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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how often you drink alcohol?

141 replies

Simplecountrygirl · 30/11/2016 18:08

I really fancied a glass of wine this eve (long day!)

I've realised recently that I'm consuming more wine and some weeks I'll have a glass of wine on 5 or 6 out of 7 nights!!

How often do you all drink and how much?

OP posts:
oldlaundbooth · 30/11/2016 21:11

At the moment nothing as I'm pregnant.

I am not a big drinker but find if it's in the house I will enjoy and really savour a small glass of wine most nights whilst cooking dinner, rather than a binge as it were. I find it's a habit you get into : at the moment my habit is a hot chocolate every night rather than wine. If I don't have a hot chocolate, I feel like I'm missing out.

I think it only takes a week to create create a habit, and only a week to undo one though....

ChickenVindaloo2 · 30/11/2016 21:12

Thanks Bonnie. It's not the end of the world though, living a tea-total life.

I never have to obsess about when I can/can't drink. The main advantage is having so much more time - I never realised how much of my life I spent drinking/being drunk/hungover. I can also drive myself home from parties whenever I want and, best of all, I never have the fear Grin. I barely ever think about it anymore, it's just second nature to me to have a coke instead.

IMHO alcohol by its chemical nature, is an addictive drug. The tendency with drugs is for use to increase over time. If you don't have a tendency to addiction then you may be ok. However, if you do find yourself drinking more over time, it's not because of a fault with YOU it's because you are taking what is (for many people) an addictive substance.

For what it's worth, my parents drank a single glass of wine at Sunday lunch and set a good example. I still turned into an alcoholic. My brother is fine. I don't have any children, but if I did, I'd tell them deciding to live an alcohol-free life is a perfectly viable choice.

None of the above is any judgement on anyone else, by the way. Just my experience and thoughts after 2 years of sobriety. I've been surprised by the number of people who have asked me privately for advice when they heard I no longer drink.

BratFarrarsPony · 30/11/2016 21:14

" I think it only takes a week to create create a habit, and only a week to undo one though.... "

that is not true, but perhaps I have a different take on the word 'habit' than you do.

Some people can drink and drink and not become alcoholic, others get totally addicted. and if you ever see a real alkie in the throes of the shakes,, it is not funny and would put you off for life.

that is a 'habit'

DoofusMcXmas1 · 30/11/2016 21:15

When I was 18 not a day went by without a drink and it was always to the point of waking up and wondering how I got home Blush that went on until I was about mid 20's then I slowed down and it was only when I had consecutive days off work.

I'm totally different now. I drank and got pretty pissed at the beginning of October iirc, I hadn't touch a drop for 6 years prior to that (was pregnant then couldn't imagine looking after a baby/toddler with a hangover). I've got beers in my cupboard from a bbq I had at the beginning of August (didn't drink then either) that are completely untouched. Every now and then I think I fancy a beer....then promptly forget, so they're still there.

Lilaclily · 30/11/2016 21:15

I do agree it doesn't always run in families, some people do inherit the addictive gene and some don't, some families are big drinkers, and some families just have one big drinkers or none

yellowpostitnote · 30/11/2016 21:22

I don't feel great at all after not much (the next day) so very rarely. I like the odd sherry or slow gin but only what I call a thimble full once a fortnight.

I'll drink at a wedding or special occasion - I seem to need to drink prisecco or cava to feel ok and stop around 7 - 9 pm.

I risk waking up with a pounding heart at night otherwise :(

I honestly don't miss it though.

Monkeyinshoes · 30/11/2016 21:58

1/2 a bottle of wine on Friday night. My husband drinks the other half.

On rare occasions, might have one or two drinks on a Saturday night as well.

LobsterQuadrille · 30/11/2016 22:05

Like ChickenVindaloo, I'm a recovering alcoholic who, years ago, could get through three bottles of wine a day. Even writing that makes me feel a) sick and b) bemused now. I was ill, physically and mentally but got into AA and worked the 12 steps. I can never say never but I hope that I'll never be like that again. I was what they call "functioning" and held down a decent job.

I do find these threads interesting though, even now. It's not necessarily how much someone drinks that is the problem - it's whether or not having one drink sets up a craving for more that almost can't ever be satiated. It's essentially an allergy - that people like me have, I mean. It's the wish of every alcoholic to be able to drink like a non-alcoholic and it's only when you recognise that it's never going to happen that you can start to recover.

ItWentInMyEye · 30/11/2016 23:32

5/7. Few glasses usually, at the weekend a bottle and few g&ts.

