to ask how much alcohol is 'normal'?

[Squashinthepinkcup]

Just read another thread about drinking, and it got me to thinking. What's an acceptable amount of alcohol in your opinion? Not from an NHS perspective, but in your household. Do you have a glass of wine/a beer after work most days? If it's a nice wine, maybe you have two glasses, or more? Is it unusual to finish a bottle once a week, either in one evening or over the course of a few evenings?

I just got the impression the OP in the other thread was basing her opinion on whats normal for her household, but it's not something often talked about, so how would you know if it was an okay level or something to be concerned about?

So, what's normal for you, and your partner if you have one?

I’ve been mulling over some of the differences between my parents and in- laws.

I think one of the major differences is my parents always drove to work, my in-laws always got the train - so wouldn’t need to be so worried about stopping drinking by a certain time.

My parents also live more rurally and would need to drive to get ‘help’ in an emergency, plus because of distances do a lot more day to day care of grandkids, and have the generation above still alive but ailing so not unusual to have to jump up and deal with a crisis unexpectedly.

I made my ILs sound like drunks - they’re not obviously, but they do host a good party and love their food and drink. I worry about the impact on their health, but also realise they’re aware of the risks and are choosing that they want to continue. They’re not harming anyone really, and I do know they are able to moderate when needed (when in charge of grandkids, for example).

Recently (as in maybe over the last six-nine months) I have had about 10-15 cans of beer a week on average, some weeks maybe more,some weeks slightly less but with wine.

It has absolutely become normal for dh and me which is why we have decided to really cut down. A few drinks on a Friday or Saturday unless DH is on nights, then none then. I have noticed that my face was constantly looking puffy and I suspect it was the alcohol.

I drink socially, at weekends in the summer when outside, if we have friends round etc. My husband doesn’t drink . I wouldn’t just have a drink at home in the evening for no reason. In the summer I definitely drink more as we have a caravan and spend time outside with other people but in the winter, unless it’s Christmas I don’t drink.

Anything more than a thimbleful of wine once every 4 years or so is a clear sign of alcoholism, especially if you have children under the age of 35, even if they no longer live with you. Once you have opened the bottle you must pour the rest away immediately to remove all temptation to have a second.

As per the first response, every time this question is asked, you tend to get the extremes.
You'll get the "I drink a bottle of wine every night along with a couple of G&Ts / I never have less than 12 pints on a night out ... and I am fine" calls, and you'll get people that don't drink at all, except maybe a sherry trifle at Christmas.

There are as many "normals" as there are people.

The NHS guidance isn't a bad starting point to look at, if you are worried.
Or actually testing to see if you can happily go without alcohol for a month without it bothering you.

I’ll have one bottle of low-ish percentage wine a week over two nights. I’ll also then have some weak lagers after. That’s about 2-3 nights a week x

Pubs do not stop serving people when they are drunk. Have you ever been to a 'spoons? As someone who used to frequent one that attitude of "You don't have a drink problem if you have company" is very common there. From people that start at 9 or 10am and drink all day with the cheap alcohol usually at least 6 days a week.
I now buy more expensive alcohol but only drink small amounts but gasp all alone by myself at home much, much less than I ever did surrounded by others.

I probably drink a bit too much - particularly from a calorie perspective.

I usually drink about 5 nights a week, although a bottle of wine lasts around 3 days, sometimes more. DH likes a beer most evenings but usually has the equivalent of a half pint - we actively seek out the 250ml bottles. Once or twice a week we'll have a cocktail each - usually on a friday or Saturday.

Edited to add: I think this is probably somewhere in the middle of people I know. I almost never drink to excess - I was at a BBQ on the weekend and had a full bottle of wine and really felt it because I'm just so not used to it. But a lot of people I know are drinking less often but when they do drink, it's a LOT more. And I also know a few people who are probably drinking similarly to me and DH.

I'm the only adult in the house so tend not to drink as I've no-one to split the bottle with. Occasionally I will have a glass of wine once the kids are in bed, but it is very occasionally and it is a small one.

If I'm drinking with other people, I do drink a lot. At least 3-4 big glasses which is a bottle of wine or more each. This would be less than once a month on average.

I used to live with a guy who drank every day. He would get home from work, have a beer and then head to the gym, come back and have 1/2 bottle of wine or more with dinner, and then decide whether to go out drinking with friends or stay in with more wine and a movie. Every day, that was his baseline. The weekends he put gallons away, I've no idea how he did it (and maintained his job, driving licence and desire to go to the gym!)

