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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Drinking wine each evening

536 replies

Mamabear2424 · 04/01/2024 21:30

Is it ok to drink wine every eve?? I have a glass , sometimes 2 every evening and I love it, it makes me happy. Dh says mental health more important so if it makes me happy I should just do it. I am a healthy 40 something with a professional career. I just love wine.

OP posts:
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16
Goneroundthetwist · 04/01/2024 22:22

25 units a week is quite a lot……

Allfur · 04/01/2024 22:23

Isn't a glass of red wine a day meant to be good for you, as in old people in the blue zones do it?

Theasparrot · 04/01/2024 22:25

As you know this is Mumsnet and all answers will range from "You disgusting Alcoholic. To it's absolutely fine.
if you are not comfortable then stop. You are the only one who knows how much it's affecting you.

CatamaranViper · 04/01/2024 22:25

As long as it doesn't go over this really. As long as you can go a few nights without it as well.

I started off with the odd glass. Then it was half a bottle, then a bottle, now I can easily slurp down a full bottle and a half and wake up without a hangover. It's one of the reasons I'm doing dry January to prove to myself that I can

Icantbedoingwithit · 04/01/2024 22:25

The fact you posted shows you’re bothered.

AboutYouTalk · 04/01/2024 22:26

If you couldn’t care less about NHS advice then why are you asking if 2 glasses a day is too much on here? Drink away to your heart’s content.

Almondmum · 04/01/2024 22:31

ManateeFair · 04/01/2024 22:06

Mumsnet is absolutely the worst place to ask opinions on alcohol because the general consensus on here bears no relation to reality. In Mumsnet world, if you have more than one glass of wine a week you’re an alcoholic.

In the real world, loads of people drink a glass of wine every night and are perfectly fine. In plenty of European countries, including ones that have far lower rates of alcoholism than the UK, it is entirely normal to have a glass or two every evening.

It's weird how this gets trotted out on every thread about alcohol despite there always being plenty of replies saying they drink every night or that they drink but maybe not as much as the op.

Personally, in the same way I try and eat my veggies, drink my water and get my exercise in I also moderate my drinking. So I personally would try and do exactly as you propose and have a couple of days off it. Apart from anything else you'll find other possibly healthier things to make you happy

GirlOfTudor · 04/01/2024 22:31

It sounds like a habit or a routine, which is worrying. Alcohol shouldn't be something you need to drink every day.
I disagree with your husband - drinking alcohol every single day will negatively impact your mental health, not positively.
I personally couldn't justify the cost of drinking that much wine each week. Far more valuable things to spend money on.

Lesina · 04/01/2024 22:31

Does it impact your life? Does it stop you functioning, is it causing you any issues? If not crack on. We all have to die of something. The current angst around alcohol is very odd.

Useitorloseit23 · 04/01/2024 22:33

MrsQTip · 04/01/2024 22:07

What answers were you expecting OP ? This is Mumsnet where even a sniff of some spilled sweet sherry on the Vicars cassock would send you into a spiral of addiction

Funny response since you are responding here on MN too! 😅

GirlOfTudor · 04/01/2024 22:36

Also, I'm not sure why you being a 'professional' has any relevance? If you worked in a minimum wage job would you view your drinking habit differently?

NerrSnerr · 04/01/2024 22:36

How is your sleep and how do you feel in the morning? Are you groggy and tired?

I gave up alcohol completely last year when I wasn't drinking much as the downsides outweighed the good (even small amounts were giving me hangovers). It has benefited me.

I think you need to honestly consider the pros and cons for you own situation.

SolarT · 04/01/2024 22:37

It’s your life. Do what you want. 25 units or whatever it is, isn’t that much. Perhaps 1/2 nights off a week would be good though.

Fairyliz · 04/01/2024 22:38

Mamabear2424 · 04/01/2024 21:36

I make sure I don't exceed 2.5 bottles a week

That’s too much. A bottle will be 9/10 units so you are having over 20 units a week.
Maximum recommended is no more than 14 units.

