Is three bottles of wine a week too much?

[PinkOrchidDream]

My husband, not me. Since I've been pregnant, so abstaining from drink altogether, I've been more aware of his drinking. It's by no means a problem judging by his behaviour but I just wondered if this is (obviously a bit unhealthy) but normal for some. It's spread out over the week so he doesn't binge at weekends.

@PaperbackRider

The UK guidelines actually work out to less than a small glass of wine per day. They're bullshit and I think most people know that, and they also know that they have little to do with health.

They are fourteen units per week aren't they - which is two small glasses per day (although guidance is to have some alcohol free days).

They are fourteen units per week aren't they - which is two small glasses per day (although guidance is to have some alcohol free days)

No, a 175ml glass of 13% wine is 2.3 units. So less than one glass per day.

A standard 175ml glass of the 13% ABV wine would equal 2.3 units of alcohol using the formula 13 (%) x 175 (ml) ÷ 1,000 = 2.3 units. A small glass (125ml) is 1.6 units, a large (250ml) is 3.3 units and a 750ml bottle of 13% wine is equal to 9.75 units of alcohol.

@TheKeatingFive

Have a look at liver disease stats!!! Ffs.

Erm that’s not evidence for the claim made.

However, the link above about differing limits according to country is interesting.

Do we see much worse liver/heart disease in countries like France, Spain, Italy that have higher limits than the U.K?

I doubt it. Life expectancy is pretty high in all those countries I believe.

Just because the limits are higher, doesn't mean people actually drink the limit or above, does it.

The french have turned around their awful rates of alcoholic liver disease through a 'drink carefully' campaign. Back in the 70s the UK had basically no one dying of liver failure, hence it was called The French disease.

That has completely changed now.

@Dontknowowt

My GP gave me a telling off when I told her I ocassionally drink two small glasses of wine in one night - she said that was "dangerous drinking"!!

@Dontknowowt, when I approached my GP for help with my drinking years ago (a bottle or more a night at that time) I was told that I could only get NHS help if I drank over 300 units pw. Needless to say it took several more years for me to stop and I had to do it myself (with grateful thanks to the 2 AA meetings I attended that confirmed to me that I am an alcoholic)

@MrsPsmalls

Yes of course it is too much and bad for your health. It's a bad decision drinkers just own it ffs. And if you get ill please don't pretend you didn't know. You are putting your short term fun ahead of your long term benefit. Up to you but don't come crying...

It's OP's DH not OP that is drinking the 3 bottles. Maybe at least try to read the OP properly before coming over all judge-y pants!

Just because the limits are higher, doesn't mean people actually drink the limit or above, does it.

It’s a reasonable indication of what’s considered ‘normal’.

And I’m not sure what references to habits 50 years ago add to a discussion about today’s rates.

Well done TomorrowIsAnotherDae for kicking the booze.

Its far far too much. More than double the recommended limit.

@Viviennemary

Its far far too much. More than double the recommended limit.

Just because its more than the guidelines doesn't mean its actually too much.

Do people take the "rules" as some kind of gospel?

Back in the 70s the UK had basically no one dying of liver failure, hence it was called The French disease

Lol. Do you actually think thats true?

Back in the 70s the UK had basically no one dying of liver failure, hence it was called The French disease

I thought it was syphilis that was (charmingly) called The French Disease.

I don't think it is true that dying of liver failure through drink was unknown in the 70s. But it is true that rates have rocketed.

@TheKeatingFive

Have a look at liver disease stats!!! Ffs.

Erm that’s not evidence for the claim made.

However, the link above about differing limits according to country is interesting.

Do we see much worse liver/heart disease in countries like France, Spain, Italy that have higher limits than the U.K?

I doubt it. Life expectancy is pretty high in all those countries I believe.

And those countries have better weather so more people exercising. Eating a Mediterranean diet etc....

Anyway all our opinions are irrelevant. If you want to know if it's too much you kind of have to measure against the guidelines because that's the only stable thing to measure it against.

On here it's far too much, bordering on alcoholism, in real life it's not too bad. Op you said yourself you joined him when not pregnant, me thinks you're a little jealous- no judgement by the way I can't stand being around drinkers when sober. On the flip side I can't stand being around sober people when I'm drinking, there such a buzzkill🤣

Fwiw I think the reason people see alcohol as different from, say, saturated fat etc consumption is that there are wider societal effects from alcohol use - we've all seen our town centres/A&E wards on a weekend night. And while supping half a bottle of wine at home isn't going to put you there, we all know that alcohol use impacts on more people than just the drinker. So people have a vested interest in what others drink.

As for whether that particular amount is too much, I'd look at the impact on finances, relationships and so on, when considering what is problem drinking. Arbitrary unit counting is I think more of a guide than a cut off and outside of noticeable impact on health and functioning, acceptable alcohol use is largely culturally subjective. Eg in Spain that would be loads, in Russia not so much.

And those countries have better weather so more people exercising. Eating a Mediterranean diet etc

And those are contextual factors true of many in the UK also. Which is exactly my point, alcohol consumption part of a much broader lifestyle picture that determines health outcomes.

@TheKeatingFive

Just because the limits are higher, doesn't mean people actually drink the limit or above, does it.

It’s a reasonable indication of what’s considered ‘normal’.

And I’m not sure what references to habits 50 years ago add to a discussion about today’s rates.

Because nothing happens in a vacuum, and I was suggesting that the uk's drinking habits are getting worst and what is considered 'normal' is wildly distorted.

You used France as an example of health - which proves my point. They drink less despite having higher recommended limits

And while supping half a bottle of wine at home isn't going to put you there, we all know that alcohol use impacts on more people than just the drinker. So people have a vested interest in what others drink.

Why can’t we distinguish between situations were it does affect others and where it doesn’t.

In this case, there’s no evidence that the OP’s husband is creating societal problems.

You used France as an example of health - which proves my point. They drink less despite having higher recommended limits

Where’s your evidence for how much they actually drink?

is that there are wider societal effects from alcohol use

We seem to be ignoring the wider societal affects of obesity though. Isn’t diabetes proving an enormous drain on NHS resources?

Keating you are very active on this thread batting away every single poster who has a difference of opinion to you.
It seems like this thread has hit a nerve!

It seems like this thread has hit a nerve!

I drink within the limits, if that’s what you’re getting at.

I just find attitudes to alcohol in this country very interesting

@PaperbackRider

Back in the 70s the UK had basically no one dying of liver failure, hence it was called The French disease

Lol. Do you actually think thats true?

Yes.

@ohnoohnoohnononononoo agree that people in the UK generally drink a lot more now than 50 years ago, also that rates of liver disease are much higher.

I doubt there's a correlation at the point OP's husband is at for him personally but in broad population terms, seeing three bottles a week as not very much means that the point where there is a correlation seems more distant when really it's not. If you have a heavy drinking culture then it's more difficult to address problem drinking.

It’s a difficult one OP. I don’t drink alcohol now because I don’t have an “off” switch. Being sober I’m acutely aware of other peoples alcohol consumption and how normalised drinking is.

That said, not everyone is at risk of addiction, some people can drink alcohol “normally” and won’t be at any more risk health wise than someone who eats too much junk food.

I don’t think 3 bottles a week is too much for someone who can handle alcohol and stop after 2 glasses. The risk is that it can creep up to 3 glasses, then 4, etc.