Drinking all weekend?

[seriouslyfedup]

Every weekend, and then living the working week as though that was another me and I don't relate.

I'm 66 days sober so by no means an expert but can honestly say I've never been happier. For some people moderation just isn't possible. Cutting alcohol out altogether really helped me. Meant there was no indecision around it and the sense of failure of not being able to have just one went overnight. My husband also quit which has helped immeasurably.

It’s normal in my social circle. I don’t drink at all during the week and due to probably being peri menopausal I’m shattered so I’m cutting right down at weekends. Friends of mine are still going for it though.

I think it really does depend who you’re hanging out with.

I would be worried about what damage you’re doing to your body OP, with two bottles of wine in one night, that’s a heck of a lot to put your liver through.

From what you say you are drinking in huge excess and could be causing yourself long term health problems. You may or may not be an alcoholic.

No we don't.

Can't relate at all as I take strong painkillers daily so they don't really go with drinking alcohol. The older I get the less bothered I am about alcohol. Really happy with my "sleep" teabag drink each night - old fart alert!🤣

Can't relate at all as I take strong painkillers daily so they don't really go with drinking alcohol. The older I get the less bothered I am about alcohol. Really happy with my "sleep" teabag drink each night - old fart alert!🤣

This is fairly standard in my group pf friends but I'm trying to move away from it as it is not healthy.

Like you OP, I am all or nothing with alcohol. I haven't drank this weekend (after a very boozey one the previous weekend), I did meet up with friends but stuck to one AF beer as I knew what would follow... I met my pals at 3pm today and I can guarantee that they are still in the pub now! Part of me thinks fair play to them as they are child free/have grown up kids and have successful businesses/careers. It is totally normal in the circles I mix in.

To be honest, I have been trying to give up for years and I do take regular breaks. I also can't just stop at one. Perhaps try out Dry Jan and see how you get on?

I'm up 6am at weekends as I have a lot going on in family life which wouldn't tie in with drinking copious amounts of alcohol. I prefer to be sharp every morning and know what's going on.

Four bottles of wine and a bottle of Bailey's over three nights is approximately 55 units of alcohol. That is never OK for anyone.

I drink. I enjoy wine, but don't drink anywhere near that amount of alcohol.

The OP definitely has a problem.

That is never OK for anyone

Why do you get to decide that @RampantIvy? I’m a little confused

@RampantIvy it's already been said it was either wine OR Bailey's

It was normal for me in my 20s but definitely not now. I'm 48 now and my body just doesn't want alcohol anymore! OK, I'll have a glass with dinner sometimes but drinking all weekend? No thanks. I'd feel rubbish.

It’s definitely not what everyone does (see average consumption figures below) and the quantity of alcohol will almost certainly do you harm in the long term. Alcohol consumption is a funny thing as you can get away with it for years and then suddenly be badly affected (the liver is very good at what it does, until it ins’t any more). The temptation is for drinkers to think they’re fine and carry on, but the problem is that by the time you realise you’re not fine, it’s very bad indeed.

I also think you’re just missing a lot of what life has to offer by being either drunk or hungover for such a large proportion of your life.

PP mentioned This Naked Mind and I second that suggestion. It might also be worth giving up entirely for a bit- a month maybe- and seeing what that is like. Doesn’t have to be a permanent thing for now, but might give you a bit of clarity as to what to do next.

I don't get to decide that, but we all know that 36 - 40 units of alcohol a week isn't good for us (I went back and re-read the OP's posts @snuggleswithmygiies and I stand corrected).

No doctor has recommended drinking that much every week ever @Xmaswomble.

I am not holier than thou about drinking. I probably drink a bottle and a half of wine a week max (15 units at most). I have seen my BIL drink himself to death - his death certificate states the cause of death as alcoholism.

I'm 15 years sober. I couldn't just have one either.
My life is immeasurably better having none.

As a friend who is an alcoholic (but currently sober) once said to me "One is too many and 5 is not enough".

I know exactly what you mean, and I am 100% in the same position. No advice, unfortunately - if you find an answer I would love to know.

Ah see so when I’ve had a bottle of Krug or Zind Humbrecht I can never just have one, but I have also been to many a wedding where the wine was not just foul but undrinkable. So even finishing one was a challenge. Where does that leave me? 😜

Absolutely not normal or healthy. I used to drink like that when I was 18. I'd die if I tried now, at 38.

If I understand you correctly (apologies if not) you’re looking to be able to reduce/stop at one drink without going cold turkey. I’ve found the only thing that works in this case is a replacement drink, and unfortunately most alternatives are packed with sugar (tbh debatable if a glass of 0 dosage 11.5% champagne is worse for you than a mocktail packed with sugar in my view). I started buying kombuchas and then eventually brewing my own. They are a bit expensive but still cheaper than a drink out and all the sugar is fermented out and the only thing I’ve found that comes close to the complexity of an alcoholic drink.

My other suggestion is a Coravin and buying less wine but better quality but that’s probably overkill for most people 🤣

I used to drink quite a bit until I had kids. Then I just could parent with a hangover. We then moved to the Middle East where alcohol was not available (well it was but not legally!) so we drank rarely (normally when we travelled ). We now love I a country where it is legal , but I've found that I don't enjoy it as much as i used to. Wine makes me feel like death warmed up the next day even after two glasses. We will have a few beers on a weekend occasionally , but if someone said to me you can't drink ever again it wouldn't bother me in the slightest. My family are big drinkers and I definitely notice it when I see them.

I absolutely cannot be arsed with the crap nights sleep and feeling crap the next day.

I refuse to make myself feel crap!

One drink. Two tops.

For example this weekend away at a spa- one glass of champagne and one cocktail.

I can easily pack away a little of bailies or the best part of two bottles of wine on a Friday night and then repeat on Saturday.

Ooft. That's a LOT.

Just googled Baileys (Drinkaware). It's 17% ABV and a 50ml serving is 0.8 units. So a litre bottle would have 20 servings of 50ml meaning that bottle is over 16 units. Then you've got wine on top.

And the recommended limit is 14 units per week.

As a fellow heavy drinker, it could only be a matter of time before it creeps into weekdays. At least have a break- might not work for you but the 'try dry' app has helped me stop for weeks at a time and when I start again I'm drinking only half a bottle on a couple of times a week for a good few months. January is a good time to start taking some time off as loads of others will be doing it too.

No it's neither good nor normal. Is it fun?

Drinking can become a habit. If it's not fun, then put it down for six months and control it.