To drink almost a bottle of wine everynight

[Mum21beauty]

I am not reliant on it . I just enjoy it every night though ...

Try one week without a single drink. If you can't do it or become really irritable and I'll then you will know you have a problem.

Try a week without any wine and see how you feel. Can you really do without it? If you can't handle a week with no wine, you need to face head on that what you are telling yourself about not being reliant isn't true. The fact you say you like it to de-stress sounds like a bit of a red flag. See if sipping herbal tea or hot choc or mineral water is similarly de-stressing. If not, what does that tell you?

Almost a bottle, who drinks the rest or do you have the rest the next night with another bottle?
Did it used to be half a bottle but has crept up to nearly a bottle?
Do you get to say 5pm and start ‘looking forward to ‘wine time’?

The reason I ask is because that was me. I eventually got to two bottles a night to relax me, I loved it.

My liver, mental health and wallet didn’t. Nor did my wine belly.

I’ve been sober for 14 months.

I’m not saying your an alcoholic OP either, just cleaning up your misconception.

You are reliant on alcohol, you’ve may have realised what you’ve just said, but you’ve just said it helps you relax and takes away your daily stresses.

Can you do this without resorting to alcohol, if not I’m afraid to say you would come under the definition alcohol substance abuse.

TBH I could easily do that and a bottle of wine does not make me drunk. I cut out mid week drinking due to weight gain and cost and eating shite but then at weekends if I’m out all weekend could sink a weeks worth in a weekend 😱😱😱😱😱

Try to stop. I think you’ll find you’re more reliant than you realise.

Good luck

Mum21beauty

I'm not reliant on it because if I was i would want it in the day and morning but I don't.
No, that's not what but means. If you were told now, no more wine at night, or even stopped it tonight, you'd be craving and pining for it tomorrow. You are a functioning alcoholic.
Plus it's alot of £££ a months isn't it? Very unhealthy.

I can go through stages of doing this mainly through stress and I genuinely like the taste.

In fact the last month I have been horrendous after an early miscarriage.

BUT I am very aware how bad it is so I know I can’t do it all the time.

Of course welcome to drink what you like but it may take a toll at some point.

It is a Russian roulette just like smoking- I know it and you know it!

How do you feel on days you don't drink? Can you choose not to? When was the last time you did that?

@Mum21beauty I'm not reliant on it because if I was i would want it in the day and morning but I don't. It just relaxes me and takes my stresses away ! I do t actually know why to be honest . I have a full time job . An 18 month old baby and a hubby.. I guess I just love the vino ! I have actually lost 2 stone in the last 6 months so hoping it's the wine diet 😂😂

This just means your not an alcoholic that can't function in normal life...it doesn't mean your not reliant on it

I never drink when my toddler is awake and when I say almost a bottle I mean 2 large glasses and the last time I did not drink was Sunday just gone. I could go days or nights without it . But I am finding work life so stressful at the moment and it really takes the edge off

You wont know if you're reliant on it or not until you stop, how do you feel if you dont drink for one or two nights. Wouldn't you rather put the money towards your baby or a pampering session. Alcohol makes people age

I would go cold turkey (should be easy as you don't rely on it).

you are way above the recommended intake. there are tons of health implications. Just stop!

It sounds like you're a high-functioning alcoholic.

Well, you know it’s not great or you wouldn’t have asked the question.

I’ve been here too. It’s worth trying to cut back and have some AF nights at least.

By the way this is a great alternative 😊

How do you know you aren't reliant on it?

How difficult would you find it to skip a night?

I drink 2 bottles per week (usually over Thursday/Friday/sat/Sunday) and I think that's too much.

I'm not reliant on it because if I was i would want it in the day and morning but I don't.

Bollocks. Which, deep down, you know. You rely on it to get through an evening. You're dependent.

Try two wine free evenings this week. Then post next week about how you get on. I guarantee you won't be able to manage it.

Bet your liver is as stiff as a plank.

@Mum21beauty

Too much for sure. One or two bottles a week is probably the most you should be drinking. Even that is pushing it.

Would you admit how much alcohol you drink publicly/to people you know (family and work colleagues?) And your doctor?

Bet the answer is no.

Was meant to have picture of non alcoholic kopperberg!

You’re laughing now but unfortunately you probably won’t be in a few years if you keep it up. Middle aged women are the most rapidly increasing group of people succumbing to cirrhosis.
You’re basically binge drinking every night.

when I say almost a bottle I mean 2 large glasses

In my house 2 large glasses would be a bottle. Sounds like you're minimising it which in itself is a bad sign

They say to at least have 48 consecutive hours alcohol free per week....gives your liver some recovery time. Ideally you'll be alcohol free for longer, but hey...it's your body!

How do you feel if you go without a bottle of wine one or two nights, OP?

My DM used to drink very heavily, like you - a bottle of wine a night, sometimes more.

This carried on throughout my childhood - I can't ever remember it not being what she did, She now drinks less, but still a lot more than she should.

Her skin is shot to pieces - she smoked for years, too, which contributed somewhat, but the alcohol gave her skin a strange, spongy appearance.

I'm sure it's affected her brain and memory too, she repeats herself endlessly sometimes and can be very snappy. She was never like this when I was little - my sister and I put it down to the alcohol gradually changing her personality (for the worse) over the years.

I dread to think what state her liver is in.

If you think you are not alcohol dependent, you might well be deluding yourself, as my DM has been doing for the whole of my life.