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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how much you drink?

142 replies

JerryLeadbetter · 17/10/2012 20:55

Just that really. Bit worried that I might drink a bit too much. I was always a party animal Pre-children, and now I have two small DCs I don't drink anywhere near as much as I did, but still have at least one weekend night out with friends/ DP where I get quite, erm, merry, plus a glass of wine or two most nights.

I find it hard to judge what is the norm as most of my friends don't have children yet and go out a lot, but most of the mum friends I have met at toddler groups (who are fab) really drink very little on a regular basis, maybe the odd big night out, so I'm not really sure where I fit in!

Just been thinking about it a bit lately and reckon I'd feel healthier and a lot less sluggish if I laid off it a bit...

OP posts:
Pavlovthecat · 17/10/2012 21:48

government guidelines suggest that 1-2 glasses of wine/units (can't remember the most recent wording) is ok every night, with a gap of around 48hours (one or two full nights) without drinking any alcohol. I can't remember the actual wording, but if has changed slightly I think from the weekly units only as that was being taken as 'if i don't drink all week I can go out and drink 14 units in one go'.

apostropheuse · 17/10/2012 21:48

I sometime have one glass of champagne on Christmas Day.

Drink really doesn't do anything for me, I can enjoy myself just as much without it to be honest.

I watch some of those police/medical documentaries on TV where they show binge drinking and to be honest it just kind of disgusts me.

Pavlovthecat · 17/10/2012 21:49

hmmc thanks, x-posted!

PomBearEnvy · 17/10/2012 21:49

I've just polished off a bottle of wine. On my own.

Wasn't big or clever but I don't often drink because dh works away and i no longer have a social life
But tonight the bottle I opened to add to bourguignon (would normally last week) just disappeared down my throat

... DH is away too, so you can all give me extra flaming because i'm in sole charge of Dc.

elastamum · 17/10/2012 21:50

Interesting thread.

I have had a few years of high stress, divorce, moving, new job, mother died Sad where I can honestly say I have drunk far too much, often on my own at night (single parent).

Have recently decided to stop drinking most nights and feel sooo much better. Its not easy, but I felt that reaching for the bottle had become a habit, and one I am slowly breaking.

Am done to one small glass of wine a couple of nights a week, now drink caffine free 7up if I feel the need for a drink in the evening!

Original poster
JerryLeadbetter · 17/10/2012 21:50

Hmmm thanks all, is interesting to hear what other people do. I don't NEED to drink but it's definitely becoming a habit again since having DD in that very cliche 'me time' when the kids are in bed, and I definitely let rip on a weekend! I can tell my tolerance has gone up, because first few drinks post-having DD I felt squiffy after 1 glass of wine, now 3 glasses barely touches the sides and I feel sluggish and bloated Blush

I think I will try and make 4 days out of 7 booze-free

For those of you who don't drink or don't drink much, do you hang out with other non-drinkers, drinkers or a mixture? I guess I'm wondering where potential friends are who don't drink as much. Lots of my buddies/old buddies are maniacs on the sauce and I guess maybe I'm looking for a different direction but one that is still fun- if this is possible?

OP posts:
marshmallowpies · 17/10/2012 21:51

Currently BFing so I have a drink on a Friday night & that's about it. Might have another drink over the weekend if we go to the pub for Sunday lunch or suchlike.

Before I was pregnant, on a 'night out' I'd usually stop after 3 drinks and switch to soft drinks. In a week without 'nights out', I'd have a drink on Fri & Sat night and that'd be about it.

I hate hangovers SO much I've managed to train myself not to drink much. Wish I could say the same about my eating habits...

elastamum · 17/10/2012 21:51

Down to.. and I'm not even drunk Grin

halloweeneyqueeney · 17/10/2012 21:51

hmc, I don't think the people on this thread that describe themselves as light drinkers, are light drinkers, it might be one glass at a time but the frequency is what would make me call them regular drinkers rather than light ones

hmc · 17/10/2012 21:52

VerySmallSqueak - the average bottle of wine is 9-10 units. Two of my (fairly generous) glasses takes just over half the bottle so 4 -5 units, but I have some friends who favour mahoosive wine glasses

Doilooklikeatourist · 17/10/2012 21:53

I've cut down a lot . I don't drink alcohol from Monday to Wednesday .

Try not to on Thursday , and try to make a bottle of wine last the weekend.
I drink white and DH drinks red wine .

It's usually 2 bottles of wine over the weekend though , but that's still a lot less than the 4 bottles of wine we used to get through a week each .

We cut down partly for our health , and partly for financial reasons .

Mominatrix · 17/10/2012 21:54

I love wine, but con't really tolerate loads of alcohol. This means that I never drink spirits or fortified wines, and avoid any wine stronger than 13%. I usually drink one bottle over a week, including 2 alcohol free nights. However, if you plonk a bottle of champagne in front of me, I could polish the bottle, so usually I avoid.

If you are worried, try adding in at least 2 alcohol free nights. It just makes you feel more in control of your drinking, which can easily slip into a habit.