Like I said, my perspective is changing. It's two thirds of the NHS limits. I use to easily drink several each week.

But as I have gotten older, the people I know now drink far less. My 30s DSSs, their partners and friends rarely drink at home and my twenty something nephews rarely drink. Generally, its my friends and family in their 50s and 60s who do not seem to be changing. People are more invested in their health.

In our house, we only drink on friday and saturday, even then only 1-2 drinks each. We would drink more if we were out, or a special occasion, festival etc. it's really important to have at least two consecutive days a week without drinking. having stopped drinking whilst TTC and now pregnant, it's really made me realise how much I would drink alcohol out of habit, I can't see myself going back to drinking the same amount after baby is here.

I have a glass of wine - one - most nights. DH and I will have a bottle between us at the weekend. But I never, ever drink more than that in one go (can’t handle it, apart from anything else!). So I don’t get the horror at “daily drinking” from people I know who don’t drink at all during the week, but really knock it back at the weekend.

Depending which week usual is either 2 or 5 pints, total. Recently, I've decided to cut back further.

Right now, I'm thinking zero most of the time. Two nights when I usually have a drink have an exercise class next morning, it's not helpful. Those pilates classes are important to me 🤷‍♂️

Cut alcohol almost completely out while I'm dieting, but 'normal' for me when I was drinking would be to have a bottle of wine over a weekend, or a cider or two over a week.

Usually I have two glasses of wine at the weekend unless I’m at a party or bbq then maybe a bottle but that’s once a month roughly. DH maybe two beers a week.

I don't drink at home, I live alone and made the decision during lockdown not to drink at home during that time as I was worried it could become a disaster. And never resumed.
Not to say i never will again but am actively trying to lose weight so won't any time soon.

I'll drink when eating out on weekends and go for a drink with friends now and then.
And every day when on holiday.

Can't seem to edit my post. I used to drink more, I think what cutting back to a low level long enough does is highlight that even a small amount has an impact.

There's a difference between used to handling an amount and the actual impact it has, particularly if you're active. Nobody sleeps okay after drinking, period, for example. It's just not physiologically possible. The difference is your willingness to live with it & it's impact on your physical & mental health

I don't drink at home, never have done, neither does DP. No judgement, we drink far too much caffeine, so far from perfect.

We do drink socially, DP more than me.

Non or low drinkers will be the only replies you get. As PP said, if you asked about UPF food, only extremely healthy posters (love) to reply.

Most people I know (in several different countries) all in good jobs with DCs, drink roughly a bottle of wine a night or equivalent. (50s)

My DDs generation (teens) drink much less than my generation who drink more than the previous generation IMO.

I probably have a glass of wine Thursday or Friday and a couple more glasses on the weekend if at home, so approx a bottle of wine a week, sometimes less sometimes a bit more. If going out for dinner or socialising, I will have a little more.

In our twenties we'd drink 2 bottles of wine on a Friday night, often have several drinks on a Saturday night out and fairly regular glass of wine one weekday evenings. We were young, social life based around drinking and could sleep off the hangovers. Now in our forties with young children I might go all week without a drink. Occasionally have a gin when at home on an evening weekend maybe 2-3 times a month, usually one is fine. If socialising I'll have more but 2-3 generally my limit. I tend to drink gin and tonic as it doesn't give me much of a hangover. Binge drink more than that on big nights out maybe 2-3 times a year. My husband has also cut right down and is similar. Does binge in the summer on work events.

I don't drink at all, my parents didn't, one of my siblings doesn't.
DH drinks about four nights a week, I'm not sure how much, I don't monitor it.

I've been on here years and have read loads of these threads, someone always comments about the teetotallers being judgmental if you have more than a thimbleful of sherry at Christmas. I'm really not judgemental but every time I read that comment it makes me wonder how much that person really is drinking that they have to be so snotty about it.

I do drink and it makes me wonder the same.
It always looks as though the question has touched a nerve.

Anyway, to answer the OP question- DP and I usually share a bottle of Prosecco a week over the course of the weekend (couple of glasses each I think it works out as generally).

A box of wine (3 bottles) and two bottles a week between the two of us.

Shamefully did two boxes and a bottle over the weekend, but thats not often.

I probably fancy a cold cider once or twice a year in summer

Don't get me wrong, on the odd occasion I definitely binge drink but that's usually once a year at a Christmas party when I'm mainlining shots!

Last had a drink Dec 2022