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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that there is far too much emphasis on alcohol?

168 replies

MycatsaPirate · 01/02/2018 15:08

It's wine o'clock. Kids playing up? have a glass of wine! Gin flavoured cheese, gin with fucking unicorn tears, prosecco everything.

I am not teetotal and I certainly had my time in my late teens when I partied hard every week and probably drank far too much at the weekends but right now it seems that drinking at home, every night is becoming the norm.

I see it constantly on here and on facebook and Instagram - photos of wine glasses, gin glasses and references to it being 'a hard day' and 'needing a drink'. Now I'm sure some of those are a one off but it seems that drinking daily, especially among women, is becoming more of a thing and it's really not very healthy!

When was the last time you had a drink? I actually can't remember but it was in December because I bought a bottle of Baileys and I think I had a glass or two on Boxing day.

Would anyone on here admit they might have a problem? I have seen a fair few people on facebook admit they were struggling to stay Dry in January and I think that's bloody sad.

OP posts:
TotHappy · 01/02/2018 16:42

I bloody love wine but agree this whole 'drink when you're sad, drink when you're happy, drink will fix it' thing is very very over done and we shouldn't be normalising excessive drinking like this.
My husband is a functioning alcoholic (I think), I didn't really notice till I got pregnant and stopped, I am appalled at the way he drinks just on a normal day, not a party or anything. 6 o clock is not a special occasion!!! Nor are you 'treating' yourself if you do it every day or other day!

NoMoreUsernames · 01/02/2018 16:42

I'd like to see alcohol treated the same as tobacco, no advertising and no attractive packaging with warnings on, don't understand why it's still glamourised and treated so differently to other drugs given it causes more social problems and health issues than almost all other drugs, legal or otherwise. The financial cost to the NHS and society at large is staggering www.ias.org.uk/Alcohol-knowledge-centre/Economic-impacts/Factsheets/Estimates-of-the-cost-of-alcohol.aspx

blackcoffeeredwine · 01/02/2018 16:45

saltandvinegar
I never got the whole ‘parents shouldn’t drink EVER in the house on the extremely extremely unlikely basis that the DC would need to be driven to hospital’ what about people who don’t drive? taxis?
If I followed that rule, I would be teetotal because my DS never stays out overnight.

BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 01/02/2018 16:45

Gertie well now they have changed the recipe you could be right!

garlicbreathlovely · 01/02/2018 16:55

I think there is definitely a problem with the binge drinking culture in the UK but I don't think its something that we'll be able to roll back on any time soon, seems to just be growing bigger and bigger, its glamourised in lots of tv shows, its seen as essential by students to go through this It's a bit depressing if you go into a+e on a night or drive through a student town and you just see people barely able to stand, vomiting etc.

barefoofdoctor · 01/02/2018 17:00

I have an alcohol problem. Opened a bottle of naice Cava after DD party last weekend. Poured all but the one glass I managed down the sink this morning.

Firesuit · 01/02/2018 17:08

I don't drink. Just never been bothered with it. Not too bothered if anyone else does, but am a bit taken aback by others habits sometimes. Like the guy who lived alone and drank a bottle of wine every night, and was suprised when some colleagues thought this wasn't entirely normal. Said his mother had always done it and didn't know it was unusual.

robertaplumkin · 01/02/2018 17:13

IA. it's disgusting. Alcohol is a horrid drug and it ruins people's lives. Unfortunately not just the lives of those 'enjoying' the drink. People who can't relax without a drink in their hand ought to be having a sober look at their life.

ReginaldMolehusband · 01/02/2018 17:19

Sure there was some bollocks in the news today about health wonks bleating about wine o'clock being the work of the devil.
Seems clear there's a new temperance movement at work these days. The IAS who someone linked to above are almost wholly funded by the Alliance House Foundation, original aims "The object of the alliance shall be to call forth and direct an enlightened public opinion to procure the total and immediate legislative suppression of the traffic in all intoxicating liquors as beverages".
Sounds familiar.

midsomermurderess · 01/02/2018 18:01

You say it has a bad influence on young people, wine o’clock , etc, but according to a recent article in the Guardian, drinking, and smoking, are at the lowest levels on record. Perhaps they have looked at their parents etc getting pissed regularly and have decided it’s not for them.

Keepingupwiththejonesys · 01/02/2018 18:03

I don't drink often, probably once or twice a month at a family occasion (have a huge family) . I do however hate the whole thing about not being allowed to drink when in charge of kids in case they need transport. I don't drive anyway so this is a daft statement to make. Me and dh throw a party each summer at our home and both enjoy a drink at it. Neither of us get into a state but we would both be classed as over the driving limit....but again...I don't even drive and we are more than capable of looking after our children after a couple of drinks.

