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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you think this is a lot of alcohol?

147 replies

tapthedrum · 17/04/2022 20:22

I finally submitted my dissertation today. Daughter is at her dads so went and got a bottle of wine at the shop to celebrate/relax after a stressful few months writing and a stressful year researching.

I finished the bottle of wine then had dinner and now just chilling watching tv.

My mum phoned and asked what I had done this evening so I said and she was utterly appalled at me finishing a bottle of wine. Did I feel tipsy? Yes. Did I feel drunk? No. Did I do anything out of the ordinary? No.

So what's the issue? I drink maybe 3 times a month and I don't think one bottle is a copious amount. AIBU?

OP posts:
Jazzyjeffery · 17/04/2022 22:50

I'd be smashed on a whole bottle of wine, so I do think it's alot of alcohol in one go, especially without food. But it seems fine for you, and not a regular occurrence, so crack on OP! TBH I probably have more units a month than you in total, just more spread out.

Crazyinlove123 · 17/04/2022 22:54

For goodness sake, you have finished a dissertation, it’s bank holiday weekend if you want to drink a bottle of wine go for it. Hardly makes you an alcoholic.

pradavilla · 17/04/2022 22:56

I don't drink much and I'd be plastered after a bottle. However I know one bottle is not considered excessive with most people I'm just a complete light weight.

Winter2019 · 17/04/2022 23:00

Depends for example how strong the wine was.. years ago bottle of wine would've floored me,now I'm a bit more used to it so probably would be fine. Really depends if the wine had 10.5 % of 13%. Also I have to say for me personally,wine makes me more tipsy then spirits for example

HikingforScenery · 17/04/2022 23:00

Yes it’s too much imo

707smile · 17/04/2022 23:05

Firstly- a massive congratulations for getting your dissertation finished- that's amazing!

Secondly, a bottle of wine is 10 units so yes, a whole bottle is a drinking binge, even if it doesn't feel that way. If you do this three weeks out of four then it's not great but if that's all you're having on those weeks then I guess you're not exceeding the amount that you should be drinking each week. That's not to say that your liver will necessarily love it though!

ihatesoaps · 17/04/2022 23:12

@Luredbyapomegranate

It’s a lot in one sitting. More than is good for you.

But assuming it’s not a regular thing it’s not that bad either. Just keep an eye it doesn’t creep up to once a week, twice a week..

I doubt she's finishing a dissertation every week 🤦🏼‍♀️
707smile · 17/04/2022 23:13

@ImInStealthMode

Genuine question for those to whom a whole bottle is horrifying; if you're at something like a wedding or a BBQ or a night out where drinks are flowing, do you genuinely make one or two glasses last the whole time? Or have one glass and then swap to soft drinks until you go home?

I can fairly easy get through a bottle in an evening without too much ill-effect the next day but if I was at a lengthy event that could easily be a bottle and a half or two. I'm by no means an alcoholic or regular binge drinker, but 1 large glass of wine an hour over 6 hours at a wedding wouldn't floor me (despite equating to 2 bottles).

Okay so for- I have alcoholic Dad, alcoholic grandparents, aunts etc. I'm also prone to feeling really depressed and anxious if I drink too much. I'm unwell at the moment but in the past when I've gone to weddings or nights out I've tended to be careful and to have some soft drinks in between two to three drinks. I don't get carried away with it all because I can't afford to. People always used to assume I was super drunk though and I'd be as fun as the next person.
707smile · 17/04/2022 23:14

** oops typos- that was meant to be 'Okay so for me, as I have an alcoholic Dad etc. I have always been really careful with what I drink'

DearDoggos · 17/04/2022 23:15

It's fine to drink alone, if that's what you want to do to relax. It does seem a little strange that if you only drink three times a month, you're not drunk after 10 units in one sitting. Perhaps it's not quite as infrequent as you think? 🤔

ImInStealthMode · 17/04/2022 23:24

Thanks @707smile, and sorry for the troubles in your family. I've no judgment for people who don't drink at all (a friend of mine is teetotal and generally provides the most fun on a night out).

