Wine every Evening?

[Busymum45]

I love a glass of wine most nights, normally one or two but more at weekends, is this ok or a bad sign ?! Try to have one or 2 wine free nights. I associate it with wind down and relaxation as have a busy life.

Is it unreasonable to want to drink wine every eve?

The ‘You will, of course get the ‘anything more than a...’ comments will invariably come from those who drink similar amounts.

You’re asking because I think you know that you’re drinking too much and that it’s become your ‘reward’ for a stressful life.

This is the time to do something about your drinking habits because associating drinking with ‘winding down’ and the convenient solution to life’s stresses is a slope that could turn slippery without you noticing. No one become alcohol dependant overnight.

"functioning alcoholic"-@MyDCAreMarvel, do you know the definition of one? OP definitely isn't it!

“A functional alcoholic is seemingly able to properly fulfill societal, career, and other related responsibilities while drinking amounts of alcohol that could be lethal to someone who has not built up a certain high level of alcohol tolerance”

So OP enjoying a couple of glasses of wine in the evening is not that! It’s fascinating to see responses like the the one throwing that accusation out there, what different worlds we must live in...

My sister drinks a glass or two of wine every evening, and has done so for 25+ years I'd think. However, she never drinks more than that.Never a 3rd glass, never more at a party, wedding, etc.

As a person who only very occasionally has a glass of white wine, I don't see myself ever wanting to do that myself.

I think OP has asked the question because she is wondering if she has a problem.

It doesn’t sound like it from what you’ve said. A couple of dry nights a week would do you good but from the amount you say you drink, you aren’t a functioning alcoholic. If you add in 2 alcohol free days and don’t drink more than 14 units a week over the other 5 days (no more than 4 units in one day) then you are within the NHS guidelines.

A glass of wine or a G&T is a nice treat, can be sociable or relaxing or both. Alcohol is part of life and most people can drink without problems. I get that some people have problems with alcohol and may have to abstain or that some people don’t drink for religious or cultural reasons but alcohol is part of life, for many people, in the U.K. and that isn’t going to go away despite how much some people on mumsnet seem to disapprove of that.

and that isn’t going to go away despite how much some people on mumsnet seem to disapprove of that.

I didn't notice anybody disapproving. Drinking excessive amounts is an issue for quite a few people. It's up to the individual to decide what their acceptable limits.

This is MN so anyone who says no will be branded a Puritan or a killjoy.

However, NHS guidance recommends you do have a few alcohol free nights for the sake of your health. A glass of wine every night raises your risk of certain cancers including breast cancer etc

Functioning alcoholic, ha ha that's hilarious!

Yes me and DH have 1 glass of wine with dinner every week day night to compliment our meal. Weekends 2 glasses

My parents and in laws also always had a glass of wine with the evening meal when we were growing up.

No not functioning alcoholics. No health issues and both our families tend to live well in to there 80’s with minimal health issues so no I don’t think it’s a problem.

In the uk we do seem to have some funny ideas about alcohol

Sounds good, I have a bottle in the fridge chilling lol

Same as one of the pp my family is from a wine producing/consuming country and you don't have a meal without a glass (maybe breakfast). So by some people's definitions large swathes of Spain are functioning alcoholics. I tend to have wine with my evening meal every night, usually just one but it is a "habit" so I suppose that's bad?
It sounds to me OP like your consumption over the week is moderate and you do have evenings without. I wouldn't worry, particularly as you are clearly aware it's becoming a habit that might escalate.
Obviously excessive alcohol is bad for you but it doesn't sound like a lot to me at all.

I used to drink wine every night - often the best part of a bottle. I bloody love the stuff. But I have to say it made me fat and tired and sluggish. And after a while a bottle didn't really affect me so I started having more at the weekends and it did become a bit of a problem. I don't think I ever had a dependency - I just enjoy things that aren't good for me. Like chocolate - it's not good for me but I enjoy it so I eat it and nobody accuses you of being a chocoholic

Seriously though, the guidelines probably state you're having too much which may affect your health later down the line. Whether it's affecting you in other ways only you can say. I do find that I've lost weight and feel more motivated now I've cut down and have more sober days. But I still enjoy the odd glass during the week and at the weekend. I certainly wouldn't judge but plenty here will be suggesting you contact AA and that you're a terrible human

When I saw the title I said 'yes please'

I think I only have this much on holiday.

