To ask if you drink alcohol everyday?

[knockknockw]

I’m having a break from alcohol as I’ve drank far too much recently. I’m about 10 days alcohol free atm.

Been thinking about my drinking a lot recently, and I’ve realised whenever I try to keep 3-5 days alcohol free, it inevitably creeps up again until im drinking everyday again. Not a lot mind, one or two a day and always with dinner, (more on weekends)

does anyone else drink daily with dinner?

And if you don’t drink, how’s life without alcohol?

We don't keep booze in the house and I drink down the pub one, maybe two, evenings a week and Saturday lunchtime. Never more than 3 pints a session.

Only really drink if going out, and that's a rare occasion these days. When I go out with the girls it's rare anyone drinks these days as everyone drives so even when I do go out quite often it's just a coke and water.

I don't feel like a glass of wine or a cider really improves my evening. DP is the same. We both used to be big drinkers in our 20s too.

I probably only drink once every few weeks, and even then, it's likely to be a couple of vodkas or glasses of wine. Drinking every day is an addiction.

Never. I don't like the taste and don't like feeling out of control.

I have 2 glasses of wine provably once every 2 or 3 months. And a bottle of baileys spread over the Christmas period.

Literally no comprehension of people who spend huge amounts of money on alcohol!

It's great. When I do manage it

I would drink every day if I could but am trying to lose weight - so not drinking alcohol at all at the moment - when I go on holiday in September will make up for it then

does anyone else drink daily with dinner?
I don’t

And if you don’t drink, how’s life without alcohol
Just normal (I only drink when I go out or at social gatherings)

I don't drink every day but still think I drink too much - not that I'm a big drinker, it's more about the calories than anything else. I'm struggling with perimenopausal weight gain and it's just not helping. I do love a glass of chilled white wine though!

I very rarely drink at home, maybe once every two weeks if we've cooked a nice meal. I probably drink once a week on average, socially. It works for me because I'm naturally just not a big drinker: I am productive, mind is clear, physically feel great etc.

I don't even drink every week.
I enjoy the odd glass of wine and DH got into making cocktails a few months ago but I can take or leave alcohol.
I was very surprised to find out how often friends drink though, no judgement I was just surprised. I was in a group of 4 women recently and I was the only one who didn't have a glass of wine most evenings

@lesina stumbled on this thread / your post and wonder how you are doing now?

Yes, I do have a small drink most days.
I started doing it in lockdown when DD was little and in bed. I like a drink in the evenings to relax. I like everything, beer, wine, gin, cocktails.

But I've always been quite disclipined with knowing what a unit is and I keep track of them..
I know I often have more than 14 units a week, it's about 20.

I have a healthily diet and work out daily. I'm not that worried. Maybe just my circle and age group but I know plenty of people who drink a lot more.

@NeedToChangeName all good. On Day 82 of no alcohol. Cravings pretty much non existent, it has been a very worthwhile thing to do. Planning on continuing, not making any ‘never drinking again’ statements but just not planning on having any alcohol:)

If it creeps up and you don't want it to, then you need firmer boundaries. So rather than saying vaguely 'three times a week' change it to only ever on a Friday and Saturday, no exception. Or only when out/hosting. I don't drink at all now and my life is no different to when I had the odd glass with dinner or on nights out. But then I'm fortunate to always have been able to take it or leave it, so my experience probably isn't that helpful.

At the moment I'm drinking too much. There's been lots of occasions recently that mean I end up drinking. I have been drinking every day. I won't be drinking between now and towards the end of August when we will be on holiday for a week and will likely drink. This is a conscious decision to stop for now as I feel I have been over doing it.

I was home alone last night and there was a time when I’d have sunk a couple of wines in the hammock and toddles off to bed early and slightly sozzled.

I had a beer with dinner, took the dog out, read a bit of a book, had a cup of tea. Went to bed at ten, all quite happily.

making me much better tempered to deal with very hung over husband who had been out with work.

I used to drink every day. Inevitably the amount you drink tends to go up and up so you get the same "hit" as you get used to it over time.

I was brought up in a hard drinking irish family where everyone basically drank. I didnt know any adults who didnt drink so I thought this was normal.

After a few short breaks from drinking, I finally managed to stop about 10 years ago. It was clear that I was only going to get worse and it was a struggle to stay on top of work and try to appear in control outside of work. I can honestly say it was the best decision I've ever made and feel amazing as a result. Not only has my health massively improved, not drinking enables me to be a better friend, wife, parent and neighbour (and my skin is thanking me for it too!). I also feel almost rich!!

Please read more about how freeing it can be to give up alcohol - you dont need it to have a good time. If you want a long and healthy life and to be the best healthy example to your own children, you know it makes sense.

I know some people can have a glass occasionally and it not be a problem for them at all. What I know is, I am not one of them

The myth of it relaxing you is a crutch a lot of people use to justify drinking. People will say "you're not that bad" but generally it's to make them feel better about their own consumption!

No I do not drink daily - it is probably once a week and social only. I can’t say how it “is” as it’s just how I’ve always been, I did not grow up in a drinking household, my parents only drank at Christmas so to me it is normal to not drink much, and abnormal to do so (though I realise that it is actually very normal and many do). When I met my DH, he was a daily drinker and since I’m not, his habits have naturally shifted and he too is now only a social drinker and drinks lots of alcohol free beers. He says he feels good for it.

Just coming back to say I think it’s hard for people who grew up in non drinking families to conceive of how odd it is to not have alcohol around all the time. My parents drank every day so when I left home I drank every day because I thought that was what people do.

Not drinking every day isn’t just something to do for you it’s a gift to your children. It took me 20 years as an adult to reprogram myself. I am not an alcoholic and have never faced a serious drink problem but for years I drank in a way which would have damaged my health if I had kept it up and was already damaging my mental health just because it was what I observed as a child.

Those of you who drink daily and think you are in control: maybe you are. But at a minimum you are imprinting a template on your kids lives that says alcohol is a natural thing to do and a coping mechanism. For your kids sake alone, don’t leave them with that legacy.

No and with each decade it has become less and less. In my late twenties I was a bit of a party animal and was out all the time. That was very much a social thing though. One friend said to never drink alone as that’s a slippery slope and I tend to agree.

Maybe once a month if that these days. I used to drink a pint most nights until I hit my late 30s.

For me it's a social / going out thing. I will drink daily eg on holiday but a normal weekday night at home? Cba

I rarely drink. Just don't have it in the house so you have to go out and buy 1-2 at a time.