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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

How much drinking is too much?

154 replies

ellie09 · 07/09/2023 22:13

Just your own thoughts 😊

I would have 2-3 bottles prosecco per week. Spread throughout the week - say one on Wednesday, Friday, Sunday.

Is this excessive to you?

I drink a bottle and feel.completely fine and capable to deal.with an emergency and as a full time worker and single mum I am keen to know your thoughts

fYI I don't binge drink on one day

OP posts:
Original poster
ellie09 · 07/09/2023 22:37

ItSoundsLikeADrag · 07/09/2023 22:34

There's about 8.4 in a bottle of prosecco, so about 3-4 pints of beer at most, which doesn't seem like a lot
6 units in one go is classed as binge drinking for women (8 for men)
plenty of people will be along to say ‘it’s fine’ but that’s because they too drink a fair bit.
The recommended units per week are 14 so yes, it is excessive, and you run the increased risk of CVD and some cancers.
I drink a bottle and feel.completely fine
This alone shows your tolerance is alarmingly high which should be a concern.

I’m an ex drinker who used to drink wine by the bottle 2/3 times a week…until that wasn’t enough. It really is a slippery slope.

Thanks for your input!

I had a "friend" suggest to me to move to spirits which seemed like a bad idea.

I should note, I did at one stage have a bottle of red wine almost every night. But I did scale that back after assessing how bad that actually was.

I have friends or neighbors that drink a bottle per night, so I think I have maybe tried to kid myself that I am okay 🫢

OP posts:
honeypancake · 07/09/2023 22:39

Any amount of alcohol is proven to be toxic to the body and a potential cause of cancer, with risks rising with every extra unit. You don't have to feel drunk to cause harm for your body. I would really look into ways to cut back significantly.

www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health

Original poster
ellie09 · 07/09/2023 22:39

honeypancake · 07/09/2023 22:39

Any amount of alcohol is proven to be toxic to the body and a potential cause of cancer, with risks rising with every extra unit. You don't have to feel drunk to cause harm for your body. I would really look into ways to cut back significantly.

www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health

Thanks, I'll give that a read 😊

OP posts:
notahappybunny7 · 07/09/2023 22:40

ellie09 · 07/09/2023 22:27

Thoughts I have had also 😊

Show quote history

Do you know cirrhosis is caused by drinking day after day after day for years. What health problems are you worried about exactly?

HappiDaze · 07/09/2023 22:42

I barely drink now but in the 90's and 2000's I was drinking at least half a bottle to a full bottle of wine a night.

But I would now say that yes it's probably too much that you're drinking from a health point of view

If you smoke as well then health wise your fucked

If you're not smoking then it's passable for now but try to cut down

Original poster
ellie09 · 07/09/2023 22:42

notahappybunny7 · 07/09/2023 22:40

Do you know cirrhosis is caused by drinking day after day after day for years. What health problems are you worried about exactly?

Show quote history

I have a thyroid condition and albeit, mild MS plus family connected bowl, verbal, stomach cancer, so it does play in the back of my mind!

I've also been diagnosed recently as a coeliac

OP posts:
RantyAnty · 07/09/2023 22:43

Total up the amount you spend on it yearly.

There are other ways to relax in the evening without destroying your liver.

Original poster
ellie09 · 07/09/2023 22:44

HappiDaze · 07/09/2023 22:42

I barely drink now but in the 90's and 2000's I was drinking at least half a bottle to a full bottle of wine a night.

But I would now say that yes it's probably too much that you're drinking from a health point of view

If you smoke as well then health wise your fucked

If you're not smoking then it's passable for now but try to cut down

Yep, I don't smoke but I vape. Yet another vice I am trying to quit as I know its bad for me!

OP posts:
HappiDaze · 07/09/2023 22:44

Just do the trick of drinking a glass of water in between your glasses of Prosecco

kitsuneghost · 07/09/2023 22:44

The fact you think you are capable of dealing with an emergency after a bottle of prosecco is worrying. Your judgement WILL be impaired.

