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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to drink 3 cans a night?

83 replies

2mammas · 28/01/2017 00:02

For at least the last decade, I've drank at least three cans of Strongbow, most nights. Sometimes I'll decide I need to lose a bit of weight and go without for a couple of night but after two nights, I'm back on it. Somewhere between 2 and 4 cans usually.
I've got a one year old and for the time I was pregnant, I didn't drink. As soon as I had her, I was back on it.
Is this normal or shocking?
How do I stop?

OP posts:
SnowBallsAreHere · 28/01/2017 00:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheRippedOutPage · 28/01/2017 00:05

I do the same, not every night but every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Sometimes Thursdays too.

I don't think it's normal and it certainly isn't healthy but I'm finding it hard to break the habit.

SalemsCat · 28/01/2017 00:07

Its not normal and very unhealthy. It can be construed as you being an alcoholic.

LemonyFresh · 28/01/2017 00:10

Do you feel dependant on it? Would you be able to not drink for a month?

Original poster
2mammas · 28/01/2017 00:13

I try and give it up but then I want it, so I drink it. I don't drink in the daytime and rarely get drunk. I just like the 3.
I don't feel dependant but I'm starting to wonder. I tell myself that I drink it because I want it. But is it because of habit?

OP posts:
JustCallMeKate · 28/01/2017 00:15

It's not normal. I agree with salem

scottishdiem · 28/01/2017 00:16

Thats basically alcoholism. Well done for not doing it whilst pregnant and I think that shows you can stop if you really wanted. My dad drank a similar amount but as whisky and my mum it was vodka and coke. Both needed a lot of help to cut back even though it wasnt easy. For your health and the need to be around for a long time for your kids, I would look at trying to cut back considerably.

YouHadMeAtCake · 28/01/2017 00:16

Definitely not normal and not healthy either.

WorraLiberty · 28/01/2017 00:17

It's not normal and it's not shocking.

But you are drink dependant.

You want it because you need it, even if only psychologically.

If it's bothering you, perhaps try small steps like going from Mon-Thurs without a drink and then slowly increasing the distance between the last drink and the next?

Thinkingblonde · 28/01/2017 00:18

You are an alcoholic. Sorry to be so brutal but up to four cans of Stromgbow a night for a decade (give or take ) is a lot.
It isn't normal.
Sadly, neither is it shocking.
You risk liver disease, throat, mouth, stomach, breast cancer. And a host of other alcohol related diseases.

It is encouraging that you've taken this first step in acknowledging your drinking habits.
My advise would be to visit your doctor, ask him for help.if you think you won't explain it very well, print your opening post for him to read it.

user1477282676 · 28/01/2017 00:20

It's very bad for you OP. It's good you've recognised that it might not be normal (it isn't) and that you're open to changing.

There's a good thread on MN called Brave Babes and it's an ongoing support thread for those of us who drink too much.

There's NO judging there and everyone understands what you're going through.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/relationships/2818881-Brave-Babes-Barging-through-2017-in-style?watched=1

This is the latest thread. Go over there, introduce yourself...or just read the thread and see what others are saying.

LilacSpatula · 28/01/2017 00:22

It must be hard but can you stop or maybe have four alcohol free days a week?

sobeyondthehills · 28/01/2017 00:24

Just because you don't drink during the day doesn't make you an alcoholic, if you want to give it a label, functioning alcoholic.

I was drinking between 1-3 bottles of wine, at night, god knows how I didn't lose my job, as soon as I found I was pregnant I also stopped. After I finished breastfeeding, it started again.

In the end I went to my doctor to get some support.

Its a very positive step to make, I would work on it from there

justme12345 · 28/01/2017 00:30

I drink every day. Sometimes it's a few spirits and cokes, other times it's a bottle of wine a night.
I'm by no means am alcoholic and would never be incapable of looking after my son. But if I fancy a drink mid afternoon I'll have one, or two. If I want a few drinks in the evening once he's in bed I'll have them.
Yes I can easily drink a whole bottle of wine to myself in an evening. Yes I can have a good few spirits with mixer (I don't measure them exactly but I usually have between a double and treble, filled up with mixer).
I don't get drunk easily as I've been drinking for so long I've got a good tolerance. (Yes I had my first small glass of wine topped up with lemonade when I was about 8 or 9 years old. Yes I was drinking spirits from 13 years old. I have a drink because I enjoy it, not because I need it. Because I was allowed to drink at home, I didn't go out and drink cheap drinks, I had proper stuff and learnt to appreciate drink for what it is, something to be enjoyed. And here's the shocker- YES I DID drink during my pregnancy, and my baby was fine).

Megatherium · 28/01/2017 00:32

If you're having to ask us how to stop, then it isn't normal and is an addiction.

seafoodeatit · 28/01/2017 00:33

It's not normal or healthy, please seek advice and help before it escalates into something worse. Nobody should be drinking alcohol every day.

JustCallMeKate · 28/01/2017 00:35

Justme In my view you are an alcoholic and in denial of that.

seafoodeatit · 28/01/2017 00:36

justme12345 are you joking? tolerance levels show just how used to alcohol your body is, your liver doesn't adjust, it fails, you really sound like you have a drinking problem if you think that your drinking is in any way normal, your post reads like a list of excuses.

AddToBasket · 28/01/2017 00:37

Do you want to cut back, OP?

IwasAM · 28/01/2017 01:00

JustMe How old is your baby?

IwasAM · 28/01/2017 01:00

OP Contrary to some of the posts above, alcoholism is defined by your relationship with alcohol and your ability - or otherwise - to live without it, not by the amount the drink. Your post does read as if you know you do have a bit of a problem and struggle to not drink, so I would urge you to maybe seek some help in understanding that.

I'd also suggest you ask your GP to run Liver Function blood test as I suspect (& this is where amount - irrespective of whether one is or is not an alcoholic - does come into it) your unit intake is sufficiently high enough to be damaging your liver, and that might be the jolt you need to further push you into exploring your relationship with alcohol and your daily need for it.

SheldonCRules · 28/01/2017 08:36

Not normal and not healthy.

Your child will grow up thinking it's fine to drink daily, that's not the message anybody should be sending to children.

As an aside, drinking when children are in the house means in the event something happens you will have slower reaction times and impaired judgement. I hope there's a sober adult home as well.

Thinkingblonde · 28/01/2017 08:38

You are in denial. In your opening post you say it's up to four cans a night. Then in your second post you say you often drink in the afternoon.
It's escalating.

Do you have a partner?
,

Trainspotting1984 · 28/01/2017 08:40

No one here can say whether it's alcoholism

However there is only one answer really- give it up for a week or two and see how you feel about missing it

Gallavich · 28/01/2017 08:43

justme you're almost definitely an alcoholic.

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