Goonatic · 17/10/2012 21:55

doorbell I have had two and have just asked them to include it in my three monthly blood tests for thyroid. I probably won't do it again as I feel ok with how much we drink, and we are slowly but surely getting more sensible as we age!! I do look forward to it a lot though, but strange
Y don't think abut it on our designated non-drinking nights.
Come Thursday I am well up for it!

littlebluechair · 17/10/2012 21:56

I find it fine not to drink with either drinkers or non-drinkers tbh, I can enjoy myself without drink although very drunk people are tedious when you are sober, but that is usually an end-of-the-night stage.

VerySmallSqueak · 17/10/2012 21:57

Phew,possibly not as bad as I thought then hmc.After half a bottle of wine I'd be distinctly squiffy,so I wouldn't manage that in one evening.

Bunbaker · 17/10/2012 21:58

"I find the idea of not drinking ever,at all as unappealing as the idea of getting absolutely plastered."

Same here. OH and I probably get through about 3 bottles of wine a week between us. I have the occasional g & T or sherry as well, and make sure I have at least two alcohol free nights a week. OH is away at the moment and I have had a grand total of one G & T since Saturday.

I really, really enjoy wine, but I really, really hate feeling drunk. Besides, more than two or three glasses of wine gives me a migraine.

HenriettaChicken · 17/10/2012 22:00

Thanks, hmc!

LaFataTurchina · 17/10/2012 22:00

I never drink at home by myself.

I maybe go out once a fortnight and will have 2, max 3 drinks on a big night out. Otherwise I'll usually have one drink and then switch to coke or lemonade.

Very occasionally I'll have 1 drink at home if having friends over/making some kind of special meal.

hmc · 17/10/2012 22:00

This drink aware units calculator is pretty cool

www.drinkaware.co.uk/tips-and-tools/drink-diary/?gclid=CID-rY74iLMCFSXHtAod12YA4w

MrsDmitriTippensKrushnic · 17/10/2012 22:01

I rarely drink. I never drink at home, so it's just on the odd occasion that I'm out and have the money and am in the mood. Had a cider with lunch out with my sister last week, a couple of weeks before that I met up with some people from work and had a cider then too. Prior to that; can't remember.

I haven't been drunk for at least 10+ years. I hate being out of control and having to rely on other people. I have a few trust and control issues Blush

I have to say that looking back on the bad things that have happened to me or around me (not counting illness or other inevitabilities), they've all been caused or been connected to alcohol.

JollyJackOLantern · 17/10/2012 22:04

I have a night out every couple of months and drink lots then.

Other than that it really varies. I'm studying.open university and do this in the evenings. I can't drink and study on the same night. So during term time I probably have a couple of beers or glasses of wine once a week, with a little more every so often - I'll have a whole bottle of wine or a 4 pack of beer once a month or so, plus a big night out every couple of months.

In the summer it's a bit more as there's no studying, so probably at least a can of beer 5 nights out of seven and one night with a bit more.

Jamdoughnutfiend · 17/10/2012 22:09

I uaed to be a regular party animal, as did DH but now we rarely drink, partly because having small kids and I don't think it is fair to be "under the weather" on the weekends when we have our time together, partly because it is so fattening and I feel happier and sleep better without it. That being said, I go out maybe 4 times a year and have a few cocktails or drink champagne and have a good time.

I also don't want to give my girls the message that drinking is the norm. I spent a lot of time in pubs at weekends and holidays with my parents and I look back and think what a crap way to spend time as a family.

I still spend time with my friends, going out for meals or to the pub,I just don't drink and tend to leave when everyone gets a bit messy. I am happier for it.

RosettaIsMyFavourite · 17/10/2012 22:09

I'm not teetotal as such, but I don't really ever drink. Its not that I can't or have a rule not to drink, just that I don't.

Its expensive, its very calorific, I feel rough the next day so I just don't drink. I probably have glass or wine or a gin and tonic every few months.

LtEveDallas · 17/10/2012 22:12

I used to be a binge drinker. Nothing at all Sun - Thu, then pissed as hell Fri and Sat. It was not unknown for me to finish a bottle of Smirnoff in a night Blush, then start another the next day Blush Blush. Functions that started at 1900 on Saturday and didn't finish until breakfast on Sunday were the norm.

Then I had DD and everything changed. She was (is) the incredible non-sleeping machine. As a baby she was up every 2 hours. She didn't sleep through (and I mean waking for a good hour, twice a night) until she was three. Even now at age 7 she goes to sleep late and wakes very early.

I couldn't do that drunk or with a hangover - and DH was about as much use as tits on fish. I got out of the habit, and now go months without a drink. I don't drink at home and when I go out 5 would be enough to put me on my back! All of a sudden I'm a cheap date, rather than the 'bird who drinks blokes under the table'

TBH - I miss it. I miss the lack of control and the fun I had. I miss my social life I suppose. Drinking at home just never seems worth it - it was all about the company for me.

Crazycake · 17/10/2012 22:16

Either a) I have a problem b) people are telling porkies or c) people that drink a bit more aren't on this thread.
I have 4dc and don't drink when I'm in sole charge but when me and my friends get together we probably have 2 bottles of wine each (shock, horror). It's not all the time but prob once a month and yes I have a couple of glasses inbetween and sometimes it's midweek, but.... I don't feel bad if I don't have alcohol and can go months without (occasionally). Please tell me, is anybody with me??