To ask how many nights a week you drink alcohol?

[BlondeOnATreadmill]

I have cut down, but I'm not sure it's enough? I think my thinking may be skewed?

I was drinking wine every night. For quite some time! And not just a glass either. Generally a bottle, or even more, every night.

For the past few months, I have cut my drinking back to 3 nights a week only.

The other 4 nights a week, I have no alcohol at all. I have lemonade with dinner and a few decaff coffees later on.

Is this ok? Is 3 nights of drinking still too many? Or do you think this seems ok?

I have lost all perspective.

[Haroldplaystheharmonica]

We (and all our friends) love a drink but we've really tried to tone it down. We could easily get through a couple of bottles on a Friday and Saturday night with maybe a midweek night too. We do still drink but not quite as much but every few weeks we have a binge with friends and get through a lot - prosecco, gin, cocktails...

I got nearly 20 bottles of prosecco and champagne for my birthday the other week and boy, it's tempting not to cracking one open every night!

[Pidapie]

I drink once or twice per month, and then only a couple (max 3)of glasses in a weekend. Pimms is my drink of choice, or vodka and lemonade :)

[london32]

I usually drink max 2 nights per week
3 glasses cava with dinner out with husband and 1 glass white wine if out for a quiet drink with husband or friend.

On a big night out I'd drink a whole bottle of white wine but probably only once every 6 weeks.

[captainfarrell]

I drink on Fri, Sat and Sun. No alcohol Mon to Thurs. On the 3 alcohol days, I normally have 2/3 glasses of wine.

[Twinkie1]

I've had no alcohol since New Year's Eve. DH drinks at home but I don't particularly like the taste of alcohol so just have a Diet Coke or water. I sound like a right barrel of fun don't I!

[iklboo]

One double gin & tonic on a Friday night. That's it these days. Cut down from drinking half a bottle of wine every week night and more at weekends.

[ThroughThickAndThin01]

That's exactly my soft drink of choice at home when I'm not drinking pointy it's lovely. And AF beer which feels more like a special drink along the lines of alcohol as i wouldnt be quaffing it back during the day.

[pointythings]

I would recommend chilled fizzy water with Bottlegreen Lemongrass and Ginger cordial as an alternative. The ginger has a real bite, it isn't too sweet. Serve it in a chic glass and it feels like a proper adult treat. That and the spiced berry are what I have during my non-drinking days.

[jellycat1]

Yes too much. I'd try halving that to kick off. I have annual medicals which include full bloods. One of the things they routinely show is gamma GT levels which is liver enzyme I think. Anyway I track that as one way of ensuring my liver is ok. The medical of course is a pretty full mot. But then I am old now ;-) Why dont you go and get some bloods done by your gp?. I suspect with that level of intake yours may be raised and it may be the boost you need to cut down. Try alternating with water in the meantime?

[Marynary]

I don't usually drink nowadays but I used to have one or two glasses of wine, most nights.
You have done really well to cut down to three nights a week but you are still drinking far to much when you do drink. It may actually be easier if you stop drinking altogether or maybe just drink once a week.

[KitKatCustard]

I have about two glasses per year. I just don't drink any more. Gives me indigestion and a headache and I don't need to have alcohol to have a perfectly enjoyable time!

[TattyDevine]

You are still drinking too much at 3 nights a week unfortunately, unless it is just one glass.

I used to drink too much, and every night. I was stuck in a boredom rut and stopped caring about my health, just about getting through the mundane crap each day brings. But knew I had to cut down.

I did a dry month which turned into about 6 weeks, to get out of the habit, and now "allow' myself to drink once a week, usually on a Friday. Because it is now once a week, I will sometimes drink a bottle of white wine or prosecco, over the course of an evening, and don't beat myself up about it because whilst it technically might be binge drinking, it is so so much less than I was and I can realistically stick to this for the rest of my life.

I've been sticking to this for over a year and feel and look so much better for it.

So I think those of us who have less of an off switch, or moderation switch, need to reduce it further to stay healthy and safe. If I ever get the hang of having just one glass, I might drink more regularly, but till then, I stick to my Fun Friday and stay away from it for the rest of the time.

