 19:18

Just contemplating a smallish glass of Muscadet....

Northernlurker · 14/12/2011 19:19

It's too much. Way too much actually. You will be harming your health if you continue.

We are absolute la la land in this country re our consumption of booze. You need to find a way to enjoy yourself without wine and we need to stop normalising excessive alcohol consumption.

TheFestiveWife · 14/12/2011 19:19

In the past few years I've gone through phases where my weekend drinking will spill over into the weekdays and my drinking will increase to pretty much everynight. Then My health and moods will start to suffer a bit and I will cut back a bit. Then feel better, forget how I would drink everyday and then start the cycle over again. I'm trying to be more aware of my drinking now as ther was a point where I would actually panic a little if there was only a small amount of alcohol in the house. Atm I can't afford to drink everynight which is actually helping, and I'm drinking mostly just at weekends now. (Although I'm sure it will increase again over Christmas as several people have hinted they've bought me booze as a present. ).

I reached a point last year where I could easily down 2 bottles of wine a night. Last new year's eve I downed 3. And the next day I couldn't even get out of bed I was so sick and hungover, I've never felt so bad in my entire life. It was a turning point and I gave up drinking for about 4 months after that. Ever since I do monitor my drinking as I'm afraid of getting to that level again.

I was never a big drinker when I was younger and it's only since hitting my 30s that I've started to drink at home.

My point is, that although it may seem ok and you think you are doing fine, your obviously a bit worried as you've posted on here. I found the more I drink the more my tolerence rises and I need to drink more to get the buzz you describe. I think every night may be a bit much and if you cut back a little then you would feel the benefit, both on the days you don't drink and when you have a drink as after abstaining for a while you won't necessarily need a large glass to get that buzz.

macsaid · 14/12/2011 19:20

I would love a glass or two of wine every night and also love the buzzy, fuzzy, blurry feeling of it but it is a dangerous path re addiction/habit forming so mostly stick to a glass or two at weekends unless we have a birthday or event or any excuse really.

Also once you have had these two glasses you can't drive anymore so if there was an emergency what would happen (I am in a remote area so maybe this is more of an issue).

I read years ago that a good few drinks now and again were far less dangerous than one or two every night as alcohol consumption can creep up stealthily.
I don't condone binge drinking but if you plan to have a few drinks at least you know you are not going to drive that night or the next day, for example, so safer in that respect alone.

Original poster

RainbowSheep · 14/12/2011 19:23

But what is there for people inbetween AA and just cutting down by themselves?

OP posts:

AliBellandthe40jingles · 14/12/2011 19:23

OP drinking 3 bottles slowly over the week is by far preferable to going out and downing a bottle of cheap plonk and then a series of shots one night a week, or one night a fortnight.

In terms of your blood pressure, it is days without alcohol that count so try to have definitely 2 nights a week with none, and 3 some weeks.

2BoysTooLoud · 14/12/2011 19:23

Rainbowsheep has not said she has difficulty keeping to her half bottle a night limit [I don't think]. I feel therefore she is probably not on a slippery slope. Correct me if I am wrong Rainbow...

yellowraincoat · 14/12/2011 19:26

Why not just try cutting down by yourself? Have you tried that yet?

Original poster

RainbowSheep · 14/12/2011 19:28

You are correct 2BoysTooLoud! I have no problem keeping to it, I don't like the woozy feeling if I go over it (or the hangover), I just feel it might be a bit too much in itself

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