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.

Do you go away on holiday every couple of months?

I haven't read all the replies on this post but judging by the first page I'm in a minority.

I tend to drink 3 nights a week on average, sometimes 4 (so mainly Fri, Sat and Sun and the odd time on a Thurs). I would probably drink most if not all of a bottle of wine over the evening on a Friday and Saturday depending on what time I start while watching TV with my DH after DC is in bed and sound asleep. Sunday I would finish any opened bottle of wine left as I don't drink on a Mon-Weds or if I opened a bottle I'd drink half or 2/3s maybe and bin the rest as it would go off after a couple of days. I don't always drink on a Sunday if there's no opened bottle of wine but probably drink on Sundays more often than I don't.

If I was on a night out I'd easily have 5 drinks depending on what time we started etc. I admit I probably drink too much since the pandemic (would have rarely drank at home before that)

Too much. Every day 2 gins or 2 glasses of wine. It's something I plan on addressing at least to have some alcohol free days but I've just had a terrible couple of years so not ready yet.

I get that. Forums are full of windbags, some of which live to judge other people for what they do. You have to be quite thick-skinned to read replies sometimes, I know that too.

I also understand the defensiveness, it's a pre-emptive strike almost, isn't it? Attack first to stop any attacks. It's sad but a fact of life. Some people are so fixated on comparing themselves with other people and finding themselves lacking. To counterbalance that they 'dig out' an 'undesirable' behaviour such as drinking, drugs, being overweight, not working - and start dishing out spite. That's their own inadequacy shouting out, loud and clear.

I post on MN but every now and again I give myself a break because it's too much, so much negativity and determination to set yourself up as 'better than them'. It's pathetic but at the same time, it can really hurt people. I haven't read the 'savings' threads because I can just check my balance, no need to get a view from other people.

I'm really sorry if posters who drink feel judged, I understand how that could feel. Somehow, I never feel that these threads are started in good faith...

Thanks for the understanding of gall bladder... I was half-expecting a slapping down for 'boasting' about eating something 'good'. Still, we all die of something; my exit could be caused by cherry tomatoes...

If I ever am on a thread and see someone being told that they're drinking too much, I will look out for that and support, thanks BitOutOfPractice

In my adolescent tearaway phase, I drank well over the limit. I was being sexually abused by my maternal uncle, and none of my family believed me.
I was into very fast cars, fast and dangerous horses, climbing dangerous mountains and going to dangerous countries by myself. My parents never stopped me doing any of that and didn't ask why I wanted to go to these dangerous places and do dangerous things. I suppose that they had self-acclimatised to danger. My father had been a Tail-end Charlie (rear gunner) in WW2 and returned with PTSD which was not recognised then. He had a hair-trigger temper and I was very frightened of him.
Suddenly, nasty uncle and aunt disappeared. I think he might have tried to assault my elder sister who was all that I was not. She was a strait-laced good girl and never overstepped the lines.
We never saw them again, until my father died unexpectedly young. I was sent home from school and the aunt was there. I was told to go and change and then go outside and ride my pony. I did so. My father was never mentioned again.
I've inherited his clever mind, his hair-trigger temper and hatred of bullies. I only really trust my animals.
I have been teetotal for decades now, and don't miss it at all.

As much as I want to when I want to.

I am so over being told what I should eat and drink.

I'm very sorry for what you went through, sounds horrific.

You have 100% summed up my exact feelings about MN. I too take long breaks and usually get drawn back in by the Archers thread. Such is the rock and roll nature of my life. We like to live life on the edge, you and I @LyingWitchInTheWardrobe eh? You will your tomato roulette and me with my radio soaps!

Think this thread should be renamed
"How many of you are teetotal?"
The vast majority of responses suggest this

Not what I see in real life.

Oh I definitely drink too much. I have 2 or 3 days AF a week though.
Weekends I probably drink between 4 and 10 units a night.
More on a proper night out.

But saying you don't drink is a perfectly valid answer to the question.

And just because you don't come across many non drinkers in real life, it doesn't mean they don't exist. It just means your circle of friends is made up of people that socialise in a similar way to you. Birds of a feather and all that.

People tend to hang out with people who are similar to them, though, so it's not especially surprising that a drinker doesn't know many people who are tee-total.

Indeed, BitOutOfPractice, you've taken me right back there with 'The Archers' reference. I've only listed to a few episodes, out of synch, when I've managed to be on the right station (R4?) at the right time but I enjoyed them very much. Just right for recklessly popping tomatoes into my mouth whilst listening to it... that's the life!

I think you've been here a while? Me too. Mumsnet used to be more tolerant and less 'fighty' over things that really don't matter. More tolerance would be a good thing.

I'm going to investigate 'The Archers' to see if I can find them to tune in to.

Oh my life will be complete if I have converted you to the Archers @LyingWitchInTheWardrobe! I have been listening for over 40 years - it’s part of my dna now. And the pictures are better on the radio!

yes I’ve been around a while. I took about two years off around the pandemic. I guessed that this might be a bit crazy-making so I swerved it.

I don’t tend to drink at home unless we have a special occasion I.e might have a couple of cans of cider watching boxing etc
I will drink at a meal out maybe once per month. A few glasses of wine or beers depending on location. I will also drink socially at a party/event, which is probably 6/8 times a year.
It’s not something I actively monitor. DH drinks less than me.

Me too. People are surprised, but respect my decision.

Nothing, zero. It’s a dreadful waste of money, makes you fat and depressed and destroys families.

I have found it! It is Radio 4. 20,502 episodes since 1951(?). I think I can download them too. I'm a keen swimmer and have an MP3 player that is waterproof...
Good swerving, BitOutOfPractice but I'm glad you're back. You have indeed prompted me to check out The Archers in earnest now, a willing, tomato-popping convert.

Agreed, the question is 'how much do you really drink?'. So nothing is a perfectly reasonable answer. The question is not - those who drink alcohol how much do you drink. Honestly, if people have an issue with how much they drink they should deal with that rather than getting shirty with those that don't drink.

I barely drink and I was surprised at how many people don't drink much, I thought I was very much in the minority and while this isn't a representative sample it's still interesting to see how many people don't or barely drink.

I think big drinkers must feel threatened or defensive when they realise so many, many people are small drinkers or non-drinkers.

Or we're just not in the cool club so should piss off 🤷

I’m 53. I don’t drink Mon to Thurs. I will have around a bottle of wine over the weekend, sometimes a bit more , sometimes less. This is normally a mixture of at home in the evening or out for a meal/ lunch. This weekend I had one glass of wine on Friday night( with dinner) and one at the pub on Saturday and one tonight with dinner too.

I think most people who drink a lot aren’t on MN 😅😅 certainly all the people I know who drink a lot aren’t on here

I drink 5 days a week, average 4 bottles of wine and half a litre of spirits a week. Work full time in a high pressures job, age 61 and I enjoy drinking. Husband drinks around 6 litres of cider and maybe 3/4 small whiskies a week, he also enjoys it!

Between two to four bottles of wine/prosecco/champagne a week, however I'm having nothing for the next three weeks because I'm on a crash diet for my holiday 🍾🏖

Yes - I think when someone is a heavy drinker (as I was) they tell convince themselves all drinkers are like them. It was when I stopped drinking I noticed that people drinking as I did was actually pretty unusual