AIBU to think drinking every day is normal?

[BitBehind]

Just that really.

I grew up in a household where both parents drank every night. Always wine with dinner and then sometimes gin or whisky afterwards.

They were never smashed. But they definitely drank every day without fail and often a little wobbly before bed. I didn't think much of it.

Now I always have wine in the evening. Soon as the kids (toddlers) are in bed it's my routine to come down and have a glass of white wine in the quiet at last. And then maybe one more with dinner. And maybe one more after dinner. Small glass. 3 max. I never go out drinking anymore so that's it. I'm never drunk but also would find it hard to not have that glass at the end of the day

Is this normal? My partner says it's definitely not.

I don't think it's normal. I don't know anyone with these drinking habits

No I don't think it is normal, personally.

The fact you'd find it hard not to have a drink is a bit alarming.

You say 3 glasses max but take a look at the units you're drinking each week. It all adds up.

No, it's not normal. Look up how many units of alcohol are recommended per week.

I come from a pretty boozy and sociable family and we don't drink every day. I have at least 3 clear days a week minimum.

This was my parents normal too when I was growing up but I don't know many people (including them) who drink like this nowadays other than when on holiday. I hardly drink at all and most people I know will drink 2/3 nights a week, if at all.

I know many many many people who have wine with supper every day. Many.

Normal is a range, obviously, but I would imagine that’s towards the higher end of the range.

Not normal and the fact that you'd find it hard not to have that wine shows you that your relationship with alcohol isn't healthy.

It’s not the norm in my house!
dh drinks more than I do, out with work friends on a Thursday night then a few beers/wine on a Friday and Saturday night.
If I’m having a drink it will usually be only on one of those nights and probably every two or three weekends. Unless there’s an ‘occasion’.
Also, when I’m on holiday abroad I will definitely drink every day!

It’s too much

No not normal, women are only supposed to drink 14 units a week and 3 glasses a night is above that.

I don't think so no.

Even in countries where its normal to have wine all the time at the dinner table people don't actually tend to have it every day. It might get put our but people will say "no thanks" as often as they say yes.

There was an ad campaign about numbers of wine bottles in the recycling, aimed at drinkers like you who are drinking a large volume because they drink every night. You should ideally have at least 2 alcohol-free days a week. Can you substitute wine in your routine some days?

Have you added up how many units that is in a week?
From the nhs website ' It's recommended to drink no more than 14 units of alcohol a week, spread across 3 days or more. That's around 6 medium (175ml) glasses of wine, or 6 pints of 4% beer.'

So you probably are drinking too much and no it's not really 'normal'
I found myself during November and December last year drinking every night and realised this wasn't really healthy or normal so have cut right now and tend to only drink occasionally at the weekends and nights out
In fact I hadn't drunk alcohol for over 3 weeks before this Friday and had two glasses of wine and felt rough Saturday morning!

I suspect it’s very common but not necessarily healthy. DH and I realised in the first lockdown that we had drunk alcohol every night for 8 weeks solid and I made a real effort to knock it on the head because it’s so easy for it to be a habit. We probably drink 3 nights a week and often just a weak g&t on a Friday eve. I would be slightly nervous about having 3 drinks every night especially in case you had to drive in an emergency!

It can be normal. If I started doing it it would be abnormal. It doesn't really matter what is normal it matters what you are happy with.

I don't drink and don't get the "need" for a drink but I agree it is entirely normal.

I don’t think so but then I haven’t had a drink since NYE

No, it's not normal. patient.info/doctor/alcohol-use-disorders-identification-test-audit

Whether it's 'normal' or not isn't important. Especially in the UK where attitudes to alcohol aren't great. Is it healthy? Does it cause you problems or have the potential to cause you problems? It sounds like you're potentially drinking way more than the recommended units a week. It's also something that has the potential to spiral. What a few glasses becomes more than that?

Tea/coffee etc yes alcohol no if you need alcohol to wind down your doing something wrong

No that’s not normal. Probably at least 6 units a day… so 42 units a week, 3 times the recommended limit. It’s not mentally healthy to need wine to unwind on a daily basis, never mind the negative physical effects.

If your partner is telling you that the amount you drink is not normal, it sounds like he’s concerned? The fact that you feel you can’t do without it certainly sends up some red flags. Could you take a break from drinking and try to reset? Try some new relaxation habits for yourself?

That’s about 42 units a week so possibly not that great?

Absolutely not normal amongst anyone I know IRL! 3 glasses a night is far too much and bordering on an alcohol problem. I love a night out and a drink but I could never drink every day.

I don't drink alcohol any more but don't think there's anything wrong with a daily glass of wine with your dinner. However, 3 and I would imagine that you are over the drink/drive limit? It seems a lot to be over the limit every day, even if you don't drive.

Now that I don't drink anymore, the very odd time that I've had the odd glass of wine or glass of beer, I almost feel every stage of how my body metabolises it. It feels like such a strain on my system and I can't imagine making my body work that hard processing it every day.

Is that half a bottle of wine a night OP? Definitely not judging BTW, just wondering. Do you feel you have a problem? Are you worried it's getting out of control or has this been a consistent habit for a long time? How do you feel the next day?