Do you reckon you could do that?

[JustBeingJuliet]

I used to drink way too much; a bottle of wine most nights and more if I went out. I had an alcohol induced accident 2 years ago and nearly died, which put me off it totally for about 11 months, but I've slowly been drinking more and more again. I can't seem to just have a glass out of a bottle; the whole thing just seems to disappear, so I just don't really buy it anymore. I'm working away from home at the minute and getting up at 4.30am for my commute, so I'm not drinking Monday to Friday at all. I had a bottle of low alcohol spritzer type wine last night and I feel like shit today, so I think I'm better off not bothering at all!

[OttiliaVonBCup]

I'm sure the health benefits of one drink are there, but one drink easily turns into two, two to three..

If you can only have one, good, it's easier to stick to nothing though.

[Lweji]

Actually, there is mounting evidence that a drink a day (one glass of wine) for women and two for men (I'm sure it has to do with body mass) had health benefits.

www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/alcohol-full-story/#what_is_moderate

[notagiraffe]

I think the key to cutting down is having other options to drink that you genuinely enjoy. I'm so square, I like water. But DH when we did dry January made a big thing of making Virgin Marys or a cranberry and soda at around the time he'd normally have a glass of wine. That worked for him. Having lots of really nice cordials - elderflower, lime, ginger, and sparkling water and bags of ice in helps, as does infusing jugs of water with citrus fruit or cucumber and mint. Stops it feeling like you are giving something up and feels like a healthy exchange ifswim.

[bertiebow]

If I could, I would drink every day I think. A glass of wine with dinner, at least. But I am worried about health risks and am starting to get hangovers if I have more than a glass so I limit it to the weekends now. It is very easy to get sucked into drinking more than is healthy; there's a lot of social pressure to drink.

A bottle in a night, even if a few times a week, is too much. But you have done really well to cut down.

For everyone who doesn't like to leave wine, suggest you invest in a Vacu Vin - makes wine keep for ages: www.google.co.uk/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=vacu%20vin

[Louise43210]

None. Husband and I used to drink, but through a series of circumstances, stopped. We have a cupboard full of booze - presents - that we offer to guests lol. We feel better for lack of alcohol.

[ricketytickety]

None. But used to be like you.

Do you feel like you have control? If not, try cutting down. As you recover emotionally then you should be able to start cutting down even more. I felt much better for it physically and emotionally.

[LoisWilkersonsLastNerve]

I buy two bottles of wine on a Friday and they last me until Sunday. I don't drink during the week apart from the rare Mondays I might have some left. It sounds okay but technically its binge drinking. I don't plan on stopping to be honest.

[bigTillyMint]

Generally, just one or maybe 2 nights a week - anything between 2 and 6 glasses of wine/G&T's unless it's a big girlie night out

During the holidays it might be nothing at all or every night depending on where we are/who we are with.

Nothing compared to what I drank from 18-30

[MalbecAndLindt]

I was in a habit of getting through a few bottles throughout the week just for the sake of it, but it was during a time of high and intense stress in work. I've now changed jobs and don't drink like that anymore. Nowadays, I enjoy a few glasses of wine on a Saturday. I bought some lovely wine from a local merchants that I can actually appreciate. So on a Saturday, we'll cook a really nice meal and savour some delicious Malbec or something. Plus, between two jobs and studying I only get Saturday nights off and only a lie in on a Sunday so it's nice to relax and unwind with a few glasses of wine.

[biggles50]

I used to drink far too much, a shared bottle of wine every night with my dh, since the menopause my body rejects alcohol, I suffer migraines if I drink wine now. I enjoy a lager maybe three times a week, can't hack a second bottle, it makes me very dizzy. Pre menopause I would be looking at the clock waiting for the chilled wine. Nowadays I enjoy the ritual of tea making, big pot, tea cosy and tray set. I don't miss the booze as I feel brighter and sleep better. Good luck with cutting back, am sure you'll feel the benefits.

[writingsonthewall]

Every night. Just a glass of prosecco. I can't seem to do without it which I'm aware isn't great. But it's only a little glass