MissVictoria · 30/11/2016 23:36

Absolutely nothing. I'm 27, never been drunk in my life, never had a night out. Circumstance has played a big part, as i have really severe OCD about toilets. I hate having to go, it takes me an hour to have a wee with all my rituals and i have an easily irritated, unstable bladder. Even a coffee/fizzy drink/juice gives me water infection type symptoms of burning discomfort and running to the loo with a fairly empty bladder, alcohol would probably be even worse since it's an irritant and a dehydrant sucking extra water from the rest of the body, i'd prob not be able to get off the loo for hours!

timelytess · 30/11/2016 23:38

Nothing.
I used to have a few drinks in a year. I'm partial to a nice single malt.
But no more.
Conflicts with my medication.

DaviesMum · 30/11/2016 23:42

I never drink. The last drink of alcohol I had was 17 years ago. I just don't like the smell and it causes the skin on my lips to peel.

flumpybear · 02/12/2016 13:41

As per lobsters comment I think if you have an addictive personality then it can become an issue. I really love wine, can easily drink a bottle or more however I really enjoy nights without alcohol, and often feel if I've had a few drinks that I don't want anymore, so don't carry on with another wine to finish the bottle (used to be very different and drink
Til I was drunk). I hate getting drunk, really really hate it and rarely do it.
Try not to only stress about how much or oftennyou drink, think more laterally - also ensure you have those days off which are important.
Personally I like a nice and stresss free life, somethimes a glass or three of wine is nice and relaxing, is that worse than being super stressed and sleeping badly?!
Moderation of wine and stress is a reasonable Balance lol WineWineBrew

Reality16 · 02/12/2016 13:44

I don't drink at all anymore but I used to drink most nights, usually a bottle of wine but I started suffering red wine heads so just stopped drinking. I feel much better both physically and mentally as a result.

Theoretician · 02/12/2016 13:46

I can't remember when I last had alcohol, but I think it was more than a year ago.

The hotel I stay at when I go skiing has unlimited free wine with meals, but I find that I don't sleep well after drinking, so I usually just drink tap water.

101handbags · 02/12/2016 13:48

I have a large glass of wine on Friday night at the theatre. Possibly (rarely) another large glass on Saturday night if I make a nice dinner. And that's it.

ShowMePotatoSalad · 02/12/2016 13:49

A small glass of wine, or half a lager, or a small gin & tonic once or twice a week.

wantmorenow · 02/12/2016 13:53

5-6 bottles a week. Not good. None this week as have flu and on lemsip!

lizzieoak · 02/12/2016 13:56

A few glasses a year, at summer parties or Christmas do's. Just don't fancy it.

toomanypetals · 02/12/2016 14:05

Only drink Friday and Saturday night but most, if not all, of a bottle of wine each night.

It's too much really. Though I feel okay the days after, it doesn't affect my ability to parent and get up and do what's necessary. I do drink the bottle over a long period. So I might have a very small glass before tea, maybe when I'm relaxing or chatting with the kids. My favourite time of the week - no pressure of school the next day.

Then I'll drink a couple of glasses over a long meal. Dh and I always sit and eat together once the kids are settled. Again it's just wonderful, eating, sipping wine, reconnecting with dh.

Then we'll watch a film and I'll have another glass. So that's over about 6 hours - we don't go to bed until midnight.

Ideally I'd cut down to half a bottle each night. And I'll admit the wine is my reward for a long, hard week with three children so maybe a crutch to some extent?

But I'm quite happy not drinking during the week.

I do think our relationship with alcohol is complicated.

christinarossetti · 02/12/2016 14:07

A beer, glass of wine or G&T Friday and Saturday evening.

More when we're on holiday or Xmas.

Usually do a couple of dry months a year, just to break the 'it's Friday' habit.

Try deciding not to drink during the week OP. It's good to have SMART goals!

Claireshh · 02/12/2016 14:13

Normally DH and I will share a bottle of wine on a Friday night or Saturday.

Once or twice a month we will go out to eat as a family and I'love have a glass then too.

Last night we had wine but it's pretty unusual for us to drink during the week.

DisneyMillie · 02/12/2016 14:14

Probably a glass or two of wine twice a week. My DH has a drink or two pretty much every night with dinner - he's never tipsy and wouldn't care if there wasn't any so I don't think the frequency is a problem. I'd only consider drinking an issue if you needed to or we're getting drunk regularly.

cloudchasing · 02/12/2016 14:20

A question....

For those of you that say they drink most or every night, but they don't get drunk or tipsy, and their tolerance is high - what do you drink it for?

This is a genuine question, I'm not judging - I've had addiction issues all my adult life, just not with alcohol.

Monkeybunkey · 02/12/2016 14:21

Nothing during the week, unless it's a special occasion (Christmas lunch, for example). If I'm not working at the weekend, I'll have a few cans of lager (classy, me!) while watching the football on a Saturday or Sunday. If I'm on holiday, I'll drink more, but try to have a couple of dry days a week. Since my mum died 3 years ago I find I get emotional and upset if I drink until I'm drunk, so I generally don't any more.