I just agree with others that dependent on time-scale a whole bottle isn't actually as bad as it sounds and doesn't require some of the pearl-clutching evident here. A whole bottle in an hour? Potentially a problem. Over 4-5 hours on a special occasion, not so much.

(It may be pertinent to include that I don't give much thought to arbitrary government guidelines, so long as someone is generally healthy in body and mind. We're all too different to fit into small boxes).

whenwilliwillibefamous · 18/04/2022 00:53

Partly depends on how strong the wine is.
12% - a bottle is 12 units
8% - well presumably 8 units
I wouldn't do it these days! But if a friend did it as a one-off I wouldn't fret about them either.

DukeofEarlGrey · 18/04/2022 01:19

Finishing your dissertation is a massive achievement and celebrating the occasion with a bottle of wine sounds perfect imo.

However, I think you should keep an eye on it if you are drinking the same amount several times a month because it is quite a bit in one go. You don't need to speculate on this, there are clear guidelines about the health effects over time.

Otherwise OP, well done and crack on!

DukeofEarlGrey · 18/04/2022 01:23

@ImInStealthMode

Genuine question for those to whom a whole bottle is horrifying; if you're at something like a wedding or a BBQ or a night out where drinks are flowing, do you genuinely make one or two glasses last the whole time? Or have one glass and then swap to soft drinks until you go home?

I can fairly easy get through a bottle in an evening without too much ill-effect the next day but if I was at a lengthy event that could easily be a bottle and a half or two. I'm by no means an alcoholic or regular binge drinker, but 1 large glass of wine an hour over 6 hours at a wedding wouldn't floor me (despite equating to 2 bottles).

Am not horrified at all but am not much of a drinker and sometimes just don't want to. I would do exactly what you describe and switch to soft drinks. No big deal.
TheMarzipanDildo · 18/04/2022 01:28

My dissertation is due tomorrow at mid day. It’s far from finished, but here I am on MN.

Well done OP, I can only imagine how that must feel.

HoleLottaLove · 18/04/2022 02:05

Back when I drank too much I would drink a bottle or almost a bottle in an eve, and I got used to it.

But I see a bottle as four glasses, and two is plenty.

It's all relative, my brother is an alcoholic, and he would justify his behaviour by saying his friend used to drink a bottle of spirits per night. His behaviour has caught up with him, 50 years old with organ failure and can barely eat now.

But when young and having fun, on the rare occasion, this probably won't harm.

NumberTheory · 18/04/2022 05:06

It’s a lot of alcohol for an normal weeknight. It’s restrained for a blow-out-I’ve-just-finished-my-degree-night.

carefullycourageous · 18/04/2022 05:08

It meets the definition of binge-drinking, whatever people feel is 'normal'. On that basis yes it is a lot.

Ugzbugz · 18/04/2022 07:03

Absolutely fine, it's 3 glasses for goodness sake, millions of people drink way more in the pub and would have over the bank hols. I can easily drink a bottle and would feel a bit tipsy but wouldn't be hungover. Don't give it anymore thought!

Moochio · 18/04/2022 07:09

@Ugzbugz

Absolutely fine, it's 3 glasses for goodness sake, millions of people drink way more in the pub and would have over the bank hols. I can easily drink a bottle and would feel a bit tipsy but wouldn't be hungover. Don't give it anymore thought!
How big are your glasses?!
8MinutesToSunrise · 18/04/2022 07:15

YANBU. Congratulations!

gingerhills · 18/04/2022 07:23

It's a lot. But ime a pretty normal amount to have on rare, celebratory occasions. I had almost a bottle of wine yesterday over lunch and dinner on Easter Day. I'd worry if I had that on an average weekend but just at Christmas, Easter and maybe a couple f family get togethers a year - it's not a worry.

Congratulations on finishing the thesis.

Plainascanbe123 · 18/04/2022 07:55

It depends.. A bottle of wine we bought the other day... 3 glasses of wine came out of it... It was just an average size bottle.

RoseAndRose · 18/04/2022 07:56

How big are your glasses?!

Loads of 250ml glasses available!

A whole bottle is indubitably a lot.

But once in a blue moon celebrating? Fine

EvenPhilip · 18/04/2022 08:09

@Forgotthespuds How many of you is that between?