If you are otherwise fit and healthy and not overweight why not?

I'm another "wine most nights" girl and I'm still alive. Had to laugh though, as while I'm typing this an ad for a wine appreciation course has popped up in the side box .... maybe we should all enrol. .

Sometimes I have two bottles a night. I’m still alive.

God would not be able to stand if I drank one bottle let alone two.

Not for much longer will you be alive if you keep that up.

One glass is fine I'm sure.

@Busymum45

What is it with these ridiculous threads this past few days?!

If you have to ASK if the amount you are drinking is a lot, then you KNOW it is.

And what's the right answer anyway?

I have half a bottle a month, so yeah, someone drinking half a bottle a night is drinking excessively IMO.

To someone who has a glass of sherry on Christmas day, and a glass of brandy on new year's eve, (and nothing else all year,) my half a bottle a month is excessive.

@Triggahippy

Mumsnet is strange when it comes to alcohol. There are the militants who think a glass of wine an evening makes you a drunk and then the others who regularly drunk too much and are boastful about how ‘fun’ they are.

This. ^ You do get a few sniffy and uptight teetotallers on these threads, who say anyone who drinks more than a glass of wine a week is a piss-head.

But you also get people projecting their insecurities about how much they drink, by accusing people who hardly drink, of being smug and self-righteous.

And yeah, the people boasting about how pissed they get and how much 'FUN' they are, are cringeworthy! The 'I had one and a half bottles of wine and shagged in the living room' comment made me cringe. Oh look how wild and 'fun' I am. Errr yeah OK then luv.

And don't even get me STARTED on the poster who boasted about necking 2 bottles of wine a night! FFS!

@DirtyRotter

My dad had a double whisky every night for as long as I can remember. He lasted to the grand old age of 84.

There's always one. 🙄 I know plenty of people who rarely drunk in their life - ever - and they still died young (in their 40s or 50s..)

My Dad used to have a large glass of red every night. In those days the NHS recommendations were 21 units a week for men. He lasted until his late 80s, happily drinking 14 units a week.

Enjoy your chilled wine @Busymum45

Am wondering something - this is not goady -

Do people ever correlate wine intake with weight or are they considered invisible calories?

Its worth getting a drink tracking app on your phone and being entirely honest about the amount you drink over a month or so. I've even gone as far as measuring the size of my usual glass of wine - some are large enough that a glass counts as 2 units. I did it in the autumn and discovered that what I thought was probably about 20 units a week had crept up to closer to 30 - no wonder I was putting on weight!

@GinDaddy

I do. It’s the main reason I don’t drink much anymore. Sadly, at my age, every calorie seems to count.

Sometimes I have two bottles a night. I’m still alive

Are you kidding? This is seriously worrying OMG 😮

As for the “my grandad drank 5 bottles of whiskey a day and lived to 101!” - I never wore seatbelts as a child and I lived- does that mean you’re gonna risk it? I also know chain smokers who lived to their 90s, doesn’t mean chain smoking is “good for you” or recommended. Those rooms lived to old age in spite of the drinking, not because of it. One anecdote doesn’t negate multiple health studies that show alcohol is a carcinogen.

This has all got a bit childish hasn't it? We don't need to label anyone as pious, self righteous, try-hard-fun or cringe. It's all down to personal preference. Some people enjoy a drink, others aren't fussed.

What I find hilarious is the OTT MN attitude that anyone who enjoys a glass of wine in an evening is an alcoholic. Very silly and unhelpful.

Addiction to me is when you become dependent on something and will let it control you, becoming detrimental to relationships, work, overall life. Alcohol is an addictive substance but it's still entirely possible to drink regularly and not be addicted. Lots of people on here have a very skewed view on that.