Does drinking a bottle of wine, alone and at home on a school night, indicate a drinking problem?

[guineacup]

Or am I over-reacting? I'm just concerned about a friend who causally told me this earlier...

If someone is responsible for children and they are in the house, drinking a bottle of wine in one evening doesn't seem wise to me. Reactions are slower and sleep is deeper.
And if the children are old enough to know about it, is it a good example to set (sorry for sounding like an elderly aunt here)?

Secondary school - probably OK if once a week. Primary school - no, that's too much. I'd be making sure that there was always milk and fruit juice in the fridge and hide the wine behind the gin to be safe.

Well I would think it has been since standard measures of wine have been introduced and people have been able to do basic maths.

Small measure wine 125ml
Medium 175ml.
Large 250ml

Standard bottle 750. Therefore 3 Glasses of wine. (Large) or 6 (small). I personally have never ordered a 'small'. Two mouthfuls and it's gone. On the other hand I am someone who enjoys a drink and will always have a 'large' .

I know so many people for whom a bottle of wine I night is absolutely normal. I probably have 2-3 bottles a week in the winter when there's not much to do in the evenings . Less so in the summer as I would prefer to be gardening ... I know that will make the MN massive to clutch their collective pearls.. but have just had a 'well woman' MOT for my 60th and the only issue is that my Thyroxine needs a tiny adjustment.

Surprising number of teachers in my social circle are the biggest and most regular drinkers.....

Yes

My ex-wife used to drink a bottle of wine a night, averaging about 90 units per week plus occasional binge blow-outs. She always denied it was a problem, could never cut down, and was miserable to be around when she'd started. I used to count the empties into the wheelie bin, and record on the calender. Am delighted she's gone, but fear (for our children) that she's still drinking.

Yes

Once a week, nope, I can happily drink a bottle on a weekend (I usually have 1 bottle drank on fri/sat), I work mon-fri and probably drink a bottle over 5 nights in the week too (little glass here and there), if her days off are in the week and she does it then well no not an issue. 5 nights a week so 5 bottles obviously excessive. Context is needed here.

Well this has been a very informative thread !

A bottle of Prosecco goes nowhere, I easily polish that off on my own.
A bottle of Chardonnay I’d have to have over 2 nights.

It’s a ridiculous amount to have regularly. As a one off, I’m sure I’ve done it.

Context is key. Once a week, once a month, once a year, or once a day?

Is it more worrying alone on a school night, or would you be less worried if she was in company on a weekend?

Most people on MN would be totally incapable for the next 3 days after a thimble of wine, but in real life I'd say the majority of people I know (that drink wine) can drink a bottle of wine in one sitting over an evening without instantly passing away. Most choose to limit the volume, the frequency or both, though.

Ooh how quirky and controversial, let me guess, I bet you’re nOT LiKE OtHEr GiRLs 🤪 & you love BEER?! Mahbe change your username to PickMePennn 😂

All that poster said was they don't get the obsession with wine?!

Let me guess, you love every single item of clothing, make up, or other stereotype because you're such a girls girl. You have no pet peeves or opinions at all

Give me strength!😮‍💨😒

And that's assuming wine is a woman's drink, what rubbish!

In response to the OP, a bottle a night is loads. A glass a night is ok, imo. I don't drink much though so wouldn't do it myself.

A bottle of wine is 3 drinks? What planet are you on? It’s 10 units!

Breastfeeding massively reduces the risk of breast cancer, your risk is cut by something like 25% if you breastfeed for over 1 year, more the longer you do it. I've breastfed (and am still going) for over 6.5 years so I will enjoy my odd glass of wine, I'll break even risk wise!

@SavvyWavvy 1 large glass of wine as served in the majority of bars and restaurants now is 250ml.

A bottle of wine is 750ml.

Basic maths suggests 1 bottle = 3 (large) glasses.

Most places don't even bother with small (125ml) glasses any more. It's either medium (175ml) or large.

Or there are pubs that serve the small individual bottles, which are about 187ml each.

A bottle of wine every night at approx 10 units is 70 units a week. This is classed as heavy drinking and you'd be told to cut down by your doctor. The recommended amount is no more than 14 units per week. That's the equivalent of just under 1.5 bottles of wine per week max.
How is your friend otherwise, OP?

Who has an obsession with wine? And why do you care if others drink it? 🙄

Anyone noticed OP has not come back to clarify anything?

I think this 'story' might be a plant which will end up in DM, being disgusted by all the MNetters confessing they can neck a bottle of wine no problem (me included).

But wow, they've done a good job. Some cracking posts on this thread. I'm just devastated some of them got removed before I could read them. All the assumptions that this mystery mum downs bottle after bottle every night whilst in charge of young vulnerable children, unable to find her way to A&E when said children fall over all the bottles and fut themselves to ribbons. Quite entertaining.

Bottoms up🍾

The OP hasn't said that her friend drinks a bottle of wine every night. The OP has only made one post, one post with pretty scant information.

😁

Mmmmm wine

A can drink a bottle of wine to myself over the course of a late afternoon into evening. So maybe 6 hours.

I do this maybe once every 6-8 weeks when I see my friends.

I couldn't and wouldn't do it every night, or even once a week tbh.

Feeling dependent on it indicates a problem. I would say doing it several times a week/daily is a big problem.

Don't ask Mumsnet. You're only allowed a small glass every other Christmas or you have a problem 😉

My db drank that roughly every day. No one would describe him as an alcoholic. He died from liver failure. Its the daily drinking that's the issue.

Regularly is a problem. Once a week is a problem.
’I only drink at weekends’ is a problem.
Some will say I’m incorrect, well perhaps I’m correct.

An alcoholic starts with 1 drink. This is worth thinking about.