To think I don’t have a alcohol problem

[Boingyboingy]

So I do tend to drink everyday. Never to the point of not being able to walk, being sick etc. I don’t wake up and crave it, I just crave the feeling of being chilled out and being able to deal with stress better. DH thinks I am an alcoholic and has been going mad at me

I'm not sure why you are addressing your comments to me, rather than to the op? Have you taken it upon yourself to educate me about addiction because I said I don't know a lot about it? Or are you suggesting I need to change my attitude? Both?

So are a lot of things that aren’t good for you.

Abstinence doesn't have to be po-faced. Although the drinks industry love to spread that rumour and even the government are a bit reticent too because it's big money for them.

It can do really good things for your health to give up drinking, things you can’t see. I used to be a regular drinker - stopped in January 2024 (mostly - i’ll still drink at weddings or have a glass or two at home every couple of months)

My work started doing an annual health check thing the same year. In July 2024 (7 months after stopping drinking) my liver results were GGT 43 (over 40 is high) ALT 26 (over 33 is high)

In July 2025 my GGT was down to 27 and ALT was 12.

I don’t look any different tbh and I don’t feel much different physically (huge difference mentally though) but over time my liver has healed the damage I did. I’m just sorry I don’t have health check results from when I was in the thick of drinking, they must have been shocking. And I was having days off drinking, I wasn’t fall down vomiting or staggering about or day drinking. Just wines in the evening and maybe some spirits at the weekend.

Sorry I’ve only just had chance to come back on. I haven’t been purposefully dodging the question on how much I drink a day.

It depends really. On average I’d say 8 a day

@Boingyboingy 8 what?
Wine, spirits, beer, cider? What strength? What volume?
Needless to say, 8 alcoholic drinks a day, no matter how small, is a lot. Quite a lot.
Do you drive? Work? WFH or not?

8 a day is a serious problem OP.

8 glasses?

Meh - you have to weigh up the pros with the cons

8 is not a few glasses op. Whatever the drink.

8?? Units or drinks either way it is much to high. Op please chat to your gp.

But I said this about smoking, and I was able to go cold turkey. As you said, there’s purpose. But could you just stop because you wanted too, not because somebody else is involved?

8 units? 8 glasses?? 8 bottles ? ? ? ?

8 units a day is 56 a week; the maximum advised is 14 a week. The WHO won’t say a safe level, there isn’t a level that is safe, like cigarettes: alcohol is a Class 1 carcinogen, along with radiation, asbestos, and tobacco.
https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health

8 glasses of wine is likely to be much more than 8 units (1 unit is 25ml of 40% spirits).

So whether or not you’re alcoholic, you are undoubtedly drinking a harmful amount. As I said before, there is a group posting over on the Alcohol Support board who are trying to moderate because we were drinking at harmful levels and/or alcohol was affecting our lives in negative ways. It’s called something like Trying to Moderate or Absolutely Abstaining. Come and join it? It’s really supportive and friendly.

No judgement here, as I was where you are, although 8 a day is a lot (but maybe you mean units?). Thankfully I have stopped completely and am relieved to never want to drink again.

I'd recommend "Alcohol Explained" by William Porter - I listened to an audio book. Completely resonated, hence, I no longer drink.

Good luck.

8 drinks a day is FAR too much.
You have more of a problem than you realise.

8 drinks or 8 units a day is definitely a problem.

Everything youve described is alcoholic. Good to at least start understanding yourself.

Regardless if you mean 8 drinks or 8 units, that is WAY too much for a daily amount.

There is one way to prove if you have a problem or not - starting NOW, one week without a drop of alcohol. If you can do it, then no problem.

If you can't, you have a problem.

And yes, saying "It's Saturday I'll start tomorrow" also means it's a problem.

The reason you are not sick/unable to walk is because your body has built up a tolerance.

I'm so sorry @Boingyboingy but what you describe was me 17 years ago.

I was/am a functional alcoholic. You are a functional alcoholic.

I stopped drinking any form of alcohol 17 years ago because I liked the way it made me feel and I hated how it made me feel. I had a Christmas relapse about 14 years ago and had a glass of wine - then I craved more for the feeling of pleasure it gave me in my mind and rapidly chugged three more. Shocked at myself, I realised that I would never be able to drink moderately as I would sink and sink until it would control me. I was lucky enough to be able to stop dead. I have not had an alcoholic drink since and I will not ever drink alcohol again.
Most functional alcoholic drinkers think that they do not have problem and are often able to go periods where they do not drink in order to kid themselves that it's not a problem and they can control it.
I'm not going to tell you to give up drinking as you're a grown up adult. You know that it's an issue because you'd not be on here looking for validation otherwise.

8 what…..why be so vague?

Eight of what?

To be honest, eight of anything daily is a lot. If it's anything stronger than wine you may find yourself dealing with physical withdrawal symptoms.

Using alcohol to deal with stress is a slippery slope. Find another way to cope before you have a serious habit to break.

I come from a family of heavy drinkers/ alcoholics and its totally turned me way from drinking much at all , thankfully really because I think there must be a genetic link somewhere. My adult kids don’t drink much, perhaps because they only ever saw both of their parents drink very moderately if at all. Honestly I’d be careful OP, you and I both know rhe havoc it causes. Good luck !