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

[MycatsaPirate]

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.

Anna what I meant was there are huge swathes of the USA not having those active weekends you describe

lethal that's why I said it was small group of people. I wasn't suggesting that the whole US was like it, but I think certain parts are like California. It was just an example of how different cultures aren't alcohol focused like we are

It would be interesting to know UK v USA liver disease rates, if one country drinks more but the other has a higher obesity rate. Wonder if it’s similar.

I wonder if it’s easier to drink less in warmer lighter areas like California. Dh and I definitely drink less in our summer, when we’re out and about doing things in the lighter evenings/days.

Oh a few x posts!

Alcohol contributes to excess weight, not just eating so they aren’t separate problems.

As a society we have been brainwashed for years over the need and benefits for alcohol.
I'm despairing over the defensive tone in some of these posts but judging? Absolutely not! Because I have been there. I cut down my alcohol use massively in the last few years (because I drank more than was safe) but even small amounts made me feel crap so I made the decision to give up completely.
I read a book by Jason vale kick the drink easily. I haven't drunk since I read it yet I still party, dance like a loon and find new ways to 'unwind
I love being hangover free all the time.
I would recommend that book to anyone. The worst thing that could happen is that you might find you have a life that is just as fun as the one you have now but without alcohol in it.

Just because one country has more of one issue than another and vice versa doesn't make each country's issue one that can be ignored.

Tay Sachs is a problem in one community. It is not less of a problem because sickle cell anemia is a problem in another.

I wonder if it’s easier to drink less in warmer lighter areas like California. Dh and I definitely drink less in our summer, when we’re out and about doing things in the lighter evenings/days.

I actually find the temptation stronger in the summer on warm sunny evenings after a long day at work, to have a glass of wine rather than a cup of tea or coffee.

I know people in their 60's that go for a night out and can't remember huge chunks of the evening. They don't think they have a problem and laugh about it.

I must admit that I am shocked by the amount that some of my friends and acquaintances drink. I occasionally attend meetings of our am dram group in the local pub. I don't live in the village, so have to drive there and back, so I always have something non alcoholic.

At one of these meetings, someone bought a bottle of wine, I assumed to share with a few others, but she sat there and drank the whole bottle! . A few others had several different alcoholic drinks in the space of 2 hours. It was quite an eye opener for me. Until then, I didn't realise that people drank so much (I don't go out much!).

One person eats too much. One person drinks too much. Who is "worse"?

Neither in my opinion, neither has the right to sit in judgement of the other. However, even if you're in neither camp, as I am not, uou still don't have the right to sit and judge.

Alcohol is a problem for some in this country, but the scale is small in comparison to the obesity problem. And yes these overweight parents can also negatively impact their kids. Just like the ones with alcohol problems. The health problems associated with obesity is huge. Diabeties, stroke, heart attack, the list is long. It can also have a major impact on the,liver, as many have pointed out. Our kids are being weighed in schools for gods sake it's so endemic now.

So my issue is the sheer hypocrisy of someone , the op, sitting in one camp, tut tutting at someone in the other. And not just tut tutting she proactively went on line to do it, said some horrible things about people who drink every night, whilst fully aware she herself was doing the same thing with food and over eating.

Hypocritical in my view and not remotely ok. There are intelligent ways to comment if she felt the need, and this was not it.

I’m sure that the massive increase in wine drinking over the past 30 years is not unconnected with obesity levels.

Overweight people are regularly fat-shamed and made to feel bad about their bodies, whereas society is so structured around drinking it's actually quite hard not to drink sometimes

Really? What's the op and her ilk doing if she's not shaming drinkers and trying to make them feel bad? Have you read all her comments? As many of us have said there is a thread at least once a month about this judgemental crap.

In addition, in relation to your abstinence comment, alcohol like food does not require total abstinence. There is a healthy limit for both and consuming both in moderation is completely fine. Your personal desire to abstain and your friends reaction is specific to you. It's your choice to abstain and it's your choice to socialise as you do. Don't blame others for your choices.

Oh and the media is full of stories and pics of people who have had one too many, shaming them is a daily occurance.

Society is structured more around food than drinking. There is food everywhere and yet I'm not fat.

I drank last night I'll probably drink tonight. I like it that's why. I have one life and intend to enjoy it the way I want to.

I'm fully aware of the dangers too.

Society is structured more around food than drinking

Yup. Any shopping centre shows the truth, pop to the food court and all you see is, burgers, fried chicken, pizza, cakes, ice cream, etc.

For ever single one of those stupid wine o clock signs there's anothe one about cup cakes or some such shit.

For every face book or Instagram post on a glass of wine or whatever, there are ten on someone's bow out lunch or dinner.

Society focuses much more on food and unhealthy food than it does on drinking.

It's almost become a crime to negatively mention someone's weight. Everyone has to be accepted for who they are. That's unless it's drinking, then for some, it's open season.

I agree with you. I had a few drinks in my early 20s and can count on one hand how many times I’ve been drunk. I don’t like the taste of alcohol and love the alcohol free wines that are out. I also don’t like the way people question you when you don’t drink or are particular about what you drink as if you need to drink alcohol to have fun. Also, not a fan of the different personalities that some people have when they drink too many.

I’ve noticed what you described for years. I always found it as giving mixed messages as a teen growing up in the States. Live in the UK and on social media, I’ve noticed it even more and it’s a bit eye-rolling. I just scroll past, especially with the whole prosecco movement there seems to be. Finding it more annoying now since restaurants are gifting it for birthdays vs a complimentary starter, main, or dessert. Great way to be inclusive of your guests 🙄. I also find it interesting how defensive people get about their drinking habits. I have no issues with people that drink, don’t see a problem, it’s the drunkenness I don’t get.

Shockingly, considering my username, I have a drink 5-6 days per week (sounds bad right? I thought so too).

Then I looked really closely at it and logged every drink on a drinking app over several months. Turns out that, overall, I'm around the government guidelines of 14 units per week.

I like one or two drinks at a time and enjoy them like other people might reward themselves with a cake, or chocolate, or crisps. I don't NEED to drink - I choose to. I never get drunk or binge or have hangovers.

I also read that if you drink a bit over the guidelines (not alcoholic proportions of course), it increases your risk of death by 1% - the equivalent of getting into a car.

I was a terrible binge drinker in early 20s. Loved it but horrific hangovers. Never drink at home alone or with dp and never have ,unless have guests. Now in 40s drink way less cos of kids. Almost had dry January , and not on purpose. I just dont drink like i usedto. If i have a night out i want to do my hobby not sit in pub.The less i drink the less i want to.

I'm totally with you on this. I don't get it at all... the whole "mummy's juice"/ "pass me the gin" /"wine o'clock" thing doesn't sound cool or clever... how can it be seen as a good thing for a 30 year old mum to be drinking in the presence of her children or to think her kids drove her to drink? I'm no saint... I spent my late teens/early twenties in night clubs but now I have grown out of it and don't see the point. Probably drink 3 times per year if that... if you need alcohol to enjoy yourself, it's time to evaluate your life choices I think.