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General health

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Original poster

What is 'problem drinking'?

12 replies

onefortheroad · 08/11/2004 14:48

Basically I think DH drinks too much and would like him to cut down. Rarely has a dry night, usually opens a second bottle of wine including 'school nights', gets completely plastered at least once a week (8 hours of boozing). Has a drink if celebrating a good day at work or needs a drink if stressed. For the record, i am concerned about his health - he is not aggressive when drunk. He is certainly well over the recommended limits.

Am I over-reacting? He is otherwise wonderful father and dh.

OP posts:

codswallop · 08/11/2004 14:50

no too much Imo

whta does he say to this?

vict17 · 08/11/2004 14:51

I think the legal limit for a man is 21 units a week so from a gp's point of view anything higher than that is heavy drinking. I guess a glass of wine is 2 units, 3/4 glasses in a bottle, say 8 untis a bottle? Two bottles = 16 units (someone tell me if i'm wrong) so if that's every night then it's over the weekly limit? It's so hard to say though cos what isa cceptable for one is not for another ie. the build (how tall/heavy) affects how much you can safely drink too I guess.

codswallop · 08/11/2004 14:52

two bottles of wine all for him or do you share?

fio2 · 08/11/2004 14:55

it is 30 or 35 units for a man now

vict17 · 08/11/2004 14:56

oh is it fio? How much is it for a woman? 21 perahps?

fio2 · 08/11/2004 14:57

I think so, they changed a while ago

Original poster

onefortheroad · 08/11/2004 14:58

Currently pg and not drinking as 1 glass not worth bothering about IMO! So it's just him. My estimate is that he is well in excess of 60 units per week on average. He is otherwise slim and healthy.

He is defensive if it is mentioned and all the excuses come out. I think this is what makes me think he has a 'need' to drink.

OP posts:

fio2 · 08/11/2004 15:00

most probably. is there a reason for his drinking? any emotional problems?

Caligula · 08/11/2004 15:10

His drinking is a problem if you feel it's a problem, even if it were only 10 units. At 60 units a week, all the alcoholics I know think it's a problem!

Your DH is definitely drinking too much. There's no doubt whatsoever about it.

fio2 · 08/11/2004 15:37

if you google alcoholics anonymous (UK) there is a questionaire that you can do online. If you answer honestly to the questions and score yes for 4 or more , you have a problem with alcohol. Ask him to do it

motherinferior · 08/11/2004 16:12

He sounds like my ex. Who I realise, in retrospect, had a real booze problem. That's a hell of a lot of drink.

bonym · 09/11/2004 14:35

I would agree it is too much and would also be concerned for his health. My dh has a drink every night, but 1 or 2 glasses of wine and I've never seen him plastered. It does sound as though there may be an emotional reason for his drinking especially as he gets plastered on such a regular basis. I don't think you are overeacting, but don't really have any suggestions as to what to do about it I'm afraid.

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