Morning drinking

[nottellingyou101]

I'm curious to know thoughts on this. I'm completely okay with it but interested to see what people think.

Once and sometimes twice a week at 10am I will crack open a bottle of wine and have 2 or 3 glasses over a few hours. I'll Read, catch up on some tv and other stuff and just relax and enjoy.

I do this because this is the only time I get to myself while the kids are in school and before everyone gets home around 4. I don't drink in the evening or at the weekends. Probably having around 16 units a week.

I know if I was to tell anyone this they'd think I had a problem and needed a drink first thing in the morning, but I don't.It's about 4 or 5 days before I'll have a glass of wine again since the last one.

What are you're thoughts?

Too late, OP 😱😱😱 and my DH Has agreed to have red so as to not deny my Sav Blanc supply!

I would worry more about people who just "just can't wait for that bottle of wine at home after work" tbh.

It's your downtime. Simple as that. Same downtime like others have at 6PM on Friday. As long as you are not "gagging" for that drink or drink yourself to a state, why not. You are right IMHO that there is no difference between that and going out for lunch and having few glasses with it.
But I grew up where couple of beers with lunch is a normal thing so I might be biased. No one gets drunk. It just helps to digest.
Btw I have a drink by myself, in the evening, so I am I guess another social pariah. 🙄

OP - frankly if you are spreading 14-16 units out over the week and have the majority of your days booze-free then crack on. If it's your only "me time" then it sounds like a lovely way to do it, over a book, whilst painting, watching a bit of Netflix and generally not running round after others. The resounding response here, though, seems to be that there are RULES which means it has to be your own secret even though you drink less than many people in the western world. You're clearly not a fool so know the facts. (except you won't partake because it's a weekend).

Not saying it’s right or wrong OP but I would guess your kids smell alcohol on you when they get home.

I think the fact that you're thinking about how many units, totting it up and trying to stick to a target is a bit concerning.

Once or twice a week and a couple of glasses wouldn't bring you close to 14 units. And if it is only twice a week but 7 units each day and week week in week out that would concern me as a friend any time of day tbh

My dad was an alcoholic. I used to think it was normal for people to drink whiskey first thing in the morning. It isn't.

I'm not saying that you're an alcoholic, I don't know you but it does seem problematic to me and if you were really completely okay with it why would you even ask?

I often get up before 4 am to enjoy the peace, the quiet and watch the sky getting light. Soon as it does I watch the great herds of deer making their way across the meadows. I have a cup of tea though, but if I enjoyed wine I'd have that. Why not?

I treasure my dawn watch.

Introverts understand.

I monitor my intake carefully because I know how easy it is to rack up units, calories and expenditure, and I'm trying to improve my fitness, reduce my body fat and save money. The Drinkaware app is useful for keeping me on track - I aim to stay inside the 14 units on weeks when I'm socialising, and keep it south of half of that on weeks when it's just me and husband.

I only drink in the evenings because it changes the way I feel and think, slows my reactions and robs me of my motivation and ability to crack on with stuff I need and want to do during the day, until I can 'clock off'. This is true of everyone and it's why we're barred from driving, operating machinery, carrying out surgery, flying planes, and indeed doing pretty much anything while UTI. Your pattern is odd because you're ignoring the fact that the day, with its demands upon you, still stretches ahead. So you're choosing drinking over full functioning (maybe you don't have enough challenge in your day?) and you're also getting, I think, a little buzz off the secrecy - even your partner thinks you're starting two hours later than you actually are. That's got addict written all over it. You could find other ways to relax and have 'me' time - gym classes, craft classes, a walk, morning cinema sessions, hot chocolate and a good book in a nice cafe, whatever - but you're choosing to tuck yourself away at home and drink till you're fuzzy. Twice a week.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not judging you - I monitor my drinking like a hawk because I know I"m susceptible, but I don't want to stop altogether. But I think you are storing up a problem and it could get out of control. But you probably think you can boss it, and anyway you don't want to change, so this won't make any difference.

I'm just asking for thoughts that's all. Whether I've rationalised it or not to myself I personally don't think the time of day matters but unfortunately It is socially acceptable to only drink after a certain time or with others.