HappiDaze · 07/09/2023 22:46

It will damage your liver which can damage the cells making you more prone to cancer

Same with your lungs

dancingdaisies · 07/09/2023 22:46

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn at the request of the poster.

Rainbowsandrainclouds1 · 07/09/2023 22:46

I was drinking that at one point.

Could drink a bottle and felt fine.

It contributed to rapid weight gain. Ive cut it all out now and rarely drink. In hindsight it had an effect on my body - skin and hair. And although I was functioning I wasnt at my best.

I would say, with no judgment, that it's excessive becuase statisticslly it is increasing your risk of alcohol related ilness.

Original poster
ellie09 · 07/09/2023 22:46

HappiDaze · 07/09/2023 22:44

Just do the trick of drinking a glass of water in between your glasses of Prosecco

Thanks! I may try the ole Shloer or fancy juice technique and have it in a wine glass. I know I don't need it, as I've went months without it before.

Just needed to gauge general public opinions and not those close to me 😊

OP posts:
Againstmachine · 07/09/2023 22:47

This thread is full on proof why lots of people lie when they see GP and they ask how much they drink.

You could actually drink the bare minimum and still they will blame any other ailments are due to drinking even though not connected on drinking as it's a easy get out for them.

anotherside · 07/09/2023 22:48

A bottle of wine/Prosecco (12%?) three times a week is pretty bad for you I would think. How drunk you feel/don’t feel is, to a degree, irrelevant.
Latest research suggests even one drink is bad for you. Then obviously two worse, three worse, etc.

Original poster
ellie09 · 07/09/2023 22:50

Againstmachine · 07/09/2023 22:47

This thread is full on proof why lots of people lie when they see GP and they ask how much they drink.

You could actually drink the bare minimum and still they will blame any other ailments are due to drinking even though not connected on drinking as it's a easy get out for them.

There is a stigma, I agree

There isn't a lot I have come across that think I have an issue.

My close friends all drink nearly every night (the same if not more than me). My childminder says she needs 2-3 gins a night to unwind.

I got through self evaluation the odd time, and think to myself, do I really need this 🫣

OP posts:
Original poster
ellie09 · 07/09/2023 22:52

anotherside · 07/09/2023 22:48

A bottle of wine/Prosecco (12%?) three times a week is pretty bad for you I would think. How drunk you feel/don’t feel is, to a degree, irrelevant.
Latest research suggests even one drink is bad for you. Then obviously two worse, three worse, etc.

Its about 8.4 units in a bottle so equivilent of 3.5 pints or 3.5 gins etc even though I get 5 glasses from a bottle!

OP posts:
ThePoshUns · 07/09/2023 22:53

I dint think it's excessive, Prosecco is quite low alcohol percentage wise.
I can drink a bottle of wine easily but not on a school night as would feel a bit groggy the next day.
I have my bottle of rose in the fridge ready for tomorrow evening.
What you describe is what most people I know drink in a week.
MN is rather more puritanical.

MidnightOnceMore · 07/09/2023 22:54

Yes it's too much overall and an unhealthy amount in one evening.

People who drink similar amounts or more will say it's fine. Drinkers say drinking is fine. Non-drinkers say it's not. The stats don't lie though.

MidnightOnceMore · 07/09/2023 22:56

What you describe is what most people I know drink in a week. The fact many people do it doesn't make it a healthy choice.

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 07/09/2023 22:56

It is excessive. The fact you’ve built up such a tolerance that it doesn’t affect you is worrying. But hey. We all do things that we know are bad for us. I’m a heavy smoker but virtually tea-total 🙄

ThePoshUns · 07/09/2023 22:56

Fair enough

Original poster
ellie09 · 07/09/2023 22:57

Dontfuckingsaycheese · 07/09/2023 22:56

It is excessive. The fact you’ve built up such a tolerance that it doesn’t affect you is worrying. But hey. We all do things that we know are bad for us. I’m a heavy smoker but virtually tea-total 🙄

Oh well all have our vices dont we 😂

OP posts:
Grumpy101 · 07/09/2023 22:59

That's A LOT. I like a drink once in a while but a whole bottle of prosecco 3 times a week is way too much. Not normal and certainly not recommended.