I do know quite a few people though who started to have a drink each weekend, that grew to long weekends and now they have a drink every night. That to me seems to much and unhealthy. In moderation I have no issue with alcohol

sevencontinents · 01/02/2018 18:55

I disagree that it's getting worse. I think social media makes it appear worse than it is. Drinking, especially binge drinking, amongst young people is down compared to the previous generation. Most people over, say 30, that I know have alcohol free days for the majority of the week, and then like to treat themselves with their tipple of choice at the weekend. They look forward to it, which is why I think we see a lot of 'wine o'clock' type posts on Friday nights. I think many people now are aware of the health risks associated with drinking every evening and many are doing something about it, at least amongst the many people that I know. I also agree that poor diet is just as much of a public health risk as problematic drinking.

sevencontinents · 01/02/2018 19:00

Although I do agree that it should be treated in a similar way to tobacco with regards to advertising and packaging.

BlindLemonAlley · 01/02/2018 19:20

I don’t remember my parents or their friends drinking at home other than at Christmas or special occasions but now people drinking regularly at home is the norm.

ForalltheSaints · 01/02/2018 19:22

I think the OP is quite right to think there is too much emphasis on alcohol, especially at home. I have long been in favour of a price differential such that it would be cheaper to go to a pub, and also an end to cheap drink promotions in supermarkets.

PunkrockerGirl59 · 01/02/2018 19:28

No I'm not judging!

Of course you're not.

MrsJBaptiste · 01/02/2018 20:11

I have a gin on the go now, made a lovely gin & lemon when OH went to bed (curse of the night shifts) 🍸

I was away at the weekend so had wine on Friday, cocktails on Saturday and prosecco on Sunday. Some people on here would think that makes me a raging alcoholic, for everyone I know that was just a one-off heavy weekend! 😉

Esker · 01/02/2018 20:19

OuchBollocks
I totally agree that the OP sounds judgy, but I have to disagree with you re: "Unless you're in public health policy making, why do you care?"

Costs associated with alcohol misuse - domestic violence, unemployment, liver problems, A&E for falls, etc are a huge burden on the health system, which surely impacts us all!

I enjoy drinking, within reason. I find the wine/gin o clock social media shit tedious because it's lame and boring.

Jaygee61 · 01/02/2018 20:22

I’m drinking at weekends only at the moment. I’m trying to lose weight as well as cut back.

If you go to a card shop it’s very difficult to find a birthday card that doesn’t refer to drink or have a picture of alcohol, especially for a man.

LightDrizzle · 01/02/2018 20:28

I’m a very moderate drinker and I agree, YANBU.

Lovelydovey · 01/02/2018 20:41

I rarely drink - maybe a glass of wine a month? But I sometimes join in the banter - kids driving me to drink, shit day at work so need a drink etc. But in reality I go home, watch to and go to bed.

MiddlingMum · 01/02/2018 21:04

It’s quite sad really how much everything revolves around alcohol

Me too. I also think that anyone who gets so drunk that they need medical attention should be invoiced for the cost. The NHS does not need thousands of people being ill or injured every weekend just because they can't enjoy a night out without alcohol. Some town and city centres have almost become no-go areas on Friday and Saturday evenings because of immature people out drinking. They should also be made to clean up their own vomit.

Bluntness100 · 01/02/2018 21:11

Ffs, is there some sort of rota where every judgey tea totaller takes it in turns to start this thread monthly?

It's the people who think they don't have a problem but can't go one night without a drink that are the issue

The issue to who, you? Get a hobby and stop stressing about how other people live their lives.

And yeah, I've done dry JAN, about to do dry Feb, because It helps me lose weight and I find it easy, however when I chose to drink again I really won't give a thought to some random sitting on their sofa with their cup of tea and their cats arse mouth stewing over folks enjoying themselves.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 01/02/2018 21:16

You are right ! I have for the first time ever started to cut down . I have a poor relationship with it and it’s a struggle

We normalise it majorly

‘Hard day / time for a spliff / Xanax / line of coke’ Shock

DenPerry · 01/02/2018 21:30

I had my time binge drinking as a student then met DP who doesn't drink so I haven't fancied it either for the last 10 years. But we moved house recently and decided to have a few drinks to celebrate, then had some the night after, and the night after that... it went on for about a month. We loved the fuzzy de-stress feeling after a hard day house sorting or with the kids. We've stopped it now but saw how easy it was to get into the habit and how pleasant the feeling was.

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