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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to enjoy wine every night?

218 replies

barnsleybelle · 25/07/2009 17:49

Been to a football gala today with ds and got involved in a discussion about drinking.
I probably drink at least 2 glasses of wine every night. Sometimes half bottle sometimes full.
DH works away so my nights when dcs are in bed are my time. I look forward to my wine.
Anyway equal amounts of mums at the gala either agreed with me or were horrified.
What's the general opinion on here i wonder???

OP posts:
schneebly · 25/07/2009 17:54

I think every night is a bit much tbh - a glass maybe or 2 small ones but a full bottle is really quite a lot.

However..I often eat up to 250g of chocolate in a day which is also not good!

katiestar · 25/07/2009 17:55

I don't think its a good idea to get into the habit of having a drink every night.It soon adds up !

bigchris · 25/07/2009 17:56

me too

i know its too much but is a habit! that is hard to break!

Morloth · 25/07/2009 17:58

Not horrified, but it does sound like a lot to me.

DH and I usually share a bottle a week and I might have a G&T or a Margerita on a Friday night, just one (or maybe two).

I guess it depends on whether it is a problem for you and whether the pleasure it gives you balances out the potential health problems it could cause. Sometimes things are so pleasant it is worth a little risk.

frankbestfriend · 25/07/2009 18:01

I have between 1 and 3 White wine spritzers almost every night. I enjoy it, it relaxes me, and causes no problems in my life or my family/work.

So imo it's fine. Couldn't down a whole bottle in a night though, and even half is a bit much for me.

bibbitybobbityhat · 25/07/2009 18:02

It is too much I'm afraid. I would drink wine every night if I could but one bottle is at least 10 units. Facts have to be faced at some point .

Original poster
barnsleybelle · 25/07/2009 18:03

I don't see it as a problem morloth , if i've no wine in i just do without, or if the children are ill i have an early night and don't miss it.
In general though i do have wine every night.
I wonder if it it just habit actually bigchris, good point.

OP posts:
Original poster
barnsleybelle · 25/07/2009 18:05

It's certainly not a bottle every night bibbi!! Sometimes it is, most nights not.

OP posts:
Sidge · 25/07/2009 18:10

They recommend at least 2 alcohol free nights a week to let your liver recover.

I would say 2 home sized glasses a night most nights is too much - dunno about you but my wine glasses at home are mahoosive and it takes about a third of a bottle to fill one, so 2 glasses a night would be well over 2-3 units.

I suppose it's whether you think it's a problem - if you get a bit twitched at the prospect of a night without booze then you know you have a problem.

bibbitybobbityhat · 25/07/2009 18:14

No, I know you didn't say a bottle of wine every night barnsley.

Two bottles a week is over Government guidelines.

I was shocked to discover this recently.

I have halved my alcohol consumption over the past 6 months or so and do feel better for it tbh.

[and am aware that sounds unspeakably smug ]

Original poster
barnsleybelle · 25/07/2009 18:14

sidge... thanks for the link, very interesting. Definately don't get twitched without. As i said, if i've none in then i don't miss it. If it's in the fridge though i always partake once lights out for dcs.

OP posts:
Original poster
barnsleybelle · 25/07/2009 18:17

Bibbi... you don't sound smug.. well done .
I definately drink well over 2 bottles a week so maybe it is time to look at it.

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 25/07/2009 18:39

'Units' are bullshit made up by the government in a sad attempt to control British binge drinking. I'd never heard of them until I moved here and I've lived all over the world.

If it's not harming your waistline or your life or your bank balance, I honestly don't see the harm.

Until relatively recently in UK history do most people even have the option of drinking a lot of non-alcoholic beverages due to changes in sanitation, people have drunk over 14 units a week for centuries and humankind is still here.

I think that 14 units/week is government spin to demonise drink the same way they do food, tbh.

The biggest problem with alcohol consumption is youngsters going on huge binges from ever-earlier ages.

shootfromthehip · 25/07/2009 18:46

It's worryingly easy to become dependant on though so I think 2 glasses to 1 bottle is too much every night. And I speak as someone who lost her Dad 2 yrs ago to alcoholism.

He was not your 'typical' alcoholic- he drank quietly at home every night. The amount just increased and increased and increased. He felt rougher and rougher every morning and so started drinking earlier and earlier to get rid of the hangovers. It is not a scare tactic on my behalf my telling you this, just a cautionary tale I suppose.

I now only drink at the weekends and have a bath/ read a book to celebrate my child-free time. Having a drink is not a bad thing, drinking too much is.

Original poster
barnsleybelle · 25/07/2009 18:48

expat here to save my sanity

Now your post has made me feel better.

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SolidGoldBrass · 25/07/2009 18:49

The government guidelines are bollocks. They admitted that they simply made them up (an easy way to understand that they are bollocks is that they divide entirely on gender grounds, taking no notice of differences in age, body mass etc.)
If your drinking is not a problem ie you are not feeling rough in the mornings, missing out on work/social engagements or spending more than you can afford, then it isn;t a problem. Lots of people are very silly and pissy about other people's drinking, just the same as lots of people are silly and pissy and hysterical about recreational drug use.

Original poster
barnsleybelle · 25/07/2009 19:01

solid... This is what i hoped to hear if i'm honest.
I'm slim, don't spend money i havn't got on wine. I'm never hungover or even pissed when i go to bed.
I was just surprised at the horror of some of the mums at football today as i have never once considered the amount i drink to be a problem until today. I was pleased though that as many mums drank the same

OP posts:
bibbitybobbityhat · 25/07/2009 19:03

Should clarify, have reduced my consumption from about 50 units a week to between 20 and 30 because I, too, have read up on the Govt guidelines being made up thing. Probably someone on Mumsnet kindly linked for me .

8oreighty · 25/07/2009 19:05

How do you get through an alcohol free night though? I can't do it...always resort to a tiny little whisky if no wine in house.

expatinscotland · 25/07/2009 19:08

it' easy when you have little bitty kids! by the time they're asleep (at 8PM), i have about 3 hours to do all the chores or whatever needs doing AND whatever else i want to do and get a shower.

katiestar · 25/07/2009 19:08

Barnsletbelle -that could just be a sign that your body is accustomed to drinking ,rather than a sign it is causing no damage

expatinscotland · 25/07/2009 19:10

If you're okay with it and it's not escalating, well, hey ho, it's your business and YANBU.

Heathcliffscathy · 25/07/2009 19:15

i do think that a couple of nights off (in a row) a week (however much OR little you drink) is sensible from a liver pov.

Original poster
barnsleybelle · 25/07/2009 19:16

Katie.. maybe my body is accustomed to it which is why i don't get a hangover or drunk but that doesn't necessarily mean it's a problem.
If i miss swimming or the gym for a couple of weeks then my muscles ache after my first trip back until it becomes accustomed to it.

Anyway all this wine talk has now freaked me out a bit so i've just poured myself a gin & tonic

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8oreighty · 25/07/2009 19:17

god...I agree, just find it hard to unwind.
When I do relax after kid in bed doing all the stuff you have to do etc. only have an hour, so really want to relax in that hour...and only a nice drink does that quickly.