To ask how much and how often you drink alcohol?

[Falling270]

I'm trying to cut back on alcohol for all the usual reasons: to cut back on calories, health benefits, save money...

Just as a barometer for the "norm" (and sheer curiosity) how often and how much alcohol do you drink?

I probably drink twice a month. Last week I had a g&t and a glass of wine. I doubt I will have any until we go away in June.

Normally two small bottles ( the tiny ones) on a Friday and Saturday.

But it creeps up...I could easily do a whole bottle of Prosecco an DH doesn't drink hence why I buy the small bottles so not tempted to drink more.

However I have had a break since 1st February for all the reasons you stated. I need to loose weight so trying to loose some before I start to drink again.

I had two glasses on sunday and thats the first time since Feb but will continue to abstain, for as long as I can.

I adore sitting in the garden in summer with prosecco and I really want to enjoy it and not feel guilty! good luck op, Its amazing how after about 3 weeks you dont even think about it.

absolutely zero. The last time I had a drink was 3 years ago (at the time I used to go out every weekend and get absolutely wasted ) but I haven't touched a drop since and lost about 3 stone in the process

I'm not a drinker. In real life - I'm not the norm (although it's seems like I am on mumsnet).

Dh will drink about 12 cans of medium strength lager over a Fri/Sat/Sunday night. He never drinks in the week and will sometimes do a 6 week alcohol free stint.

Lots of my friends will drink a bottle of wine on Thursday/Fri/Sat nights.

None at all. I quit, for similar reasons that the OP has for wanting to cut back. I found it easier to quit than to cut back.

igloo
Yes! That's why I asked OP how much they drink. OP has not posted since original question...

I drink every day. It's really hard not to - my job puts me in a position where the temptation is always there. My tolerance for alcohol is ridiculously high, so I don't get tipsy/hungover. I'm a fussy drinker as well, so I won't just drink some cheap cider. I fear that cutting down is going to be tricky, but I know it needs to be done.

This week I've had two small glasses (1/3 bottle in total) wine most nights. But that's not typical. We've had guests staying over, a birthday and a major career breakthrough to celebrate and despite all these nice things it was a horrendously stressful week due to severe illness in the family. Most weeks I have 1 small drink (125ml wine) 3-4 times per week

Probably drink 3 days out of 7, 1-2 bottles of wine or a bottle of wine plus two beers in total. I can and do drink more (a bottle of wine plus a couple of G&ts) if out with friends. This is the least I've ever drunk except when pregnant and it took to my 40s and seeing a therapist (about something else) to realise what growing up in a family full of (largely functioning) alcoholics does to your perception of what is normal.

My father drinks an average of 8-10 units a day and thinks it's low. His wife drinks about 2 bottle of wine a day and is very proud if she only drinks 1. They have both drunk more and I have never ever known either of them have a day without alcohol. My mum is 2 alcohol free days a week at the moment and it's a massive change. All of them can drink a lot more if going out or celebrating. My FIL is pretty much the same. My brother has massive binges. I had absolutely no clue growing up that people didn't drink at every social occasion. My parents even mocked non drinkers as boring and I think I thought the same for a long long time.

Ugh. I hate even thinking about it, all the wasted time and wasted opportunities taken up by the commitment everyone had to getting drunk!

Once or twice a year, if that. Alcohol just doesn't interest me. DH is the same. But what we lack in alcohol consumption we more than make up for in cake consumption.

Too much!

How do you go about getting a 'liver function test' people have mentioned upthread? I would be really interested to know if my liver was OK tbh but would find it hard to admit to the GP that I thought I drank too much

pasanda - just ask your doctor. Most surgeries do blood tests on site - the liver recovers amazingly quickly (unless, obviously, you have reached the point of no return). I still have mine tested every year, even though I know it'll be fine, to remind myself of the days when it definitely wasn't.

Rarely. We were at friends for dinner on Saturday night and I had half a bottle of Prosecco and one small cocktail. Can't remember when I had a drink before then -weeks ago.

It's weird seeing how much other people drink - it seems like a massive amount but I'm not the norm, I have to keep reminding myself of that.

It's all just habit though. I used to think non drinkers were weird, like how could they not drink? Can't believe I though that now. My family all drank at social events growing up, no teetotallers. Since I started doing dry Jan and other dry months sometimes, it's taught me that I don't need a drink to have fun. I really can take it or leave it now. I still enjoy it but I tend to make sure it's worthwhile. So I'll have a nice chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc in a lovely glass and sip it. I'll order water with my wine at a meal. I suppose i've just grown up!

This Month, I had a glass of wine on Sunday. I'm going out for friends birthdays on the 21st and 27th. That will be it.

Used to be every night, but now it's nothing in the week (usually) and then Friday, Saturday and Sunday about half a bottle a night, sometimes a little more. 4 days off, 3 days on isn't perfect, but it's certainly better than it was! It's my only vice and I bloody love wine, so I don't plan on going teetotal any time soon!

Just read everyone elses posts. Despite the fact I only drink a couple of times a month I drink too much on those occasions. Too many to count, maybe ten vodka and slimline tonics or couple of bottles of wine or prosecco and then vodka.

I normally drink one bottle of wine over a week. I tend to have a small glass most nights until the bottle is finished then have a break for a few days. I'm definitely finding that wine is a crutch for me though. I last drank on Saturday and have missed it if i'm honest. My lo is nearly 2 and is lovely but hard work at the mo.

Almost every evening. V stressful job. V stressful home-life. Need to pack it in.

I very rarely drink at home and I don't get to go out often either so I seem to get quite warm and merry on one glass of wine 😳

I purposely limit myself to one drink if I'm out without DH as I make a prat of myself otherwise. If DH is with me I would have a couple of drinks as I trust him to tell me if I'm being too loud or silly!

Unfortunately I'm in the middle of one of my excessive drinking phases.

Daily, its either 3 litres of strong polish lager, a bottle of red, or occasionally a bottle of port

This phase has been going for 9 months now.

If I'm out for a night out, then normally double the amount of beer, and a few gin and tonics.

Yes I have issues with alcohol

Hmmmm. I don't think about it much, but looking back over the past week...

Saturday night 3 glasses of wine and a Bailey's (out for dinner)
Sunday a shandy in a pub garden
Monday no alcohol
Tonight a glass of wine with dinner

I only drink when I go out (meal with friends, pub, etc) or visit family, so on average probably just once or twice a month. And when I drink it's only a drink or two.
OH doesn't drink at all, so we have no alcohol at home.

I always find it quite interesting to hear about peoples drinking habits. Particularly as i find many non drinkers or light drinkers are often judgemental.
i say this as a person who loves alcohol!i know i drink more than i should but i enjoy it. I look forward to a drink.
I drink probably 4/5 nights a wk. I always have at least 2 nights a wk off-sometimes more,depending on work patterns.
however,the nights i can drink, i will.
I will typically have up to half a bottle of wine plus about 3 spirits. More if its a weekend or i go out.
i sometimes feel its too much but i eat very healthy 5 out of 7days(treats at weekends). I think about what i eat. Cook from scratch. Drink plenty of water. Walk literally miles.
Many holier than thou non drinkers i know are overweight. Constantly talking about food. Are greedy. Maybe smoke. Drive everywhere.
I think as food/ fags dont affect your behaviour they think its better than drinking. Its just another vice isnt it.

DH and I drink a bottle (70cl) a night of bourbon Aldi's finest cheapo stuff usually and sometimes we break into a second one.
We've done this for at least 5 years now, and fully acknowledge that we are, to all intents and purposes "functioning alcoholics".