To drink a bottle of wine 3/4 nights a week?

[Goodnightjude1]

Just that really....

I work hard. The house is spotless, washing/ironing always done. Kids happy, OH happy....all happy.

I like a glass of wine....or 3 or 4.

Never ever drink till I’m drunk. All of my children (eldest is 20) have never seen me drunk. I just like a few glasses to relax in the evening but apparently....according to my friend “it’s too much”

So, is it??

@Goodnightjude1

Too much wine.

Surely you know that.

We all work hard, and deserve a treat. But 4 bottles of wine a week is waaaay too much.

Must be costing £100 a month too. Waste of money AND bad for your health.

I could easily drink 4 bottles a week, and did for a while.

I've really forced myself to cut down, I didn't feel terrible, just a big groggy and tired. But I was seriously starting to put on weight, that's what made me really cut down. I have 1-2 bottles a week now. Which is still apparently not great.

If you don’t want to cut it out immediately, you could switch to half bottles initially? I’m guessing you would find it hard to leave half a big bottle for another night?

I do think it’s a good sign that you had a dry January however. And you obviously have some nights a week where you don’t drink at all.

The problem with end stage liver disease is that you generally don't know until it's too late. You just wake up one day a bit yellow and then you can be dead within weeks. You are having three or four times the 'safe drinking' limit advised by the government (14 units, ie. approx 1.5 bottles of wine a week) - whilst certainly not on the worst end of the spectrum it probably is doing you some damage. I would cut back if I were you. Could you substitute some drinks for soft ones, something you really like, so it's still a 'treat'? That would keep the ceremony of the drinking and the pleasure of sipping something.

Ooops, just noticed you are taking the advice on board.

Sorry @Goodnightjude1

Good for you.

You are seriously increasing your risk of cancer.

I drink far too much.
A bottle of wine most nights and have done on and off for 30 years.

My doctor knows and says I'm far fitter than I ought to be - and regular blood tests back this up.

I would say I'm a psychological alcoholic - certainly no physical cravings and I stop easily after a single glass if I'm driving.

Some people will become physical alcoholics from their very first drink others won't - like other addictions there are lots of other factors involved.

My parents both did it and both lived to their 90's.

It's certainly not to be recommended but it affects different people differently. If you are happy to reduce drastically it's clearly healthier but recommended amounts are average and far to much for some and others can tolerate far more

Sorry, posted without seeing your later post. Well done.

The dry January thing is a red herring. My niece (who is currently in recovery) was initially a high functioning alcoholic who then became a non functioning one was in complete denial about her drinking and frequently boasted about dry (insert month), Stoptober etc., just a smokescreen and another opportunity to kid herself on.

The G&T thing? You're either trolling or you're an alcoholic.

To be fair on a night out, 15 g&t wouldn't be beyond me
I usually drink 2 bottles of wine, a couple of bottles of lager, a few g&t, some cocktails and around 4-8 shots of something. I'll be drunk but not sick/passing out, more dancing/happy drunk

I've always been like that and it's not building tolerance as I rarely drink! Not unusual for me to go a year without drinking

I’m sure you do feel ok when you’re drinking and don’t feel drunk, but you’re drinking up to 40 units a weeks. That is a lot, especially when the recommended amount is no more than 14 units a week. You could be storing up health problems for the future.

That’s 40 units per week,
Guidelines are 14 per week.
I’d say, too much op

I'm the least judgey person ever when it comes to alcohol, but it does sound a bit much. Couple of bottles no worries, that should be enough to make you feel like you're getting a treat? I think I probably relate in that I don't really see the point of one glass of wine, when I drink I want to have a few and get a buzz, but units and calories (and family history of alcoholism) mean I can't, so I don't get the wine in.

I've got a similar thread up atm about the same thing. I drink as much as you and still go to work and keep the house kids and dp in check. But I'm starting to think about the long term effects :/

Aren't you gaining weight? Wine is terrible for calories.

I think younger people are drinking less and less. I'm 28 and will maybe have a glass once every month or so. I only really drink socially and never at home.

For one, it's far too expensive. Your average bottle of wine costs between £4-£5. Four of those and you could have easily spent £20 a week on booze alone.

I think you’re drinking too much. A glass or two at night - fine, a bottle - nope.
I work in retail in a relatively prosperous area and since working here, I have been amazed at how much alcohol people are drinking. Although I only work a few nights a week, you get used to seeing the same faces over and over, coming in to buy their wine. It’s really sad. Quite a few of them have the ‘shakes’ - sorry I don’t know the technical name - caused by excessive drinking. Don’t end up like that Op.
I serve one young man (approx 20yo - I know because I’ve ID’d him) who comes in frequently and the amount of alcohol he buys depresses me so much. I’m desperate to say ‘you don’t need to drink all this’. But obviously I can’t. It’s like watching a car crash waiting to happen.

I know you’ve already said you’re going to stop, and I don’t want to be harping in when you’ve already accepted the advice of others. But for perhaps someone else who is reading this thread in a similar situation - you may not think you’re drunk but that doesn’t mean your loved ones think the same and that you’re not damaging your relationship with them already.

The minute I read your next sentence "I work hard", I knew you were in denial about how much you're drinking. I think that you know this too otherwise you wouldn't have asked.

Please try to cut back or get some help to do this if you need it. The more you drink to relax, the more you need. It's horrible. Good luck.

Just came back to the thread and wanted to clarify I wasn’t suggesting you drink and drove. I raised the point of being over the limit to illustrate the effect that the volume of alcohol has on you, despite you saying it doesn’t really affect you. Anyway, I’m glad if the replies have helped you re-consider your habit :-)

I'm astonished that, so far, 24% of people don't think drinking that much alcohol every week is unreasonable.

In fact, I think that is scary as hell.

ShatnersWig well I think you get the cool girl attitude to drinking as well as other things.
I think younger people are drinking less and less
This is good news. I've noticed this with my younger son, he doesn't drink very much, there seems to be a growing attitude that getting drunk isn't cool. My older son is 30 and grew up in the height of the binge drinking era and the main thing that keeps him in check (apart from his kids) is the fact that he drives every day and everywhere.

feeling It's bizarre. I only know a couple of people who drink far too much and are almost certainly functioning alcoholics. I'm not tee total but I have never been drunk and I'm a 45-year old man.

I can totally see how easy it would be to fall into a "few glasses a night" habit, I say that without judgement. Wine is a relaxer for me, but I keep a tight rein on it. I saw my father as a functioning alcoholic, though he'd absolutely refuse to admit that. He would have beer and a few whiskeys each evening after working a long day, but because he'd get up in the morning, work hard and get his stuff done, he's think it was fine. It really impacted on his mood and wellbeing.

Best of luck to you, OP.

Do you sleep well? I find a bottle makes me itchy and irritable the next day and I wake up at 5/6am. So if your sleep isn't great then it's likely the wine.

Also - you may function perfectly well, but your liver won't do forever.