To think the alcohol unit levels....

[Windingstreamswithoutends]

...Are so low it means they have to be virtually ignored if you wish to drink alcohol.

For women it's 2-3 units in a day. Which is a glass of wine. Therefore if you have 2 glasses of wine with dinner, even if you are totally sober, you are technically binge drinking with all the stigma and worry that attaches itself to that.

The number of units decided upon as safe is also completely arbitrary and not based on any actual evidence.

These two things together surely mean they are likely to be ignored if you like a drink as they simply cannot be comfortably adhered to.

AIBU to think they should make them more workable to make them more effective?

[BarbaraofSeville]

YANBU about the daily guidelines, which are basically saying that if a woman has a second glass of wine or pint of beer, she is binge drinking. Bollocks.

I certainly wouldn't be anywhere near drunk on that amount of alcohol, especially if it is over a few hours, with food and I don't believe second glass does harm to most people, as long as it isn't every day.

I do think the weekly guidelines are more or less in the right ball park, but I don't actively stick to them.

My normal drinking pattern is either a bottle of wine (11/12% I drink white or fizz, never red) over 2 or 3 nights or a couple of G&Ts on a Friday and Saturday night, mostly at home.

Occasional nights out where I might drink a bit more but I do try to pace myself so I don't get stupidly drunk, but I might have a week's worth of units in one night a few times a year.

Obviously drink more during Christmas and holidays but don't drink every week anyway - some weeks I have nothing at all.

I don't actively go in for dry January either because I generally drink moderately all year round so see no need to 'dry out'.

[TheSecondViola]

Most of what I've seen is on a weekly basis (14 units for women and 21 for men). That's pretty easy to stick to

Thats a glass of wine a day, for women. Sure, its easy to stick to, but I don't want to, and there is no earthly reason why I should do so. Thats the point here.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Depends if.you want to gamble on your liver or not I suppose...

[CakeMountain]

I think the limits make me drink more. I feel bad for exceeding the limit, so think 'did it' and have another glass.

[TheSecondViola]

My liver is just fine, I have regular checks for another reason. It's a perfect specimen, despite my love of gin and wine.

[PoundingTheStreets]

It's just a guideline. As an adult we can all choose for ourselves.

I don't drink very much, largely because my job requires me to work/be about to go to work at the time most people would be having a drink. On the odd occasion I drink at home, a glass of wine over the course of an evening will often be enough for me. But then I am quite likely to have a skinful on the occasions I go out for an evening. If I were doing that every weekend I'd have a problem with my health in the long term. As I don't, I don't worry about it.

Everyone is different and everyone will have their own safe limit. This is also true when driving, because one person's breathalyser pass could be another's fail. The liver is the same.

[TheSecondViola]

Except it isn't just a guideline when, for example, your health insurance can cost more if you admit to drinking more than the guidelines. The guidelines are becoming entrenched as gospel when they are meaningless to most people.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

Except it isn't just a guideline when, for example, your health insurance can cost more if you admit to drinking more than the guidelines

But insurance companies have to make sure they "win" financially. They will charge you more for smoking, or having a high BMI too, because statiatically, on a population level, these things impact health negatively.

[Cellardoor1]

I think I read that 20% of alcoholics eventually progress to cirrhosis. So even if you drink a lot over the limits, it is still more likely that your liver will function more or less healthily.

There's no need to panic over your liver if you drink 2 glasses of wine in a session or have the occasional drunken night out.

Make sure to have a few alcohol free nights every week, preferably consecutively and avoid getting drunk regularly. Unless youre extremely unlucky, you'll be fine.

[LittleLionMansMummy]

The guidelines are helpful. Dh had no idea that the amount he was consuming was unacceptable, because he never got drunk. He had it spelled out in words of one syllable that his drinking was well beyond the normal limit and he had just reprogrammed his brain into thinking it wasn't. He was basically a functioning alcoholic and I think far more people have a problem with alcohol than actually realise it.

We're happier both having cut down considerably. Our family life is much better. The guidelines are there for a reason.

[museumum]

I'd find one glass of wine max a day hard to stick to but 2-3 glasses 2-3 days a week is easy.
I'm not sure it can make that much difference health wise. In fact I am sure I've been told that it's better.

[specialsubject]

guidelines are needed because too many people have no common sense.

I am neither a recovering alcoholic, a cultural nor a genetic teetotaller. I just don't like the taste of wine, beer, kiddy-pops or anything alcoholic so I don't drink. I'll take the risk!

drunks are boring (like druggies) but the people whose company I enjoy can drink alcohol without getting boring. I think it is called self-control. There seem to be plenty of people like this. Fortunately.

[TheSecondViola]

Bad guidelines are no substitute for common sense. And they don't work anyway.