To think 87.3% of British women don't drink less than me?

[theduchessstill]

I went on one of those sites where they track and evaluate your drinking - was inspired to do so by another thread. I know I drink a bit too much - across three nights I have a bottle of wine and often a couple of bottles of lager or another glass or 2 of wine.

The site calculated it as 16 units - I knew it would be there or thereabouts so no great shock there, but then said that 87.3% of British women drink less. I find that hard to believe. Who is buying all the wine then? There are people who are alcoholics, people who drink small - medium amounts every night, people who have a massive blow-out every week etc etc.

Surely we don't have a massive problem with alcohol in this country (and we do) if the vast majority of women drink less than me, who drinks slightly over the maximum amount recommended. In particular, I understood women's drinking was of particular concern.

I'm not looking for validation - I know the amount I have is a bit too much but I'm happy enough with it atm, but that figure seemed unlikely to me.

It may or may not be an accurate stat, but it seems that you are seeking to minimise your drinking.

Half a bottle once a week is the norm for me. Sometimes none. Sometimes a little more if we have a meal out. But in the house it's generally a shared bottle of wine at the weekend.

I think most people don't drink that much so I can believe it. Plenty of people also don't drink so that will bring the average figure down.

That's quite a lot, I don't drink anywhere near that. It seems you're trying to justify how much you're drinking.

I don't know where they got their figures from?

I keep telling myself I should drink less

But then I think, 'Wait, don't listen to her, she's clearly drunk'

I rarely drink as it doesn't interest me and I don't like the taste of alcohol. It's just an average statistic by the sound of it and statistics/averages aren't always the whole truth.

My drinking is way under level that too but I do see what you are saying, I know people who probably drink as much as you've mentioned, maybe more without seeing it as a problem.

I do wonder if that stats include everyone female and under 18, assumed to be non-drinkers, as a start...

But yeah, you are still talking about 1 in 8 women drinking the same amount as you or more, which is quite a large percentage of the population given that it is more than the upper end of the guideline amount - I can totally believe the figure.

I don't think it sounds like you're minimising OP, I see where you're coming from. I mean, the amount you describe drinking is hardly the same as going out on the town several times per week, so how do you end up in the top 13% or so? I suspect that many people are not honest about the amount they drink and this skews the statistics somewhat.

I might have a bottle of cider at home a week. If I'm out with friends i might have two glasses of wine.

I only drink when I go out. Which probably averages at once a month over the year. So I definitely drink a lot less than you.

I don't really understand your description. Do you mean 16 units every 3 days?

I don't drink. My mum doesn't drink. I don't think we're that unusual.

It's not something generally discussed, though, is it, because it is still often seen as a bit odd / weird not to drink at all. People are like "Why not?"

I wonder where they get their stats from? I think most people when asked by gp or anybody really would probably play it down if they drank over recommend units. From my personal experience I do drink less than you but know lots of my friends drink at least as much as you and I wouldn't say you drink a lot.

Worra

I suspect that there are a lot of women who either don't drink at all,or if they do it's only on rare occasions.

If the question only applied to people who drink, then I would imagine the percentage would be lower.

But that's just my guess.

I drink about 3/4 times a year. It's a binge when I do though, not wine either. Rum or whiskey.

Who is buying all the wine then?

The 87.3% of women who drink less and the 12.7% of women who drink more. And the men who drink varying amounts too.

I don't drink alcohol at all and I wonder if non-drinkers pull the average down?

worra

My philosophy is the only sure thing in life is death and bloody taxes.
My dm never touched a drop and is 87 but incontinent and with altzimers and is lost to me I would rather be dead than be in her state and I know she would have chosen death too in her glamorous hey Day.

I have a glass/share a bottle when I feel like it snd that's fine by us.

I drink a lot less than all of my friendship group who drink a glass or 3 every night.

I don't drink at all so to me you drink a massive amount.

I only drink when I go out which is about once a month and I would have about 3 glasses of wine when I do. It does sound as though you drink quite a lot. I wouldn't say you had too much but can believe you drink more than most.

Well I'm not trying to minimise what I drink as I've stated exactly what I have. It's not every 3 days - it's what I have pretty much every week Fri-Sun.

For a start, I work in a department with 8 other women in it and I think 3 of them drink similar amounts to me, 3 drink A LOT more and the other 2 less.

I don't understand much at all about statistics though - maybe the elderly are bringing the average down? And pregnant people??

I don't really drink. I binge drink about once or twice a year on a night out. Over summer I might have maybe a cider a month?

To add people lie about drinking as it's taboo. There will be no real stats on drinking especially amongst women. Nobody knows.

I have teen dds and they and their friends drink far far less than their mothers.

What about Mon-Thur? I don't drink unless I'm on a night out, then I maybe have a few. Have had about 5 drinks in the last year, 2 of those last weekend (had two beers and felt a bit bokey).