How much do you really drink?

[GJD23000]

It’s an interesting topic, and I think lots of people wonder how their drinking compares to others. For us, my husband tends to have a beer or two most evenings, maybe a couple more on weekends if we’re relaxing or watching something together. I rarely drink during the week but will usually have 2-3 glasses of wine spread over Friday and Saturday evenings.

If we’re out with friends or at a party (which is rare now we’re parents), we can definitely drink more, maybe a bottle of wine each or cocktails, depending on the occasion. But that only happens if we’ve got a babysitter and plenty of time to recover the next day!

I’m genuinely curious to hear about others drinking habits and whether this is typical or not. No judgement at all—just keen to know! For context we have one child and are late 30s.

It’s not typical for me, as I’m teetotal, but I realise that I’m probably in a minority (of all people, not just MNers )

Early fifties, no kids, if that gives context.

I'm also teetotal and have been for 8 years, before that I drank 1-2 glasses of wine per 4-6 weeks so never been a big drinker.

55...drank far too much in my 20s and again in my 40s. My rule now is no alcohol at home, maybe when I'm out (which is very rarely). I can't stand "the day after" any more.

Tea total here. Not deliberately but I just prefer the taste of soft drinks.
DH also more or less tea total for similar reason. If he drinks anything alcoholic it's shandy!

I drank more socially at Uni. Stopped when I passed my driving test

3 adult DC none of them big drinkers either

One child, late 20s and very, very rarely. DSis might talk me into one 'drunk night in' a year, if that. I grew up with lots of alcoholic adults around me and none who modelled 'healthy' drinking habits that didn't involve domestic violence, so by the time it came to make those decisions myself I decided not to drink. I then worked in retail for a couple of years and saw all the 'regular drunks', which cemented that decision! I'm now surrounded by people who drink socially but it just doesn't appeal.

I don't drink at all in day to day life. If I'm at an event like a party or wedding I may have 2 or 3 singles and mixer but that's it really.
Genuinely don't think it would bother me if I suddenly couldn't ever again.

Mid 30s and I’ve got a baby and a toddler - il have a good few drinks if I go on a very rare night out - a cocktail and maybe 5 mixed drinks ! Knowing I can stay in bed for he next day for a lie in!

I drink about 1 double vodka lemonade's or a gin and tonic at the weekend once the kids are in bed while we watch a film or a pint if we went to the pub for lunch

never during the week unless we were out for our dinner in the pub or something and I’d have a pint (which happens so rarely now with the kids !!)

I do meet a friend for cocktails once a month and we have maybe 2 and that’s usually a Friday night and it’s early 🤣

we go all out at a music festival we go to (husband and I) every summer and we leave the kids with my parents - we drink all weekend and no idea how much - way too much probably 🤣

This is mumsnet OP where if you drink more than half a glass of wine a week you're overdoing it. Most people will probably come on to tell you either they don't drink, or they drink 3 times a year or something so I don't think you'll get a wide range of views

Personally I vary from month to month - tend to drink more over summer and in the run up to Xmas. On my 'lower drinking months' I'll probably drink twice a week, maybe a few G&Ts or margaritas and several glasses of wine. For a few months of the year I'll have 2-3 week stretches where i don't drink at all just to have a proper break

On higher drinking months I might drink 3-4 times a week, again G&T or margarita and then some wine. Sometimes I fancy a cider. Lots of mulled wine in December

We host alot of dinner parties and get together with friends often at their places - always a fair bit of prosecco and wine. Also meet up with friends for cocktails and go out for dinner quite often too

I had a couple of hot toddies at the start of the year because I wasn't well. I had a drink at Christmas (but mostly I had 0% lager).

I drink very sporadically. I might have nothing for four months, then have a few drinks over a weekend because friends are visiting. I would say it averages at maybe two drinks a month?

Variable.

Sometimes I drink every day, sometimes I don't drink for months, maybe get actually drunk a few times a year. was teetotal for nearly 20 years but it's pointless unless you're a muppet or a total fiend

I will have a cocktail on holidays but I'm teetotal all other times and have never drank at home.
Dh loves wine and probably drinks a couple of bottles a week

Mid 40s. Kids at uni. Never drink when home alone / with DH / DCs.

Might have a couple if staying with friends. Unlikely to drink on holiday with just DH.

is my downfall.

I drink loads. Once a week, nothing the other 6 days, so I guess I am a binge drinker. I have a very problematic relationship with alcohol, no problem admitting that.

I'm a single mum, one dc.

In December I went to the works Christmas party and had 2 glasses of wine over four hours.

I opened one bottle of wine over Christmas, which lasted three days.

Since then, I've had a very small (pub measure) of single malt three times, when I came in chilled to the bone. So in the last six weeks, I think about 16 units or 2.5 units a week.

But I've had cancer in the past and alcohol is a risk. It focuses the mind. I am very careful & usually keep to one unit a week.

Much more than the others here 😂

I always have 2 dry nights a week, usually Monday and Tuesday. On a Wednesday/ Thursday night might have 1 or 2 drinks, never more. Friday- Sunday maybe 3 (G+T then split a bottle of wine).

If I have a big Friday or Saturday night which is rarer these days then before DC then I’ll have the Sunday sober also.

I’m happy with my drinking, matched pretty much identically to DH. Moderate and regular suits me.

Maybe 1 drink every 2 or 3 months, typically when eating out. I might occasionally have 2 or 3 at work networking events but they are rare, maybe once a year.

This comes up every so often on here, and it is an interesting question. I find most people tend to gravitate to echo chambers socially, so if you are a drinker then lots of the people you know/mix with are also drinkers, and if you’re teetotal then the company you keep will reflect that too.

I drink on average five days a week, some heavier than others. I don’t have children though, and go out socially about 5 times a week so it suits my lifestyle.

We used to share a bottle a night, most nights, during the ‘can rarely go out’ years.

Now I drink less, probably 2 glasses a night, 5 nights a week. More if out at a booze occasion. After which I will lay off for a few days.

Exactly 40 years old, two kids in primary, teetotaller.

DH 42, I'd say 3 or 4 beers across the course of a year, so effectively teetotal.

I'm doing dry January because my drinking was out of control.
At my worst? Three quarters of a bottle of wine per night, every night. If I had no wine, 3 or 4 vodka and tonics, and I didn't measure anything.
I've had no problem stopping and going forward would like to remain AF, but taking things a day at a time at the moment.

Ideally, I'd like to have a couple of drinks on a night out, or share a bottle of wine with a nice meal. Realistically, unlikely!

Teetotal since 18. Husband might have a cold beer on a summer's evening once or twice a year. Alcohol just doesn't feature in our lives.

I think that's a lot these days, your husband is probably over the guideline amount. I don't know anyone who drinks every day, anymore.

We share a bottle of wine maybe once every few months, and have 1 or 2 in a restaurant occasionally.

I drink 4-5days a week and way to much when i do.

Nothing at the moment (pregnant). In normal times, not very much anymore.

A couple of beers or glasses of wine if I'm out with friends, 4 absolute max.

At home I might have a bottle of beer or a glass of wine in the evening, but not every night (a couple of times a week) and rarely more than one.

I find alcohol makes me feel much worse these days and feeling hungover isn't an option with toddlers.

Wouldn't judge what others drink, unless it makes them a bad drunk.

Well done @Flicitytricity - I know you say you've had no problems, but it's still a big deal.