To those who drink 3-4 bottles of wine per week

[prayerbeforebed]

Can you cope with everyday life the next day and are you comfortable with your intake?
Is it too much ? Is your health affected ?
I find that I am using wine as a crutch since my shock split from husband and subsequent discovery of an affair.
I drink three bottle is wine per week when I did used to enjoy one . I don't want anymore but I find it completely relaxed me and gives me a little buzz of happiness in anitherwise difficult time.
I don't want to ruin my health but I feel a bit guilt.
Thanks

I saw a programme a while back, it was either a Michael Mosley one or Adrian Chiles specifically about drinking. It featured an interview with an oncologist that said latest research shows any level of drinking increases the risk of breast cancer and the absolute safest thing to do was not drink.

She admitted she drank moderately herself, but was very mindful of the risks associated.

Having previously drunk 3-4 bottles of wine per week and am currently not drinking, I have felt numerous physical and psychological benefits of cutting alcohol out. I really don't think anyone can justify 3-4 bottles per week is a sensible amount, even if others around you are doing it.

It featured an interview with an oncologist that said latest research shows any level of drinking increases the risk of breast cancer and the absolute safest thing to do was not drink. But increases by how much? What is the overall increase in risk? No point in saying an increase in risk if it isn't even statistically significant - because it often isn't!

Condemnation if you want to rehome your shitfilled moggy or enjoy a glass of wine of an evening ;-)

I have no problem with anyone having a glass of wine in the evening. The OP has said she has a bottle of wine in the evening - when you're counting in bottles rather than glasses, it's best to think about what you're up to and cut down a bit.

And yes, I know she averages around 1-2 glasses a day, but she has said that when she drinks, it's a bottle at a time.

never put the bottle back in the fridge or cupboard with the last glass left in it - and make a point of tipping it all down the sink before bed.

Bollocks would I ever do that. That's just wasteful. If I open a bottle on Friday night and I have a nice glass left for Sunday night, it's a good end to the weekend, with zero chance of a hangover the next day.

If you cut out everything that is reported as a cancer risk, you would only be left with organically grown veg, seeds and grains.
There's a risk with most things.
Drinking too much increases the risk but that may be because people who drink too much also have a bad diet as a result of drinking and their vitamin and mineral levels are depleted.

I increase my risk of death by travelling by car - but I accept the risk - I could chose to walk, I could chose not to travel unless it’s essential but I don’t - I travel just for pleasure as I expect most people do without giving it a moment's thought.

I definitely used wine as a crutch when I was divorcing but it was temporary - when I was beginning to recover I pretty much stopped drinking at home- that was almost 10 years ago. I drink socially and have an odd glass of wine or G&T at home. Worked for me but a risky strategy. Good luck try not to go overboard

There are oncologists who regularly drink more than 14 units a week

How is that reassuring? There are plenty of HCPs who smoke too. Does that make it less risky?

@lazylinguist

I don’t have wine every day, usually a day or so in between. But when I do have wine 3 glasses is about my limit. Most days I’m fine. Maybe an upset stomach occasionally.Sometimes I overindulge though. I think if you have a problem you would know it.

Couldn’t drink 3/4 bottles a week definitely not. That would be about what, 30/40 units?

Since covid lockdown I’ve drank a bit more than normal, but generally limit it to 2 nights drinking. Occasionally a third, if I’m on a holiday at work (or I didn’t feel I’d drank enough the day before 😂)

I probably drink about 8 units one night and same again the next night. If I drank more than 10 units in one night, I’d feel a bit hungover and not have anything the next day.... and I don’t drink through the week so I’m probably best to binge drink overall 😂

Also I saw some research when I looked into this a while ago that said you need to have stopped drinking for something like 15 years for the chances of those cancers to go down again so 🤷‍♀️

It doesn't matter if you can cope with life the next day or if you are comfortable with that amount, the fact is that's far too much to be drinking every week. Yes that will have an affect on your health.

Don't feel bad. Enjoy it for the extra boost right now, make sure you get enough sleep, and take vitamin b. It's not forever. I've started having a few this week and it's been good... I definitely feel better for it.

And if you're watching tv watch comedy. I'm watching lilyhammer (scandi thing on Netflix) and it's uncomplicated fun.

I can drink a lot. When I'm out I can throw back huge amounts and be fine. Lockdown weekends are basically 2 long sessions with my lockdown bubble friend. She drinks a LOT. And is fine. Everyone is drinking a lot at the moment. Well MN isn't and obviously you are an alcoholic and will die soon. Excerpt you're big and you won't.

Read through some more comments and my experience of a bit of week day drinking vs weeks of barely any have been very different from the dire warnings. I've been barely drinking and instead been eating appallingly and can see it on my skin (and weight!). Not sleeping either.

This last week (from the 2nd) I've had 2 bottles of good red, and some spirits (mid rum and ginger beer). And I'm starting to feel better than I have in ages. Sleeping (though up far too late tonight!). Life's too short to be fucking miserable and whatever relaxes me has the benefits that stress reduction brings.

I think that lots of people will tend to enjoy a few more drinks or bottles of wine, in the aftermath of a personal and upsetting time, it definitely will take away some of the sadness and heartache for a while, and perhaps cope with your feelings for,a while again. But it's not the way to go,because it could become a habit later. If you wake up feeling rough the next day, and you have things to sort out etc, it can take it's toll on you .

No judgement from me though, as I was drinking too much for a few weeks many years ago, 30 years ago in fact, when my Late Husband left, then realised how bad I felt each morning after, it was all so pointless.

@SawingForTeens

Do you think I am dependent or excessive drinker?

Does not sound like it.

I drank every night for a time, just to make my brain shut down so I could fall sleep at night (young GS was dying of cancer). Sometimes it helps, alcohol isn't always the bad guy. I'm done drinking myself to sleep now. I still drink, though much much less.

I’m so sorry to read this. Losing a child or Gchild is so hard. Condolences.

I finish the wine by ten thirty and sleep for eight hours straight afterwards

Will go back and RTFT in a sec but this jumped out at me. Even if amount of sleep is the same, there’s a reasonable amount of evidence that quality is not as good. This can be linked to more volatile moods, impact of memory, cardiovascular health etc.

I would feel awful all the time of I drank that now (huge lightweight who hardly drinks) but I probably used to in some weeks when I was younger, and feel better for cutting it out. However I am very vulnerable to the mental down sides of alcohol which many others seem much more resistant to.

I did similar in the wake of divorce.. I completely get the desire to have the edge taken off the stress and misery. However, I found myself at one point stopping off on the way home for unnecessary loaves of bread or milk and just happening to pick up more wine while I was there and feeling vaguely unsettled if I knew there was none in the house. I felt, and still do that at the end of a day of work and single parenting that I deserved it, but I made a decision it was getting out of hand, that I would cut short bedtime stories because I wanted to pour a glass, so I stopped drinking through the week, or, on a really bad day, would have one decent glass, slowly. I found keeping my hands busy with a puzzle or knitting helped.. Even if its just basic squares or a scarf noone will wear, it serves a purpose.

I drank 3-4 bottles a week for many years. No hangover or tiredness the day after either.

I’ve cut back significantly this last year to the level of maybe half a bottle a week Do I feel better? No. Have I lost weight? No. Was it difficult? No

Clearly I had no physical or mental dependence on alcohol, it was just something I enjoyed after a hard stressful day at work and pure habit.