How often do you drink alcohol?

[Poptart4]

I drink 4 nights a week.

Sometimes I'll have just 1 or 2 drinks to unwind after a long day, sometimes abit more (weekends).

Just curious to see where I stand compared to everyone else?

About once a month when I'm out with friends

Probably about 10-12 times a year, not every month but sometimes a couple of times a month. This year so far I had a night out in Jan and had plenty then. I had a single g&t at Feb half term and 1 kopperberg at a meal with a couple of friends. Have no plans in March, poss a night out in April.

Friday and Saturday night. I look forward to my Friday wine. Will share a bottle with DH.

Also if our for a meal or similar. Or at bookgroup.

Mumsnet is full of people who get tipsy on a thimbleful of champagne at Christmas. They exclaim in horror about anyone having drink more often.

Honestly, my experience is the opposite. When I used to drink (as I said upthread, 5-6 glasses of wine a week on average - basically 14ish units a week) I felt that was the "norm", both due to my own friendship group and due to MN.

Having a glass of wine with dinner, maybe two on a weekend, a cocktail with friends etc is so normalised on here. And not doing that is described as "pious", ffs.

It's only when you stop drinking, and keep it up for long enough for it to stop being a habit, that you realise no - it's not normal for everyone, and actually it's a bit weird that every social occasion seems to be accompanied by booze. Even kids parties, in my circle of friends. These are people who would be horrified if someone cracked open a can of Strongbow at a kids party but, somehow, it's ok if it's Prosecco. I used to think the same. But now I've stopped and got out of that mindset, it just seems crazy.

What I've also been struck by is the friends who think it's good I'm not drinking, as then they don't "have to" either. These are confident women in their 30s - who otherwise have no problem speaking their mind - but they will admit to drinking on occasions when they don't necessarily want to, as they feel it's rude to say no. I think that says a lot about the culture around alcohol in this country, perhaps more so in more "middle-class" and older circles. Teenagers aren't drinking so much anymore, and nor are people in their 20s...so why is it so ingrained in those in their 30s and above?

Most nights one drink, either a beer or medium wine. Friday and Saturdays probably 3-4 drinks. Over the recommended limit but I'm comfortable with it. I'm otherwise very healthy.

This level of drinking is fairly normal in my circle although most people concentrate their units more at the weekend.

These threads ARE full of an unusual amount of non or only occasional drinkers.

Rarely

Only if I go out. I don't keep it in the house

We drink on 2 or 3 evenings a month. Usually on the weekend me and DH get paid. (We both get paid calendar-monthly, on the 5th of the month.)

SO we are getting happily sozzled this evening.

It's only when you stop drinking, and keep it up for long enough for it to stop being a habit, that you realise no - it's not normal for everyone, and actually it's a bit weird that every social occasion seems to be accompanied by booze

I completely agree and this has been my experience too. Alcohol gives me horrendous anxiety the next day, it makes me look like utter shit- puffy face, unnecessary weight gain etc and I disagree that not wanting to put myself through that makes me "pious". You wouldnt call someone who chooses not to smoke "pious". I really couldn't give a shit what other people drink- have at it, but I choose not to and yet people get SO angry when you dont- its like they take it as a personal insult, eg. "dont be so boring!, just have one" etc etc I'd never comment on what others are drinking yet people get so weird and aggro about people who choose not to drink

From my knowledge of friends and acquaintances this is not that usual a position.

Potentially, most of us mix with 'people who are like us', though. So all that indicates is what you feel is normal 'within your circle'.

There are something like 60 million people living in the UK - yes, some are children, but that still leaves many, many million people who are 'outside' of your social circle.

Most nights, I work late once a week, and probably purposely avoid it another night, but 1-2 glasses of wine the other 5 nights. Being completely honest it's probably half a bottle a night.
Probably too much but I do enjoy it! (And have quit smoking for nearly 3 years now, so it's my last vice )

3-4 nights a week, one or two small beers. I really love beer so I drink non-alcoholic beer on the other days.

Once every couple of months.

Drink daily - 2 to 4 glasses of spirit and mixer in the evening. Bizarrely if I go out for a meal I'm normally driving so don't drink. Never had a problem with not drinking if I needed to (I.e 3 pregnancies and during bf ). Just enjoy a drink at the end of a busy day. Have cut chocolate as it was contributing to migraines and I found this really hard to do!! I would gauge whether your drinking is ok by whether or not it is impacting your life negatively. 4 nights a week sounds fine. More damage is done by people over eating than drinking daily!!

I buy two bottles of wine on a Friday, and that's it.
So, sometimes those two bottles last three nights (if DD pops over) or they last me the whole week, sometimes longer. I have at least two nights a week without a glass. Happy with this, never hungover!

Between 2 and 4 days a week depending on social events/invitations.

These threads ARE full of an unusual amount of non or only occasional drinkers.

Perhaps this thread has that, because of the specific question about frequency, but overall MN tends towards very defensive and accepting attitudes towards frequent drinking. I’ve always been quite surprised by it but I shouldn’t be I suppose. I find the attitude towards alcohol really strange - I can’t think of any other drug where anyone would be so accepting of habitual use. And IME alcohol can be as damaging as other drugs.

2 small glasses of wine Fri, Sat and Sun. I use a small glass so that I don't go over - as it's really easy to do so when using large glasses. No more than 2 glasses as it gives me a headache.

Don't drink at all Mon-Thurs. I like wine, but I know that drinking every day isn't good for you.

Two bottles a week

Once or twice a week. Used to drink every night at university and in the early part of my career. Now my hangovers are so bad I can barely function at work if I have even one drink. Am also intermittent fasting and drinking makes it so much harder.

Maybe one drink about once a month. Last time was a G&T at a birthday party at the start of January. Just doesn't bother me.

3/4 times a year maybe , I've zero interest in it and the thought of any kind of hangover puts me off. I've kids to look after and enjoy running so couldn't actually cope with feeling rough from alcohol

Nothing for 20 years. X

Not at all at the moment as pregnant.

Pre-pregnancy it would vary - I could go weeks and weeks without, then sometimes I’d have a few weekends in a row that we’re quite boozy. Only ever Saturday or more rarely a Friday though, simply can’t cope with work after a drink, but if on holiday then could be every day. Definitely reduced over the last 5 years or so, to the point that DP has commented that I ‘don’t really drink’ a few times, which people who knew me before I met him I’m sure would find hilarious.

I had one glass of champagne on Hogmanay and half a pint of Guinness at the beginning of February.

It's possible I won't have any more alcohol until Christmas Day and that will be because it's Christmas rather than I particularly want it.

3-4 nights a week if I have anything in the house (just one small beer at a time). Sometimes I don't get round to buying any for a few weeks though because you can't buy it in the supermarket where I live and it's a small hassle to go to the booze shop.

Probably a good thing, even though I never get even slightly drunk at home and have a 'drinking' night out once in a blue moon. I do love a glass of beer of an evening, though.