To think a bottle of wine is a LOT to drink for 1 person?

[lesley33]

This comes out of a discussion with a frind who I saw on Saturday morning. When we talked about what we were going to do that weekend it came up that she was planning to drink a bottle of wine to herself that evening. When I commented that this was a lot, she said she regularly drank a bottle of wine.

So AIBU in thinking this is a lot for someone to drink in 1 night?

unless her behaviour is impacting you YABU to think it is any of your business or to judge her for it I'm afraid, sorry....

I could happily drink a bottle to myself and usually do, at least once a week - that's the nice thing about being an adult, being able to make your own decisions. I have alcohol free days, exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet.

Currently pregnant so obviously not drinking it by the bottle now!

Does height really make a difference? I'm 6ft and a total lightweight.

I remember hearing a formidable-sounding woman Master of Wine being interviewed on 'Woman's Hour' about twelve years ago. She was over ninety and said there was barely a day since nineteen-forty-something that she hadn't drunk a bottle of wine and it had never done her any harm (and there she was to prove it, I suppose). Jenni Murray got in a right old flap and was blethering on about not wanting to encourage our listeners, blah, blah. The M of W cut her short with an austere 'Why not?'

On the other hand, my DSis told her consultant neurologist that she drank one glass of wine per night and he said 'You are drinking too much.'! I asked if he'd misheard and thought she'd said a bottle but apparently not.

I'd guess the capacity to break down alcohol with impunity varies very much among individuals, but you don't know if you're one of the ones whose liver will come a cropper until it's too late. So the answer is that a bottle is too much for some people.

I drink a whole bottle of red most nights and feel fine the next day :) I know this bad for me and I am thinking about the situation and will stop, one day :( x

I'm not particularly tall, and (not a stealth boast) am not fat except around the thighs but I've always been able to take a drink. Even when I was a teen and thin as a rake I could drink most of my male friends under the table. Its a family joke that because my mothers russian my bloods 50% vodka or something. I also tend not to get hangovers.

But anyway, if that was a plan for her weekend I imagine its only a weekend thing so is not really an issue. If I go for dinner and drinks I can easily sink 1-2 bottles and a few cocktails and still be walking after.

I probably only drink once or twice a month so am not supporting daily drinking but am so surprised that people can't drink a bottle of wine. Even amongst the friends I'd class as lightweights I think they can manage that.

I don't actually pour 250ml into my glass though. I drink quite slowly and like to savour the taste, and if it is white wine, it would be too warm by the time I reached the bottom of the glass.

I don't go on "nights out".

AThingInYourLife - what does "non-social" have to do with anything? And why can't someone "savour" three hours of peace with a book and a bottle of wine?

I just don't get why people need to comment on others' personal choices like this! I kind of get the smoking criticism, where it's possible fumes and chemicals may affect you, and obviously if someone were drink driving.....but someone indulging in alcoholic drink in the privacy of their own home?! How does that affect you?
I like this comment from impatientwino : that's the nice thing about being an adult, being able to make your own decisions.

Oh bugger, I was feeling smug about my very scientific height theory. Maybe it's metabolism?

"am so surprised that people can't drink a bottle of wine. Even amongst the friends I'd class as lightweights I think they can manage that."

I think it depends on your friends and your lifestyle. I don't have any female friends who could knock back 2 bottles of wine and a few cocktails. I drink wine regularly, but little and often.

No it doesn't affect me. But is it not okay to be concerned about a friend?

Well, I spent a year in France AThingInYourLife, and my French friends and I would disagree with you!

I can easily knock back a bottle whilst sitting on my own of an evening.

And I'm five foot nothing.

Lesley, I'm with you - there is no way I could drink that amount without being seriously ill and I would be concerned (not judging - may I point out - but it does seem like a lot) - if regularly drinking that amount it does mean she has built up tolerance to heavy drinking.

Its not that bad. I know plenty of people (myself included) who can manage a bottle of wine on an evening.

If I'm feeling really fruity, I might have a gin afterwards

Seriously though, I wouldn't worry about it.

DH and I had a, um, healthy social life pre-kids.

We're now parents to two toddlers and have no baby-sitters on tap. Staying in really is our going out.

On a Friday and a Saturday, we put the kids to bed at 7 and cook a nice meal and will get through up to two bottles of wine on a Friday and Satuay night. Sometimes only one, sometimes one and a half, sometimes two.

This is now our wind-down, grown up, relaxing and having a nice time time. We'd be miserable without it!!

I dunno. When I see threads like this I tend to think that the nay-sayers probably never really did have much of a social life or a misspent youth, even in their youth...

Amongst my circle this is utterly normal. Probably not the absolute best and healthiest option out there, but when I weigh it up against the rest of my life - I eat well, and exercise daily, get loads of fresh air and walk everywhere. I'm 5"9' and a size 10/12, so a very normal BMI range.

I dunno - this is my vice and I'm quite happy with it. :) You only live once and I'd rather enjoy another Pinot pottering around the kitchen talking shite, or scooched into the sofa with my DH than think, 'ooh, that's' enough now, better screw the cap back on, tut, tut'.

incidentally, what is the medical view on this? Should point out that I have no idea so happy to admit that I am wrong and out of order for my previous post if there are no medical consequences.

By the way AThingInYourLife, it is perfectly possible to savour a bottle of wine, just as it is possible to savour a big bar of Dairy Milk. We all have our vices.
I don't necessarily finish it in one sitting, and I don't intend to finish it in one evening. On a Saturday night, I might watch a film with my partner, we might have sex, then we might watch more TV, and eat dinner.... by the time all that's done with, often I've finished, and very much enjoyed, the bottle. It may be in one evening but it's certainly not one sitting!

themerchantofvenom - what level of drunkenness or sobriety (is that the word??) are you in after the bottle or two of wine? There is no way that I could go to my dcs after drinking that amount if they woke up - but sounds like you would be as normal?

I dont think its excessive.

What is this thing of having company somehow validates your alcohol consumption?

That's up to 2 bottles between us, not each.

It's so delicious - the smell, the colour (preferably red), the taste, the effect - shared with friends, as an accompaniment to food, the different styles, it's not hard to see why one glass leads to another! Who was it who said that a day without wine is like a day without sunshine? Do you live longer without it - or does it just seem like it?

It's what Eric Joyce drank before he got into (started?) a brawl in Strangers' Bar, House of Commons.

lol at not having had a mis-spent youth. I could drink soo much as a teenager and not evn feel too bathe nexrt dat.

now i feel like shit fr days.

The thing is there is a difference between what is considered "normal" these days and what is actually unhealthy.

It is like saying that driving at 85mph on the motorway is OK because an awful lot of people do so. It doesn't make it right.