to drink alcohol when I have FIVE alcoholic siblings?

[TheSnowBear]

I'm one of six. ALL my siblings have had serious problems with alcohol at one point or another. Four continue to attend AA meetings. The other is now abstinent.
We're from a lovely, supportive family, with highly functioning parents, so I can only assume rogue genes.
I think my relationship with alcohol is OK. I'm not a heavy drinker, although I have a glass or two of wine more nights than not. Am I being foolish to even touch the stuff??

How many units do you drink in a week and how many alcohol-free days?

Two glasses 'most nights' (large glasses?) could be 2/3rds of a bottle every day.

I 'd probably impose some 'rules' like not drinking more than three at any one time, and not drinking subsequent days. but that's just me.

I think my units are fine - I have an average of 2 units about 5 or 6 days a week, I reckon.

Liz, that's a good idea. I think I pretty much stick to that.
It's only really my genetic heritage that makes me think twice.

Thanks for your responses.

I have many relatives on my late father side who are alcohol dependent

I decided long time ago I don't drink at home at all. Too much of a risk and also saw people who though they were in control of their drinking becoming alcoholics. I don' want that to happen to me.

If you think you're only having 2 units when you drink 2 glasses of wine you're kidding yourself. A standard 175ml glass is about 1.6 units. Most people seem to have the slightly larger 250ml glasses so 2 glasses of wine = 500ml which is about 6 units. 6 units 5 or 6 times a week - you're consuming up to 36 units even if you don't have a few extra at the weekend. Way more than is healthy.

My family has the 'booze' gene according to one of my relatives. I know I don't have it. I rarely drink and am not fussed by it.

Op..ask yourself if someone said you could never have another alcoholic drink ever again: would you be bothered?

No, not at all. The fact that you stop after two glasses and don't crave more shows how much control you have.

I envy you. I myself have an awful relationship with alcohol although I actually hardly ever drink. But when I do, I totally binge (usually after something stressful/depressing).

It also depends on why you drink as well, is it social or to relax? Were there any other reasons why your siblings became alcoholics?

Thanks again, all, for your posts.

former - good question. I'd be a bit pissed off (like if someone told me I couldn't have bread, or chocolate, again), but I think I could live with it without too much problem.

forty, I see what you mean, but I've recently measured it as I'm getting a bit paranoid (hence the OP) - I do have really small glasses, and it's more often one than two.

Measuring drinks and other ritualised/obsessive behaviour is typical of alcoholics! My dad used to measure his drinks every night - 2 glasses of wine mixed with 4 of water and not allowed to touch it till 6pm. But at least it reduced his alcohol consumption to a reasonale level - up till then he was having a large scotch and a litre of wine most nights.

sugar, that sounds tough. Thanks for your post.
I have to admit I do sometimes crave a drink to relax, but it just takes one small drink and then I'm not that bothered about more. My siblings all have MH problems too. I have no idea why. Again, genes, I suppose.

I am one of 4 siblings, 2 are alcoholic and there are other alcoholics in our family including our father and maternal grandfather. I drink but only sometimes, can go days or weeks and not be fussed. I'm simply not that bothered about alcohol and don't believe I have an addictive personality. I think being in the habit of drinking most days in the week is different from being addicted to alcohol.

forty, I really only measured because of the genetics thing. I wouldn't have occurred to me otherwise. Sounds like you have some experience of these things, though. Hope things are OK with your dad now.

Do be careful SnowBear - I've lost too many friends to alcoholism and most didn't even realise they had a problem till it was way too late.

Thanks - he died about 9 years ago but probably nothing to do with alcohol - it was the 80-per-day smoking that did it! He was the youngest of three but the only one who smoked - it's his brother's 90th birthday tomorrow

wee, interesting to hear your experience of this. I agree about habit and addiction being very different.

Sorry to hear about your dad, forty. And thanks for the words of caution.

I have to say that I think drinking a couple of drinks almost every single day of every single week really isn't that great if you're concerned about alcohol dependence.

How would you feel if you didn't/couldn't drink?

Thanks

Saucy, when you put it like that... I suppose I wouldn't have posted unless I wondered this on some level.

If I couldn't drink, I'd miss it but not be devastated or anything.

Thank you all for your posts. I have to attend to a small child now, so no more MNing for this evening. Thanks again.

I think you are drinking more than you think.
Just use calculator like this to calculate how much do you really drink in units:
www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Alcohol-unit-calculator.aspx

2 x160 ml glass of 13% wine is 4.6 units a night
whilst recommendation is 2 - 3 units per day for woman.

You are saying you are measuring them, but were you actually calculating units yourself?

www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Alcohol-unit-calculator.aspx

sorry!
www.nhs.uk/Tools/Pages/Alcohol-unit-calculator.aspx

I think 5-6 days a week is too many to drink on regularly. What does your GP say?