TravellingWithBubba · 04/01/2024 22:42

I read something about this a while back. There was some new research saying basically that ANY amount of alcohol is really bad for you. Don't ask me about the details because I can't remember but I think it was an article in the Guardian.

Useitorloseit23 · 04/01/2024 22:42

I was also brought up on the narrative that 1 glass of red wine a day is good for your vascular health. After reading many conflicting news articles over the years after new studies have been found to support or dismantle the health benefits, and after doing it myself for years, especially during and after lockdowns, I don't actually think it is that healthy. At the end of the day alcohol is toxic and a depressant and can have negative effects on your brain as well as other organs. It may help with sleeping but how do you feel in the morning? I feel not drinking everyday makes me much more alert and my mind is sharper. Especially if I have to go to work! The question is also, do you need it in order to relax or sleep? (Dependency issues?) I found that reserving it for special occasions or even weekends makes me feel more in control and also saves a lot of money!

DracunculusVulgaris · 04/01/2024 22:44

Sorry OP, but I think your attitude towards alcohol is of concern...

You say that you don't care about the 14 units/week NHS guidlines and are exceeding that by a large margin...

You are allowing your husband to enable you by saying it is good for your mental health - this is nonsense, alcohol is a mood altering, mind bending recreational drug, known to cause depression and cause short and long term memory loss and deterioration of brain cells...

You say that you have been drinking in this pattern for years, so have been causing long term, cumulative damage to every single one of your internal organs...

The fact that you are asking the question suggests that you think you might be consuming too much. I would urge you to cut back significantly as it IS a slippery slope, despite protestations to the contrary

AmethystSparkles · 04/01/2024 22:45

Op why not just cut back to one glass (two unit’s worth) a day? It’s not much of a change and it’s fourteen units a week.

I envy you….I’ve had a glass this evening (I rarely drink) and feel dreadful!

DillDanding · 04/01/2024 22:45

I’m doing dry January as I do every year (and October too), but otherwise I could easily have a glass or 2 of wine every night.

Is it too much? Yes, sadly it is. I always aim to have 2 or 3 nights off, but fail at least one week a month. If there’s a bottle open in the fridge, I have little willpower.

I never have a hangover, or sleep badly but I know I regularly exceed 14 units a week which is probably bad for me.

Blinky21 · 04/01/2024 22:45

There is nothing wrong with a glass of wine a night, especially if it's red, it has health benefits

Ellie56 · 04/01/2024 22:45

Mamabear2424 · 04/01/2024 21:51

Couldnt care less about the 14 units, where has that come from anyway?
But I will try and skip a night then 2, as its a habit im sure,

The NHS. Hmm
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/the-risks-of-drinking-too-much/

nhs.uk

The risks of drinking too much

The risks of drinking more than the recommended limits include cancer, liver disease, heart disease and stroke.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/the-risks-of-drinking-too-much

FreezyFord · 04/01/2024 22:46

It’s fine. Listen to your dh and relax

ohthatmissmith · 04/01/2024 22:47

The Queen drank a lot more than that everyday, and lived to 96.

ultimatepushyparent · 04/01/2024 22:47

I think it's important to enjoy your food and wine. However, if I were a doctor I'd probably tell you to cut down. How about if you see whether you could do 3/4, i.e. three nights carrying on as you are and 4 nights not one week, then the other way around the next week? Give yourself at least 3 nights off per week.

There are quite a lot of empty calories - yes, there are antioxidants etc but let's face it, you are not nourishing your body from red wine after half a glass.

Namechange9876543210 · 04/01/2024 22:47

Kendodd · 04/01/2024 21:50

I'm really trying to drink a small glass of red wine with my dinner every night. I'm actually wanting to drink more alcohol for the good of my health :) Its hard though and I'm failing by a mile so far. And I actually do like red wine.

It's a myth that drinking red wine is good for your health; the negatives vastly outweigh any positives.

In fact, although the NHS guidelines are there, there is no 'safe' limit to alcohol; they only put the arbitury '14 units' in place because they knew that saying don't drink anything wouldn't be adhered to.