The kids may smell alcohol but I've probably finished my last glass 3 or 4 hours before they get back and they've seen me with a glass of wine plenty of times at 4 5 or 6 in the past. So I'm not bothered.

I started to think more about the units after seeing a BBC doc a while back. Since then I've actually decreased my units and drink with more awareness as to how much it's been. That's why I count them. As with many others, they're probably drinking a lot more than they think.

I'll drink more than 14 units next week as I have a party, but I'll be aware of how many I'm drinking and the following week it will be a lot less.

If she hadn't have mentioned how many units she was having she'd have been even more ripped to shreds.

She's not trying to drive a car or fly a plane - she's painting or reading a book or watching TV.

I am currently working in a country where it is absolutely normal for people to have a small beer or small glass of wine at this time of the day.

Are the DC with you in the school holidays? If they are, do you continue with your wine routine?

Reading the replies do you think you’ve rationalised it to yourself?

I would file this in 'things I may need to worry about if they change'.

On the surface- you know you aren't drinking huge amounts and so when you drink it is fairly immaterial.

Underneath- drinking like this is important to you, you've calculated the units and just, just stay within what is considered 'ok' for women although this is a made-up number anyway, and most people really underestimate a unit so you may be drinking more.

I hardly ever drink and don't see an issue with this, OP.

Cromercrab The days I choose to do it on have nothing scheduled in. I've usually done the dinner in the morning, sorted the place out and then have me time. If I had to do things I would either get them done first so I can relax without worrying something needs to be done. If it needs to be done I'll crack open the wine at a later time or day.

Hate the gym. Do plenty of walking with husband and kids. Do a little yoga and I paint and read for my hobbies at the moment and enjoy some wine. I always have some hobby that I do for long periods of time. Photography used to be one of them and maybe it will again.

The only reason drinking the way you do it sounds weird is that it contradicts social norms.

Many social norms make no sense at all, so if it suits you to relax and drink during the daytime and it doesn't escalate above guideline levels then there is no logical reason to stop. After all look at the popularity of brunches with bottomless prosecco. Also the Spanish habit of coffee and a brandy mid morning. Last time I was in Spain, I saw an armed Guardian Civil officer in a bar do just that.

Dobbins. No. If we've had busy days we may all chill out and I might tell them I'm going to have my time. Put a movie on or iPad. It would usually be later in the afternoon 2pm or 3pm and I'll have a couple while I paint and they don't disturb me.

It's the bit where you say you enjoy the buzz you get that worries me. Well, it all worries me actually, but that bit the most.

The queen has a daily gin and tonic at 11am... it seems odd in the face of it but it's that's all you're having and you're not driving or drunk when the kids get back I suppose it's no worse than drinking the same amount at night.

OP, out of interest and nothing to do with your wine drinking, what time do you go to bed if you’re up at 5am to get stuff done? I am an introvert and like the idea of that but in reality I am naturally in a deep sleep at 5am and bouncing around (ish!) at 9pm usually so it’s not something I’d actually do.

back on the subject of drinking, are your glasses standard measures? We have huge glasses so a glass would be nearly half a bottle. A few weeks back I tried measuring a unit of wine out into a glass, out of interest, and there seemed to be only a tiny bit in the bottom, so if you really want to carry on doing it, I would check your glass size compared to units, if you haven’t already.

I think if you are only having 16 units per week then that's fine. (As long as you are not compromising your ability to care for your children)

A couple of glasses of wine and a book sounds like bliss.

Enjoy OP :)

I think this weird. A glass (175ml- not huge) is 2 units , 3 glasses is definitely a binge. You are binge drinking alone during office hours. I find this very concerning and think your doctor and the people who love you would too.

I do similar to the OP. I don't see a problem with it.
I don't drink very often but every now and then I'll have a glass of prosecco in the morning (around 10am) whilst I catch up on some TV or read a book. I usually do this on my day off.
Perhaps it's my "normal."

Also, I once had lasagna for breakfast (8am ish) it was lovely.

FWIW I am up at 5 too during the week and 10am is my most productive time. Why would you want to dull your senses when you should be at your most alert ?