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.

Why do people mention their high pressure job? Is that how they justify their drinking?

I also have a high pressure job and I cope with the pressure much better now I don’t drink

I am a heavy drinker but only when I choose to be
I love the taste of alcohol - particularly neat spirits or strong cocktails
I could easily get through a bottle of say vodka in 2 evenings
Dont drink in the day at all - even on holiday might manage a glass of cava with lunch but just makes me sleepy
During the week I might have a few after 9pm (bearing in mind I go to bed around 10!)
At weekends usually share a bottle of wine with DP on a Saturday night and then move on to the harder stuff
I have a lot of IBS type issues and am trying to diet so limited options mainly tequila, gin and vodka
Am just about to do dry February as just been on holiday so didn’t want to do dry January
I know I drink too much according to NHS guidelines but I am not diabetic, apparently my liver function is very good and know im
not addicted as can stop drinking very easily
The main reason I want to cut back is it’s empty calories and since menopause I’m finding it harder to keep my weight under control
By MN standards I am definitely a raging alcoholic who is in denial about it!!!

Probably to highlight they are functional, even if they have problematic alcohol use!

Reading the responses makes me wonder if drinkers
gravitate to other drinkers, and same for minimal drinkers. MN is very representative of my social circle. Very few people I know drink regularly/heavily, and at social events people typically bring 0 alcohol drinks. We are all at a stage we can’t afford the health cost of heavy drinking, or to have to juggle family responsibilities feeling worse for wear after a bottle of wine. Most of my social circle is financially comfortable, but spending on alcohol would be a really low priority.

I only referred to the thimble of sherry at Christmas as literally a type of drinker, that people can understand. I wasn’t doing it to mock or say people ‘aren’t cool’. I don’t think it’s cool to drink, I’ve met some very interesting people who have completely given up!
People that don’t drink shouldn’t be defensive about it, they should be proud. As I said I need to drink less! I hope to join the people on this thread that only drink every so often.

Me and dh drink at weekends we do drink a good 10 beers each and a bottle of wine and quite honestly don't care what mumsnet thinks we have no children!

I drink 6-7 times a year. Usually 2 drinks or so and get drunk fast.

I also use weed (Canadian) every day for 7-10 days per month, plus another once or twice for fun. I think a lot of people my age shifted over to weed when it legalized.

Teetotallers don’t live as long as moderate drinkers.
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/the-almost-last-word-on-alcohol-and-health

You didn't read the whole article, did you?

LyinWitchinTheWardrobe sadly alcohol & drugs can seriously affect those around the person who is taking them. DH worried about me terribly when I was drinking & often told me that he was terrified I would end up in an early grave. If I’d continued as I was, it could very well have happened. It had a huge effect on DD16 too. My moods were all over the place & I used to end up screaming at her. I can’t remember the last time I yelled & things are generally so much calmer.

Thanks for explaining. You didn't mean it as mocking but that is always how it comes across and it is seriously annoying.

Neither drinkers nor non-drinkers need be defensive about their lifestyles but I don't see that non-drinkers should be proud either, it's just a state of being.

I've never had an issue with alcohol apart from drinking horrible cider and black as a teenager before it was legal - and then lost interest having never liked the taste. Nothing to be proud of for my abstinence there, it just was what it was. I didn't actively do anything to stop drinking I just didn't like it, if you see what I mean?

Best wishes to you in your decision to cut down, and whatever you drink or don't, it's fine with me.

All of those things are 'props' and some people get hooked. The lucky ones manage to stop taking them - and the luckier ones still never took them.

The point I've been making on this thread is that berating people for their 'poor choices' has never, ever helped anybody to stop making those, it just makes them feel shitty. I won't do that and likewise, I won't keep quiet if others do it.

I'm really pleased for you that you've managed to get yourself to a place where life is calmer for you, that's tremendous, it really is.

My drinking crept up in the last year - I was probably having about 3 bottles of wine a week. I nearly completely stopped for years after having children but it steadily increased over time (particularly since lockdown).

This year I’ve cut back a lot - I bought a bottle on Thursday and had a large glass Thurs to Sat and that was a nice level which I’m aiming to stick to moving forwards.

I just wanted to add this for the one or two people who think of non-drinkers as some sort of beacon. Some of us really have been built NOT for alcohol.

I used to work in France and my boss used to take us out for dinner on a regular basis with some very nice (expensive?) wines. It was torture for me. Each glass I had only the tiniest sip out of and every time it was like vinegar. Having to flatter a beaming boss that he'd chosen just right, every time, was hard work.

I've got a health issue now that means I can't drink, even if I wanted to. It doesn't work with the medication. For me, that is a 'get out of jail free' card.

It is not an indictment of strong willpower or anything like that. That's the point I'm trying to make. I smoked for 20 years and liked that just fine!

Much more than most on here!

None at the moment as I do dry January to reset from my heaviest drinking month - December. In Dec, I drink 2-3 (large) glasses of wine every day. I drink at home while cooking or eating dinner (don't go out much due to young family)

In a more normal month, I'll drink 2 glasses of wine 4-5 times a week. I want to reduce this to 2-3 times a week due to weight and health reasons

I'll drink more on holidays including cold lager and cocktails but that's only 3-4 weeks a year

That’s my plan too. I got a wake up call when I saw that drinking 2 bottles of wine a week being described as a “heavy drinker”. I don’t want to be a heavy drinker (for medical reasons, obviously)

Why post on here if you don't drink alcohol? I drink a bottle of wine a week.

Because the question is ‘how much do you really drink’ - and my answer is nothing, because I am teetotal. 0 is an answer!

Not all those that drink alcohol end up screaming. The vast majority enjoy a few drinks sensibly.

I’ve read several articles and listened to podcasts covering the subject.

This is mumsnet OP where if you drink more than half a glass of wine a week you're overdoing it

Or, this is Mumsnet where people will be honest about their thoughts on your drinking patterns and you pretend yours are the same as having half a glass of wine a week.

The guidelines are quite clear, of as a woman you have more than 14 units over the course of a week, it is ill advised.

That's a bottle of wine and a couple of home measures of spirits.

greengreyblue of course all those that drink alcohol don’t end up screaming. I was saying that abusing alcohol (as I used to) can badly affect family & friends. There’s a massive difference between having up to 3 bottles of wine a day & starting to drink before breakfast 😢 & going out socially for a few wines, cocktails or whatever. I’m teetotal because I have to be basically.

I literally only drink 3 times a year 😭

I rarely drink during the week.

This weekend just gone -

Friday - one G&T and a 330ml can of beer with dinner.

Saturday - one medium glass of white wine with dinner.

Sunday - we had drinks and dinner after an art exhibition. So 1.5 pints of craft beer in the gallery bar. Then to a pub where I had a pint of low alcohol (2.5%) pale ale and a half of stout Then a glass of lager with dinner.

Really should change the thread to why do you not drink... Never saw so many non drinkers replying to a thread asking how much do you drink, so funny!!

In my 40s, 2 teen DC. Now, 2 drinks a week on average, one a night for two nights. Generally a double g n t, a cocktail in a can, or prosecco. I used to drink more but it affects my sleep now, and makes my tinnitus worse, and I wake up feeling anxious . . . . all in all doesn't feel worth it. Alcoholism in the family and I'm very keen to model very moderate drinking to my teens. There have been a rash of divorces amongst couples in know and problems with alcohol (generally the DH) have featured in a number. I haven't got drunk, or even tipsy, for years as I am very cautious now.