AIBU to drink 3 cans a night?

[2mammas]

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?

I think the main problem is the frequency of your drinking, every night, which means your liver never gets a rest. I believe its recommended that you have 3 continuous days of no alcohol to give your liver a chance to repair.
3 cans may not sound like a lot but that's 21 cans a week, sounds too much and over recommended amount.

I'm a problem drinker [can never have just one glass] , so much so that Dry January has been a relief and I'm looking back on my previous drinking habits with a lot of unease that I could pour it down my throat so easily and quickly.

I think you are drinking too much, it's not shocking but the habit needs to be addressed, take it from someone who could neck it back without a hangover most days.

Medical advice is to have a few nights per week alcohol free. If you can't do this you risk your health and your are alcohol dependent. Not quite an alcoholic but on the road. 2-4 cans per night is over the advisory amount. Maybe if you can stick to the weekly unit limit and have 3 clear days, you will strike a happy medium.

What does your wife think about your habit?

SlimmingSnake - It's not that I feel I can't cut it out... I really enjoy the taste.
I feel like I am kidding myself a bit though.
Thebooks - That's a good idea as I drink straight from the can. Small glasses may make me feel like I'm having 3 drinks out of only one can.
MerryMarigold - I was only having one or two when the baby was smaller and my wife would do 9pm until 3am while I got an early night and I would take over then so she got a lie in. Our little girl is now 15 months.
I am female so the units I'm drinking are far too much. I really don't feel like I rely on it to function though...
I certainly don't have any withdrawal symptoms when I don't have it for a couple of days. I just want it!

It's above the recommended limits, but it is very common. Three cans of Strongbow must be about 6 or 7 units which is around the same as two-thirds of a bottle of wine. Millions of people drink at that sort of level on a daily or near-daily basis. But if you feel that it is too much then perhaps you should speak to your doctor about cutting down.

I used to drink 4 cans a night for approx. a year .. My liver function was abnormal on blood tests because of this, never mind over a decade.

My husband drinks 4-5 cans a week "to relax" and I worry about him.

If its the taste is there a low or alcohol free alternative you can try?

Lack of withdrawal symptoms means nothing. One side of my family full of addicts inc alcoholic father. He's never had a hangover in his life and didn't get withdrawal symptoms until he was drinking 2L vodka daily and was quite a bit older.

Tolerance increases gradually as does the drinking as with all addiction you don't go from 'could easily go 6 months without' to 'addict' overnight.

I'm calling 'alcoholic' based not only the amount but the frequency and the inability to go more than a couple of days without.

Be honest with yourself if you were pregnant again NOW could you still stop?

He's dry now (not through choice) but lives in constant severe physical pain despite high doses of morphine and 50+ other tablets daily to treat his deteriorating body.